Terassitasoja

Terassitasoja is a small rural locality located in the northern part of the municipality of Kuopio in the region of Northern Savonia, Finland. The settlement lies approximately three kilometres west of the city centre of Kuopio, in a mostly forested area interspersed with agricultural land. As of the 2010 census the population of Terassitasoja was 147 residents, with a demographic composition typical of rural Finnish communities: a balanced mix of families, seniors, and commuters who work in the nearby city.

The name Terassitasoja is derived from the Finnish words “terassi,” meaning terrace, and “tasok” (old form of "tasas") related to the notion of a level or flat area on a slope. Local historians argue that the name dates back to the early 19th century, when the first settlers built a terraced house overlooking the Oulu River, which supplied water and transport. The settlement grew modestly in the late 1800s, largely driven by forestry and small-scale farming. In 1976 Terassitasoja was incorporated into the Kuopio municipality as part of a wider municipal consolidation effort.

Today the area is characterised by a mixture of residential houses, birch and pine forests, and a small community garden that attracts visitors during the summer months. The local economy is largely tied to Kuopio; many residents commute to jobs in the city, while a few maintain operations in timber processing and specialty dairy production. Because of its proximity to Kuopio, Terassitasoja has seen a modest rise in new housing developments since the early 2000s, while still preserving the rural atmosphere that defined the locality.