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Congonhal
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Congonhal is a municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.[2][3][4][5] Its population in 2017 was of 11,706 inhabitants according to estimated data from IBGE.
Key Information
History
[edit]The beginning of historic occupation of the region where today is Congonhal and neighbor municipalities, goes back to the mid-eighteenth century, strongly driven by the discovery of gold in the mines of Alto Sapucaí. The city's settlement began in 1756 by paulistas and portugueses, when a bridge was constructed across a river. In 1880 the parish of San Jose was canonically instituted.[citation needed]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ IBGE 2020
- ^ "Divisão Territorial do Brasil" (in Portuguese). Divisão Territorial do Brasil e Limites Territoriais, Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). July 1, 2008. Retrieved December 17, 2009.
- ^ "Estimativas da população para 1º de julho de 2009" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Estimativas de População, Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). August 14, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 7, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2009.
- ^ "Ranking decrescente do IDH-M dos municípios do Brasil" (in Portuguese). Atlas do Desenvolvimento Humano, Programa das Nações Unidas para o Desenvolvimento (PNUD). 2000. Archived from the original on October 3, 2009. Retrieved December 17, 2009.
- ^ "Produto Interno Bruto dos Municípios 2002-2005" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). December 19, 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 2, 2008. Retrieved December 17, 2009.
Congonhal
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Congonhal is a small municipality located in the southern part of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, within the Sul/Sudoeste de Minas mesoregion of the Southeast region.[1][2] As of the 2022 census, it has a population of 11,083 inhabitants and covers an area of 205.125 km², resulting in a population density of 54.03 inhabitants per square kilometer.[2]
The occupation of the territory of Congonhal began around 1800, initiated by Comendador José Ferreira de Matos, one of the first inhabitants and founders of the locality.[3] Originally known as São José do Congonhal due to the abundance of a native grass called "congonha" and its dedication to the patron saint São José, the locality was formally established as a district in 1880 under the municipality of Pouso Alegre.[3][4] It achieved municipal status on December 12, 1953, through State Law No. 1039, encompassing the districts of Congonhal and Senador José Bento; the name was simplified to Congonhal in 1938 by Decreto-Lei Estadual nº 148.[3] The region's development was supported by its fertile soils, mild climate, and proximity to larger centers like Pouso Alegre and Caldas, attracting settlers and fostering growth around a chapel built in 1857.[3]
Economically, Congonhal is primarily focused on agriculture, with coffee production as the leading crop, supplemented by dairy farming and other agricultural activities. Its location amid rolling hills facilitates trade and access to services from nearby urban areas, contributing to a stable rural-based economy. Historically tied to the broader settlement patterns of southern Minas Gerais, Congonhal reflects the state's legacy of colonial expansion and agricultural transformation, though specific ties to early mining activities in the region remain part of the wider historical context of Minas Gerais without direct prominence in local records.[3]
History
Settlement and Founding
The settlement of Congonhal began in 1756, initiated by paulistas from São Paulo and Portuguese settlers.[4] A key infrastructural milestone marking the site's early development was the construction of an initial bridge over the Rio Cervo in 1756, facilitating access and transportation in the rugged terrain.[4] This engineering feat laid the groundwork for permanent habitation amid the challenges of colonial frontier life. The formal religious and administrative foundation of the community came with the establishment of the Paróquia de São José in 1880, which served as a central institution for the growing population and reflected the enduring influence of Catholic missions in organizing colonial settlements.[5]Historical Development
Following the establishment of the Paróquia de São José in 1869, Congonhal experienced key administrative advancements in the late 19th century, including the creation of its district by Lei Provincial nº 2650 on November 4, 1880, which formalized its status within the municipality of Pouso Alegre.[3] This development was confirmed by Lei Estadual nº 2 on September 14, 1891, reflecting growing local organization and population settlement driven by the region's fertile lands suitable for agriculture.[3] By 1900, the Vila de Congonhal had reached a population of 2,400 inhabitants, prompting organized efforts for greater autonomy under the leadership of Coronel Evaristo Valdetaro e Silva, who advocated for political emancipation amid the broader economic shifts in Minas Gerais from declining gold mining to expanding agricultural production.[3] Throughout the early 20th century, Congonhal retained its district status under Pouso Alegre through successive territorial divisions, including those documented in 1911, 1920 (via Lei Estadual nº 843 of September 7, 1923), 1933, and 1936-1937, as well as Decreto-Lei Estadual nº 88 of March 30, 1938.[3] The name was officially simplified from São José do Congonhal to Congonhal by Decreto-Lei Estadual nº 148 on December 17, 1938, marking a step toward distinct local identity.