The municipality of Vähäkyrö, near the city of Vaasa, is situated in the core area of the beautiful agrarian plains of Southern Ostrobothnia.

The settled area extends in parallel bands along both banks of the river Kyrönjoki - a clean river which offers good fishing - with some more densely populated centres such as Savilahti, Merikaarto and Tervajoki. Beyond the settled area there are vast plains of fertile agricultural land, bordered by forests with numerous archaeological finds from the Iron Age (600 BC - 1150 AD). As the land rose gradually out of the sea, most of the area became inhabitable about two thousands years ago. As the shoreline moved ever westwards the rich meadows and other natural resources of the seashore were exploited by the first inhabitants, who also maintained extensive overseas trade contacts. Testimony of this trade are the many artifacts found mainly in graves, such as a wine dipper which was manufactured in Capua in the Roman Empire around 100 AD and found in a Vähäkyrö grave dated to the 4th century AD, and a hoard of Arabic silver coins out of which the youngest coins are from the 9th century.

Vähäkyrö became a separate parish in 1607 and the first proper church was built in 1610. The church in use today was completed in 1803, though the belfry dates from 1767.

The inhabitants of Vähäkyrö have for centuries been renowned for their industriousness and their interest in culture and social development. It was here that first primary school in the entire region was founded in 1858, and in 1851 a public lending library which was at that time the biggest in the country. A Savings Bank was founded in 1867.

Today almost 5000 people live in Vähäkyrö. Some 17 per cent are engaged in argiculture; the main produce being pork and cereals, with some farms specializing in such crops as vegetables and berries. Manufacturing industries and the construction industry employ over 30 per cent of the population, and almost 50 per cent gain their living from trade, transport and other service industries.

For many years Vähäkyrö was the centre of the manufacture of kitchen utensils, and a few tinsmiths who know the old methods are still to be found, making today mostly articles which are gifts or souvenirs rather than for everyday use.

Various sports, currently especially Finnish baseball, are popular in Vähäkyrö, and amateur theatricals are equally popular. There is also active interest in music, painting, local history and culture, and many other activities. The history of the area is preserved in the Museums of Local History and Tinsmithing.