Loimaa

Loimaa [ˈlɔi̯mɑː] is a town in southwestern Finland. It is located in the Varsinais-Suomi county, 66 kilometres northeast of Turku.

In addition to the core city proper, the urban area includes a wide rural area covering 852 square kilometres. The Loimijoki River, a tributary of the Kokemäenjoki River, flows through Loimaa. Neighbouring municipalities are Koski Tl to the south, Pöytyä and Oripää to the southwest, Säkylä and Huittinen to the northwest, Punkalaidun to the north, and Humppila and Ypäjä to the east.

The parish of Loimaa was first mentioned in a document in 1439, but may have existed since the 14th century. Historically, Loimaa belonged to the Satakunta countryside. Until the 19th century, agriculture was practically the only occupation in the Loimaa area. When the railway line from Turku to Toijala was completed in 1876, Loimaa got its own railway station. The present centre developed around the railway station. In 1921, Loimaa was separated from the surrounding municipality of Loimaa as an independent market town (kauppala), and it was granted town status in 1969. In 2005, Loimaa municipality, which in turn had been joined by Metsämaa municipality in 1976, was reincorporated into the city of Loimaa. At the beginning of 2009, the neighbouring municipalities of Alastaro and Mellilä were incorporated.

Loimaa church was built of brick in 1831-37 according to plans by Charles Bassi and Carl Ludwig Engel. After it was badly damaged by fire, it was repaired in 1890-91 under Josef Stenbäck. It was given its present form with a baroque steeple and a large dome. Alastaro's wooden church has had quite an eventful history: it was originally built in Loimaa in 1754. When the present church was built in Loimaa, the chapel community of Alastaro acquired the old church in 1837. It was demolished and rebuilt on its present site in 1840-41. The church took on its present form in 1896-97 when it was restored and rebuilt under the aegis of Josef Stenbäck. Other churches are located in Metsämaa (1777) and Virttaa (1845). The Alastaro Circuit is also located in the urban area of Loimaa.