Äänekoski is an industrial town in the province of Central Finland. Äänekoski is located along highway 4 (E75) about 40 kilometers north of the city of Jyväskylä. Äänekoski had 19,144 inhabitants, of which 14,366 lived in urban areas. Äänekoski is known as a strong and traditional industrial town. Industrial activity in Äänekoski began in 1896-1900, when Äänekoski Aktiebolaget established a wood grinding and cardboard factory near Äänekoski. Today, Metsä Board's folding board factory, founded in 1899 and moved to new premises in 1966, Metsä Fibre's sulfate cellulose factory, started in 1985, are located in the city.