[3] The broader economic transition in Minas Gerais from gold mining dependency to an agriculture-based economy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was influenced by the exhaustion of mineral resources in the state and the rise of the Brazilian coffee boom, which spurred cultivation in the Sul de Minas region, including areas like Congonhal with suitable climate and soil for cash crops.[6][7] This shift supported local growth, with infrastructure improvements such as road connections to nearby Pouso Alegre facilitating trade and migration, contributing to population stability and economic diversification into dairy production alongside cereals.[3][8] A pivotal 20th-century milestone occurred on December 12, 1953, when Lei nº 1039 elevated Congonhal to municipality status, incorporating the districts of Congonhal and Senador José Bento within the comarca of Pouso Alegre, a change that endured in the territorial division of July 1, 1960.[3] This emancipation, building on decades of administrative evolution, enabled independent governance and further integration into regional economic networks, including the coffee export economy that dominated Minas Gerais during the mid-20th century.[7] Regional migrations, drawn by agricultural opportunities, bolstered social and economic development, though Congonhal remained a small-scale producer compared to larger coffee centers.[3]Geography
Location and Physical Features
Congonhal is situated in the Southeast region of Minas Gerais, Brazil, within the Sul/Sudoeste de Minas mesoregion and the Pouso Alegre microrregion, providing contextual placement near the regional hub of Pouso Alegre and approximately 400 km from the state capital, Belo Horizonte.[9][10] Its precise geographical coordinates are 22°09′10″S 46°02′20″W.[11] The municipality spans a total area of 205.125 km² and lies at an elevation of 862 meters above sea level.[9][12] It shares borders with the neighboring municipalities of Pouso Alegre to the north, Borda da Mata to the northeast, Senador José Bento to the east, Ipuiúna to the south, and Espírito Santo do Dourado to the west, all within the same mesoregion.[10][13] The topography of Congonhal is characterized by undulating hills and valleys typical of the southern Minas Gerais highlands, with an elevation of 862 meters at the municipal seat and prominent features such as the Morro Vermelho reaching up to 1,075 meters.[14] The area includes rivers like the Rio Cervo, a tributary of the Sapucaí River, which contributes to the local drainage system and has historically influenced settlement patterns through features like bridges over its course.[15] Congonhal is part of the Alto Sapucaí area, encompassing the upper reaches of the Sapucaí River basin, where the physical landscape of forested hills and waterways supported early colonial gold mining activities.[16]Climate and Environment
Congonhal experiences a tropical highland climate characterized by mild temperatures and distinct wet and dry seasons, typical of the southern Minas Gerais region.[17] Average annual temperatures range from a minimum of about 11°C in the cooler months (June and July) to a maximum of 26°C during the warmer period (January to March and December), with overall yearly averages around 18-19°C.[17] Precipitation is concentrated in the summer months from October to March, totaling approximately 1,553 mm annually, while the dry season from April to September sees much lower rainfall, averaging 34-92 mm per month.[17] The municipality lies entirely within the Mata Atlântica biome, which features dense tropical rainforest vegetation adapted to the region's altitude and humidity.[18] This biome supports high biodiversity, including a variety of tree species, orchids, and endemic fauna such as birds and small mammals, though local forest cover constitutes about 10% of the municipal area due to historical agricultural expansion.[19] The landscape includes areas of secondary forest regeneration, contributing to ecological connectivity in the Sud/Sudoeste de Minas mesoregion.[20] Geography influences the local environment through the presence of rivers that provide essential water resources, including the Rio do Peixe, which flows entirely within municipal boundaries, and a small portion of the Rio Sapucaí.[18] These waterways support hydrological cycles tied to the Mata Atlântica's rainy season, aiding in groundwater recharge and maintaining riparian ecosystems.[18] Unique ecological aspects of the mesoregion include fertile latosol soils, such as red-yellow latossols, which are deep, well-drained, and nutrient-rich, making them suitable for perennial crops while sustaining the biome's biodiversity.[21]Demographics
Population Statistics
According to the 2022 Brazilian Census conducted by the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE), the municipality of Congonhal has a population of 11,083 inhabitants.[2] This figure represents a 5.88% increase from the adjusted 2010 census total of 10,468 residents.[22] Prior to the 2022 census, IBGE estimates placed the population at 12,082 for 2020 and 11,706 for 2017.[23][24] Historical population data from IBGE censuses indicate steady growth since 1991. The 1991 census recorded 7,094 inhabitants, rising to 8,726 by 2000 and 10,468 by 2010.[25] This reflects an average annual growth rate of approximately 2.1% between 1991 and 2010, driven primarily by natural population increase and limited net migration. IBGE projections estimate the population will reach 11,444 by 2025, suggesting continued modest expansion at about 1% annually.[2] In terms of distribution, the 2010 census showed an urban population of 7,766 (74% of the total) concentrated in the municipal seat, with 2,702 residents (26%) in rural areas.[26]| Year | Census Population | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 7,094 | IBGE Censo Demográfico 1991[25] |
| 2000 | 8,726 | IBGE Censo Demográfico 2000[25] |
| 2010 | 10,468 | IBGE Censo Demográfico 2010[25] |
| 2022 | 11,083 | IBGE Censo Demográfico 2022[2] |