Collection: Põltsamaa

The former parish of Põltsamaa was located in the northeastern part of the historical Viljandimaa. The parish shared a common border with the parishes of Pilistvere and Kolga-Jaani in Viljandimaa to the west, with the parishes of Kursi and Laiuse in Tartu County to the east, and with the parishes of Peetri and Koeru in Järva County to the north. The parish of Põltsamaa was formed at the beginning of the 13th century from the ancient parish of Mõhu.

In the mid-19th century, the Põltsamaa parish was made up of nine municipalities: Vana-Põltsamaa, Uue-Põltsamaa, Pajusi, Lustivere, Kurista, Rutikvere, Adavere, Kaavere and Tapiku. The centre of the parish was the town of Põltsamaa – a crossroads of several roads. In today's administrative division, most of the lands of the Põltsamaa parish remain part of Jõgeva County. Only a small north-western edge of the parish around Rutikvere Manor belongs to Koigi Parish in Järva County.

Ethnographically, the Põltsamaa parish, along with the Kõpu, Suure-Jaani, Pilistvere and Kolga-Jaani parishes, belonged to the Northern Viljandi County group, where clothing was considerably more susceptible to innovations and fashion influences than in Southern Viljandi County.