- Primero de Marzo
Infobox Settlement
official_name = Itacurubí de la Cordillera
native_name =
image_
mapsize = 200px
image_caption = Cordillera Department
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name =Paraguay
subdivision_type1 = Department
subdivision_name1 = Cordillera
leader_title = Intendente Municipal
leader_name = Jorge Agüero Arriola
established_title =
established_date =
area_total_km2 = 159
area_footnotes =
population_as_of = 2008
population_total = 7.132
population_density_km2 = 38
timezone = -4 Gmt
utc_offset =
timezone_DST =
utc_offset_DST =
latd=25 |latm=27 |lats=0 |latNS=S
longd=56|longm= 51|longs=0 |longEW=W
elevation_m = 155
postal_code_type = Postal code
postal_code = 3180
area_code = (595) (516)
website =Primero de Marzo is a small town and district in the marshy lowlands of the
Cordillera Department inParaguay . The area is located near the shallow meandering river Yhaguy which locals utilize primarily for fishing and recreation. Primero de Marzo's name is derived from the dateMarch 1 ,1870 , when then Paraguayan PresidentFrancisco Solano López was killed by Brazilian troops at Cerro Corá, thereby ending the bloodyWar of the Triple Alliance .Demographics
According to the 2002 National Paraguayan census, Primero de Marzo has a population of 6,019 inhabitants: 3,210 male and 2,809 female. 795 inhabitants live in the urban center of Primero de Marzo while another 5,224 maintain dwellings in the various surrounding rural campos. Some of the larger outlying rural campos include General Diaz, Sargento Cabellero, San Isidro, and Mariscal Estigarribia. Running water and electricity is available to the urban inhabitants, but only some of the rural campos. There are a very few landlines for telephone service in the area. The most reliable being at the Municipality and the Cooperative, Niño Jesus Ltd. Currently, there is any internet or cellular phone service in the area due to the geography and poor public infrastructure.
History and Culture
Primero de Marzo was originally founded in
1931 as "Colonia Primero de Marzo" under the aegis of the district ofCaraguatay . OnJune 23 ,1955 , the town was declared its own departmental district by presidential decree from dictatorAlfredo Stroessner . Primero de Marzo is sometimes called by its lesser know name of Colonia Alphonso Tranquera. The town celebrates its Fiesta Patronal onDecember 25 in honor of its patron saint Niño Jesus. Other large fiestas celebrated in the area include Cerra Corá (March 1st), Pascua (Easter), la fiesta de San Juan (June), and la fiesta de San Blas (February 3rd ).Economy
A rural agricultural area, Primero de Marzo is centered in a region well-known for its high-quality production of petitgrain (orange essence) from the bitter orange tree (
citrus aurantium ). This petitgrain is generally exported to Europe for use in perfumes and skin care products. The vast majority of the harvest, production, and sale of this crop of petitgrain is organized by members of the small credit and marketing cooperative Niño Jesus Ltd. Other important crops in the area includemandioca (yuca), ka'a he'ê (stevia ), watermelon, tomato, pineapple, cotton, and soybeans. Fishfarming production ofTilapia is becoming increasingly important in the rural campos.Transportation
The bus company, Empresa 1º de Marzo operates out of the town center and maintains hourly service (3 1/2 hours) to
Asuncion passing through the Cordillera towns ofIsla Pucú ,Eusebio Ayala District , and finally Caacupe via Ruta 2 - Monday through Saturday. While the majority of Primero de Marzo's roads remain unpaved, flooding during the Paraguayan wet season does not adversely affect bus service to and from the Asuncion bus terminal as the main exit road is paved in crude cobble stone until its convergence with a paved highway at Isla Pucú. Daily morning service toArroyos y Esteros and Ruta 3 usually can be made by contracting private transportation in town; however, this route is subject to frequent rain washout.References
Geografía Ilustrada del Paraguay, Distribuidora Arami SRL; 2007. ISBN 99925-68-04-6
Geografía del Paraguay, Primera Edición 1999, Editorial Hispana Paraguay SRL
US Peace Corps 2002-2004
External links
* [http://www.senatur.gov.py/ Secretaria Nacional de Turismo]
* [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/PA/8/Primero_de_Marzo.html Coordenadas Geograficas e Imágenes Satelitales: Primero de Marzo]
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