Key figures

Area

• Total area: 1,589 km2
• Lakes: 335
• Total water area: 339 km2
• Forest area approx. 109,000 hectares
  
• Fields approx. 5,600 hectares

Population

• Residents: 7,445 (31 December 2006)
• 0-14 yrs  16%
• 15-64 yrs  61%
• Over 65 yrs 23%

Economy and administration

• Year of foundation: 1635 (as a Town 1996)
• Municipal manager: Jouko Räsänen
• Municipal tax rate: 19.00% 
  

Industry and commerce

• Agriculture and forestry 14.6%
• Industry and construction 28.0% 
• Services 54.5% 
• Unknown 2.8% 
  

Agriculture

• Active farms 212
• Dairy farms 72
• Poultry farms 1
• Beef cattle farms 22 
• Fish farms 4
• Horse management 5  

Main employers

• Town of Viitasaari, 394 employees
• Fenestra Oy (formerly Viitapuu), 176 employees
• Pisla Oy, 143
• Er-Saha Oy, 52
• Oy Haka-Wood Oy, 20
• ABC-rantahuoltamo, 30
• Osk. Keskimaa, 25

Regional development support

• EU Objective Area 1
• Development support area II