facilities, CI and housing were made to surrounding collective and state farm centres in
Olustvere, Sürgavere and Taaksi; or just outside of the town border (!), Only a sub-regional
secondary school remained in the centre of Suure-Jaani and was extended.
Since the beginning of 1990s, some similar pre-war developments like opening new
shops and small industries took place. However, the population decline continues, no new
houses have been built and communal finances are pure. People living in old Suure-Jaani
“catchments area” communicate mostly within their “traditional” collective/state farm areas
or are commuting for a work and services to the county centre Viljandi, located in a 20-30
minutes drive distance. Some people are commuting for a work and services even to
Tallinn, which is in about two hours driving distance.
So we can distinguish three periods in Suure-Jaani development. First period, 1891-
1940, building up a local service and small-scale industry centre like it was described by
Walter Christaller and Edgar Kant. What above sources did not mentioned, but Alfred
Marshall (1952) did in 1890, was active networking of enterprises in business and people in
cultural field. Local centre was also an important place for social life, for meetings and
communication (two restaurants, cultural society houses).
Second period, 1940-1992, stopped previous development track and the life
stagnated in town. Suure-Jaani lost its central role both economically and socially:
collective/state farms carried out these functions. Suure-Jaani became “a central
periphery”.
Third period started with a new capitalist stage, which is actually more benefiting
larger county centre Viljandi and also national capital Tallinn, because of high mobility of
population and much better career opportunities in larger centres. Well, the history of
“golden ages” sat deeply into the people’s and politicians minds and they try to re-establish
previous status of their town status via improving town environment and construction of
new CI.
4.2. Flourishing and declining Agricultural Ring
Suure-Jaani rural municipality was established via merging of several small communities in
1897. Sürgavere community was established separately in 1890, but was shared between
three neighbouring units during the 1938/9 municipal reform.
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