Arroio Grande

Arroio Grande (Portuguese meaning the big stream) is a small Brazilian town in the southeastwern part of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Its population is around 19,000. Its second industry is agriculture which was primary until the 1970s, it currently has more urban population (80%) than rural (20%). Much of the area are made up of plains.

History

The settlement was founded in the beginning of 1803, around eighteen years before independence by Manuel Jerônimo de Sousa, who was Baron of Mauá's grandfather. In the right bank, the Ferreira family halted the construction, on the right bank, the sons of Manuel de Sousa Gusmão constructed secretly a ranch.

Under law 54 of May 26, 1846, it was lifted to a parish as Curato de Nossa Senhora da Graça de Arroio Grande under constitution 39, parish of the state. Under law 596 on January 2, 1867, it separated the municipality of Jaguarão into five districts and four became a part of the parish of Arroio Grande.

Under the provincial law 843 on March 24, 1873, it became a town with a same name. Under law 590 on November 5, 1890, it became a city with a federal denomination that on July 6, 1891 under law 522, and was renamed to Arroio Grande.

In 1959, the municipality separated the area and became the municipality of Pedro Osório. During the revolution, the territory of Arroio Grande saw several battles which had João da Silva Tavares with imperialist forces and on the other side Manoel Antônio da Porciúncula and later, a famous chief David Canabarro.

Between 1970 and the 1980s, its population declined, the population recovered in the late-1990s.

Districts

* Arroio Grande
* Mauá
* Pedreiras
* Santa Izabel do Sul

Bounding municipalities

*Capão do Leão
*Herval
*Jaguarão
*Pedro Osório
*Rio Grande

treams

* Arroio Grande
* Arroio Chasqueiro
* Arroio Bretanhas
* Arroio Parapó

All streams empties into Lagoa Mirim.

Demographics

Climate

Arroio Grande has one of the coolest climate in Brazil, its climate is subtropical, its medium annual temperature is 17.5 °C.

Economy

Its main production are rice, soy, wheat, corn and a few more, cattle includes bovines and ovine.

_{Data: IBGE/2004}

Transportation

Arroio Grande is linked with the national BR-116, one of the roads linked with Mercosul and state roads includes the RS-602 and the RS-473.

Education

* Escola Estadual Ministro Francisco Brochado da Rocha
* Escola Estadual Cândida Silveira Haubman
* Escola Estadual 20 de Setembro
* Instituto de Educação Aimone Soares Carriconde

Other

Arroio Grande has also has a few squares and parks.

ee also

* Irineu Evangelista de Souza (Baron of Mauá).
* Gumercindo Saraiva
* Uladislau Herculano de Freitas

External links

* [http://www.arroiogrande.rs.gov.br/ Official website of the prefecture]
* [http://www.arroiogrande.com Terra de Mauá Portal]
*http://www.citybrazil.com.br/rs/arroiogrande/ pt icon
*Map and Aerial photos:
**Coordinates: coord|32|14|16|S|53|5|13|W|region:BR
**Street maps: [http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=decimal&latitude=-32.2487&longitude=-52.086&zoom=6 Street map from Mapquest] , [http://maps.msn.com/map.aspx?&lats1=-32.2487&lons1=-52.086&alts1=35 MapPoint] or [http://maps.google.com/maps?||=-32.2487,-52.86 Google]
**Satellite images and Aerial photos: [http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=-32.2487,-52.086&spn=0.11,0.18&t=k Google]