In 1932, the actual settlement of Äänekoski, along with Suolahti, were split off as their own municipalities. The old municipality of Äänekoski was renamed Äänekosken maalaiskunta, "the rural municipality of Äänekoski", while its administrative center was moved to the village of Honkola. Äänekoski and Äänekosken mlk had a shared parish, while Suolahti got its own parish in 1946.
