Curitiba

Curitiba is the capital city of the Brazilian state of Paraná. In 2001 it had a population of approximately 1,600,000 people. Its metropolitan area comprises 26 municipalities with a total population of 2.7 million (2000 census) http://www.curitiba-parana.com/geografia-mapas/mapa-regiao-curitiba.htm.

History

The name "Curitiba" comes from the Tupi words Coré Etuba, "much pine", due to the large number of Brazilian Araucaria trees (Araucaria angustifolia), in the region prior to its foundation. The Portuguese who founded a village in 1693 gave it the name of "Vila da Nossa Senhora da Luz dos Pinhais" (Our Lady of the Light in the Pine Forest). The name was changed to "Curitiba" in 1721.

Related Topics:
Tupi - (Araucaria angustifolia) - Portuguese - 1693 - 1721

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Curitiba officially became a town in 1842. Growth was based on the cattle trade. Curitiba, was half way between the cattle breeding country further South and the markets further North. Traders established bases there using it as a wintering station. Curitiba became the capital city of the state of Paraná in 1854 which led to rapid developement and schools, theaters and other facilities were built.

Related Topics:
1842 - Cattle - 1854

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In the 1870's, the first European immigrants, mostly Germans, Poles, Ukrainians and Italians, arrived in Curitiba. A smaller number of Japanese, French, and Swiss immigrants established colonies near the city, mainly devoted to agriculture and traditional craftwork. During the 1900's, Arabs (mainly Syrian and Lebanese), Dutch, Russians, Chinese and Jewish immigrants also established a presence in Curitiba.

Related Topics:
1870 - Europe - Germans - Poles - Ukrainians - Italians - Japan - French - Swiss - Arabs - Syrian - Lebanese - Dutch - Russians - Chinese - Jewish

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The Universidade Federal do Paraná (Federal University of Paraná State), the first in Brazil, was established in Curitiba in 1913, the same year in which electric streetcars were first deployed.

Related Topics:
Universidade Federal do Paraná - Streetcars

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Curitiba is part of the Sister City project, and its sister cities include Himeji, from Japan, and Orlando, FL, USA. It was also chosen to serve as the 2003 American Capital of Culture (jointly, with Panama City).

Related Topics:
Sister City - Himeji - Japan - Orlando - FL - USA - 2003 - American Capital of Culture - Panama City

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