pidemmissä

Pidemmissä is a fictional municipality in a Nordic country used here to illustrate a typical rural local government. It lies in the inland boreal plain, with a landscape of mixed forests, lakes, and small farms. The municipality covers about 180 square kilometers and had an estimated population of 2,800 in the latest census. The administrative center is the village of Keskusta.

Historical records trace settlement to the early 18th century. The community grew around forestry and small-scale agriculture. Pidemmissä was granted town-like rights in 1867 and later reorganized as a municipality. In the late 20th century, it faced population decline but has since diversified with services and tourism.

Governance is by a 21-member municipal council elected every four years; a mayor leads the executive wing. The economy relies on forestry and wood processing, agri-food, small manufacturing, and regional services. Tourism centers on nature recreation, such as hiking, canoeing, and a summer cultural calendar.

Education includes a primary and a secondary school; health services include a local clinic; transport connections link to regional highways and a rail line. Cultural life centers on the annual Pidemmissä Festival and a community theater. Notable features include the Old Church, the Lakeside promenade, and the Pidemmisä Canal.