Kauhava

Kauhava was the home of the Finnish Training Air Wing from 1929 until the end of 2014.^{[citation needed]}

The surrounding municipalities of Alahärmä, Kortesjärvi and Ylihärmä were consolidated with Kauhava on 1 January 2009.

The surrounding country is flat and well suited for agriculture, alternating between fields and forests. The town probably takes its name from the small river which passes through it.

A traditional industry in Kauhava is knife making, and many Finns recognize the name of this small town because of knives made there. At one time, as many as five different knife-making enterprises were underway in the town, but today there is only one – Iisakki Järvenpää Oy, which has been making knives in Kauhava since 1879.^{[citation needed]}

The puukko (one of the styles of Finnish knife) made in Kauhava are sometimes referred to as being in the Ostrobothnian style.^{[citation needed]}

Each June sees the Kauhava International Knife Festival, lasting a couple of days and including knife exhibitions, knife making and knife throwing.^{[citation needed]}

As with many Finnish localities, there are museums in Kauhava (Kauhava-Seura). One in the center of town features both the knifemaking tradition as well as the local textiles. An out-of-place fishing lure is one interesting feature of this museum. Another museum on the outskirts of Kauhava features the 19th century home and farm of Iisakin Jussi. It provides a view of late 19th century life in Western Finland. The Iisakin Jussi House is not open during the winter months.^{[citation needed]}

• Susanna Haapoja (1966–2009), politician
• Jussi Pernaa (born 1983), professional ice hockey player
• Antti Tuuri (born 1944), writer
• Kyösti Virrankoski (born 1944), politician
• Raimo Vistbacka (born 1945), politician

• Finnish national road 19 – a highway passing through Kauhava