Pará de Minas
Pará de Minas is a Brazilian municipality located in the state of Minas Gerais.
History
The birth of Para de Minas is closely associated with the locomotion of pathfinders and adventurers seeking gold and precious stones in its surrounding areas in the late seventeenth century. Many gold seekers from the present-day state of São Paulo established settlements in the region of Pitangui, a nearby town. The discovery of gold mines in Pitangui brought many people and wealth to the area among the Rivers Paraopeba, São João e Pará. Among the many adventures was a Portuguese named Manuel Batista who established his residence on the area that came to be Pará de Minas. Manuel Batista, also known as Pato Fofo (or chubby duck), built a chapel dedicated to the Our Lady of Pity next to his farm. The place became known as Patafufo's Settlement and the chapel was elevated to the status of parish on Abril 8, 1846 under the power of Pitangui. Two years later, the settlement was raised to the status of town. However, the new status was revoked in 1850 since the locals did not meet all the conditions laid out in the law of its emancipation. On June 8, 1858, the settlement was once again elevated to town status and it received the denomination of Vila do Pará. The formal emancipation ceremony took place on September 20, 1859 which became the town's foundation date. On July 15, 1872, the town was reincorporated to Pitangui. The village regained its political autonomy on December 23, 1874 when the Municipality of Pará was created.
Districts
Pará de Minas is divided in six districts: Pará de Minas (Main District), Córrego do Barro, Carioca, Ascensão, Torneiros, and Tavares de Minas.
See also
Coordinates: 19°51′36″S 44°36′28″W / 19.86000°S 44.60778°W
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