Campina Grande

Infobox City
official_name = Campina Grande


imagesize = 250px
image_caption = Statues of early pioneers
motto =

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map_caption = Administrative division of the city
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Brazil
subdivision_type1 = Region
subdivision_name1 = Northeast
subdivision_type2 = State
subdivision_name2 = Paraíba
established_type = Established
established_date = October 11 1864
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Veneziano II (2005-2008)
motto= Solum Inter Plurima
area_note =
area_magnitude = 1 E9
area_total_km2 = 620.3
population_as_of = 2005 | population_total = 376132
population_footnotes = [http://www1.ibge.gov.br/english/]
timezone = BRT
utc_offset = -3
elevation_m = 551
elevation_ft =
website = [http://www.camaracg.com.br/ Câmara Municipal/Campina Grande] [http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=pt&u=http://www.camaracg.com.br/&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=5&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dcampina%2Bgrande%26start%3D60%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN English Translation]
footnotes =
climate chart|Campina Grande
20|30|27
20|30|41
20|28|74
20|28|94
18|27|118
18|26|119
18|25|84
18|24|59
18|27|24
19|28|13
20|29|16
20|30|19
source= [Wernstadt, Frederick L. ; "World Climatic Data"; published 1972 by Climatic Data Press; p. 99.]
float=right
clear=none

Campina Grande (Portuguese "Great Plain") is the second most populous Brazilian city in the State of Paraíba after João Pessoa, the capital. It is considered to be the most important city of the Northeastern Brazilian subregion called "agreste". Located at coord|07|13|50|S|35|52|52|W|region:BR_type:city|display=inline,title, it is considered one of the main industrial, technological and educational centers in the northeastern region of Brazil. The city was officially founded in 1788. Campina Grande also has a large cultural agenda, including the world's largest Saint John's Festival (called "O Maior São João do Mundo"), which takes place during the entire month of June and the "Micarande," one of the most traditional out of season carnival festivals in the country.

History

Origin

The founding of Campina Grande is credited to Captain Teodósio de Oliveira Ledo who led a group of Ariús Indians to settle the land and begin farming on December 1, 1697. However, some historians do not agree with this version and suggest that the place was already a settlement and named Campina Grande when Teodósio arrived with the Ariús. This position is certainly supported by the fact that Campina Grande is in a critical geographic location for people travelling between the highlands and the coast.

The political actions of Teodósio in mentioning Campina Grande to the king of Portugal in May 1699 went a long way to establishing the location as place of importance.

The Ariús inhabited a small farm made up of shacks which became the first street in the new community. Later, this street was called "Rua do Oriente" (Street of the East) and today it is know as "rua Vila Nova da Rainha" (New Village of the Queen). The Cathedral of Campina Grande was constructed on one of the higher slopes in the area. It formed the Matriz plaza which later also became one of city's most important streets: Avenida Marechal Floriano Peixoto.

The village soon became a town because of the commerce it attracted and the fact that there were few settlements in paraíba.

Campina Grande began as a small village situated in front of an old lake called "Açude Velho." These people were known as "tropeiros" because they were traveling merchants who traded and sold goods such as meat, cotton clothes and corn flour among the cities and villages they passed by. Campina Grand became the village (Vila Nova da Rainha) that they rested in as they were coming from the east to the coast.

The introduction of the railroad caused this tiny village to develop into a bustling city. At the beginning of the 20th century, Campina Grande was called "The Brazilian Liverpool" because of the numerous cotton plantations and factories. At the time, it was the second biggest producer in the world.

Today, the city has added to its old and rich traditions by becoming an oasis of high technologies in the middle of northeastern Brazil

The town

Campina Grande reached the category of town in 1790 with more than 100 houses. On April 6, 1790 it changed its name to "de Vila Nova da Rainha" (New Village of the Queen). At this point the town also began to have a formal government made up of a town council and Notary's office.

