Jokilampi village has grown from one family. The area has been inhabited since the 19th century and it is known that the oldest house was built in 1881.
Jokilampi was annexed to Posio in 1925–1926, but the residents hoped to stay on the Kuusamo side and got the plan changed.
The population is known as keen fishermen and people close to nature. In the past, there has been a lot of farming, craftsmen, and reindeer husbandry in the area.