Paraguarí Department

Paraguarí
Department
Flag Coat of arms
Coordinates: 25°38′S 57°9′W / 25.633°S 57.150°W / -25.633; -57.150Coordinates: 25°38′S 57°9′W / 25.633°S 57.150°W / -25.633; -57.150
Country	Paraguay
Capital	Paraguarí
Government
• Governor	Miguel Jorge Cuevas (ANR)
Area
• Total	8,705 km2 (3,361 sq mi)
Population (2002)
• Total	221,932
• Density	25/km2 (66/sq mi)
Time zone	AST (UTC-04)
• Summer (DST)	ADT (UTC-03)
ISO 3166 code	PY-9
Number of Districts	17

Paraguarí (Spanish pronunciation: [pa.ɾa.ɣwaˈɾi]; Guaraní: Paraguari) is a departamento in Paraguay. At the 2002 census it had a population of 221,932. The capital is the city of Paraguarí.

The territory which forms this department is located in a valley formerly called "Yarigua'a" that was part of the mission of Jesuit priests in the era of colonization.

Numerous villages existed in this area, whose inhabitants were influenced by priests and chaplains responsible for directing agricultural and livestock activities.

Part of the territory was occupied also by the Dominican missionaries who were responsible for "Tavapy" with black people.

At the end of the 16th century, the Franciscan missionaries founded the city of Yaguarón with indigenous Guaraní.

The development of the new population was consolidated in the 17th century and civilians took shape in the 18th century. Foundations followed on which today form part of this department. In 1725 Carapeguá was founded, in 1733 Quiindy, 1766 saw the founding of Ybycuí, in 1769, Pirayú The current capital of the department, Paraguarí, was founded in 1775. Subsequently, Quyquyhó was founded in 1776, Ybytimí and Acahay in 1783 and was founded Caapucú in 1787.

During the government of Don Carlos Antonio López this territory benefited by the opening of railways in 1854. Once the Paraguayan War, the tracks reached Villarrica, which generated the founding of new cities like Cerro León, Escobar, Sapucai and General Bernardino Caballero.

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Wikipedia