Ilmajoki existed as a part of other municipalities in
South Ostrobothnia, as has been the case for Kyrö/Kyrönjoensuu/Pohjankyrö which presently exist together as
Isokyrö's civil parish. Ilmajoki's congregation was established under Isokyrö's civil parish, and extended to the areas of present-day
Alavus,
Jalasjärvi,
Kauhajoki,
Kurikka,
Peräseinäjoki and
Seinäjoki. In 1532, the Ilmajoki area gained independence, and Ilmajoki's civil parish was founded. To compare, this occurred in Kyrö at a much later time in the 1550s. Ilmajoki held its first trials in 1554. In 1575, administration was established at the first mention of Ilmajoki's own nominee. Greater-Ilmajoki has since been independent of Alavus, Jalasjärvi, Kauhajoki, Kurikka, Peräseinäjoki and Seinäjoki. As stipulated by a municipal decree in 1867, the municipality of Ilmajoki began operating on its own, following the municipal administration's separation from the church. During the
Cudgel War in the years 1596–1597,
Jaakko Ilkka from Ilmajoki led the peasants as their leader but was executed by his opponents in January 1597. The following month, the war's final and largest engagement, the
Battle of Santavuori, took place in Ilmajoki. There are also a number of original one-and-half-story houses, as well as two-story houses traditionally seen in the South Ostrobothnia region. Grandfather clocks were manufactured in Ilmajoki, and a concentration of blacksmiths specialized in horse carriages developed in the village of Nopankylä – both of which portray aspects of Ilmajoki's long-standing traditions in construction and design. ==Economy==