Raasiku


Raasiku is a small town in Raasiku Parish, Harju County, Estonia, with a population of 1,372. Although situated in a parish with the same name, Raasiku is not the official administrative centre of the municipality. The settlement started to grow in the 19th century around the railway station. The Raasiku manor was established on the grounds of the earlier Kaemla village and in the middle ages it belonged to Padise Abbey.
There is a primary school, community centre, library, health care centre, pharmacy, kindergarten and three grocery stores in Raasiku. Also, some industrial manufacturers operate there: AS Mistra produces car carpets and wall finishing materials; AS Raasiku Elekter makes electrical equipment and metal products.
Harju-Jaani John the Baptist Lutheran Church is in Raasiku. The current church building was built in 1863, but there are preserved foundations of the old chapel. There is the churchyard, the old and the new cemetery and a manor park.

Transport

Raasiku is split by the Tallinn-Tapa railway. The railway station was opened in 1870. In Soviet times a building for the goods station and signalling control was built. The old wooden passenger station was demolished in 2000, but the ancillary buildings and water tower have been preserved. All suburban trains stop there and also trains heading in the direction of Tartu and Narva. A ride to Tallinn takes about 35 minutes.
Raasiku also has a bus connection to Tallinn. There are four bus stops in Raasiku.
The Jägala–Aruvalla road passes through Raasiku and local roads to Kostivere, Kehra, Anija and Aruaru emerge from it.

Sports

There's a football club Raasiku FC Joker based in Raasiku, currently playing in the Estonian fourth division II liiga.

Notable people