Although the name of the town changed, the local inhabitants continued to call the place Campina Grande. However, in official documents the name, "de Vila Nova da Rainha," was the only one used.

The town's development was spurred on by the growth of the regional cotton industry which preferred to ship its product through Campina Grande.

At this point the town included a large area of almost 900 km²,including many smaller villages in the area.

The creation of the Village of Cabaceiras in 1835 and the Village of Alagoa Nova in 1850 reduced the area Campina Grande controlled.

In 1829, a dam across the Piabas stream was started and this became the lake referred to as Açude Velho. In 1852 the population of the town had reached 17,900 people, but in 1856, an epidemic killed almost 1,550 people. So many bodies arrived at the churches that they didn't have enough room to bury them.

The city

On October 11, 1864 Campina Grande was raised to the category of city. It was not the first to reach this designation though. In 1846, Areia had been designated a city and dominated the region economically, politically and culturally. Although Campina Grande was not as established as Areia, it was really not any smaller than that city. At this time, the city of Campina Grande had three plazas, four streets and about 300 houses. Of these, there still exists today the two churches: the Matriz (the Cathedral) and the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary. The latter had been destroyed at one time, but was rebuilt. Although there was plenty of commercial activity, there was very little actual construction of houses and government buildings. By the end of the nineteenth century, Campina Grande still only had about 500 houses.

In the year 1864 a building was constructed for the marketing of goods. This area had many names over time: "Largo do Comércio Novo", "Praça da Uruguaiana", "Praça das Gameleiras", "Praça da Independência" and finally, "Praça Epitácio Pessoa". In 1870 a law banning the washing of clothes and animals in Açude Velho was proclaimed. On September 18, 1865 the metric system was made the official form of measurement in Campina Grande.

In 1874, a rebellion led by João Vieira occurred. João Vieira and a number of revolutionaries came down from the Bodopitá mountain range and invaded the city's market. They broke into some money boxes and destroyed a few things. The revolt spread out across the region. Over time the rebels grew in numbers and became well armed. They were led by Manoel de Barros Souza and Alexandre de Viveiros. One of the objectives of Alexandre de Viveiros was to break into the city jail and liberate all the prisoners, including the father of Manoel de Barros Souza. They also planned to set the municipal offices on fire in order to destroy all the records kept there. However, over the next number of months the police force disrupted their plans. Alexandre de Viveiros was eventually imprisoned, but João Vieirad disappeared. After the revolt, the police abused the population without cause, arresting or punishing innocent citizens. Thus, the average person suffered both from the rebels and the police.

On March 25, 1877 a new Municipal building was constructed next to the Cathedral. It became one of the most elegant buildings in the state and initiated an area of fine homes.

In May 1891, a theatre was constructed for the purpose of both teaching and performance. This became the Colégio Alfredo Dantas.

The city continued to gradually develop, but it was only at the beginning of the 1900s that economic and social changes really occurred. It was at this time that the railroad arrived and with it came cheaper and more varied products that had never been seen before. Their availability impacted the local economy.

Chronology of Campina Grande

A chronology of the growth and development of Campina Grande from its small beginnings as a farm to its status as a city.

Economy

According to 1996 statistics from the Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada, the Gross Internal Product was estimated at R$591.93 million. 3.3% came through agricultural and livestock based activities. 19.8% came through industry and 76.9% was the result of the commerce and service sectors. The yield per capita was of R$1.717.09.

By 2002 the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics estimated that the Gross Internal Product to have grown to R$1,600 billion and the yield per capita to R$4,387.00.

Local Government

Campina Grande has 255,282 eligible voters distributed among 598 sections and four electoral districts.

The first election in 1878 had 34 eligible voters.

The office of Municipal Mayor was created on March 2, 1895 by State Law.

The first mayor of Campina Grande was Major Francisco Camilo of Araújo. Only in 1947 did people begin to have the opportunity to vote for the mayor directly.

As of 2006, the city has had 35 mayors.

List of Mayors

Urban sanitation

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