Palotina
| Palotina | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
 | ||
| Coordinates: 24°17′00″S 53°50′23″W / 24.28333°S 53.83972°W | ||
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Luiz Ernesto de Giacometti | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 651 km2 (251 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 320 m (1,050 ft) | |
| Population (2009) | ||
| • Total | 28,966 | |
| • Density | 44.5/km2 (115/sq mi) | |
Palotina is a city and municipality in western Paraná state, located around 60 kilometers from the border with Paraguay.[1] The population is 28,966 inhabitants, though the 2010 estimate indicates a population of around 33 thousand. Owing to highly fertile land,[1] the city is a flourishing agricultural hub and a base for two major agricultural companies: C. Vale and I. Rieddi. Another highlight of Palotina is the campus of the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR). There is also one private university, the UESPAR (União de Ensino Superior do Paraná).
History
Settlement in the area started in 1953 when Pinho e Terras started to colonize the area. The settlement began to grow and on July 25, 1960 attained the status of municipality. Pinho e Terras approach to colonization was called exemplary,[1] but in the early 1960s the colonists were besieged by gunmen hired by the "new landowners" affiliated with state governor and Socialist Democratic Party boss Moises Lupion.[2] The federal government moved in a regiment of border guards to pacify the area and in 1963 re-nationalized the disputed lands. The colonists had to buy back their own land.[1]
Agriciltural economy of Palotina relies on production of corn, wheat and soybean. A 1969 survey placed Palotina in the cluster of most efficient agricultural communities in Brazil.[3] According to authors of the study, higher productivity in this cluster stemmed from raising pigs, which accounts for 68% of its output. 82% of lands were allotted to fodder crops rather than traditional rice, bean and cotton.[3]
Nowadays, Palotina is a near 30k inhabitants municipality with an agroindustrial economy and a hopeful future. Most of the population, around 68%, are Italian descents. About 13% of the community of are of German descent.
Climate
Humid subtropical climate of Palotina (Cfa in Köppen climate classification) is characterized by humid and warm summers and dry and cold winter.
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Footnotes
References
- Joe Foweraker (2002). The Struggle for Land: A Political Economy of the Pioneer Frontier in Brazil from 1930 to the Present Day. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-52600-0.
Further reading
- Pedro Reginato (1979). História de Palotina, 1954-1979 (in Portuguese). Pallotti.