São Roque do Pico
| São Roque do Pico | |
| Municipality (Concelho) | |
 São Roque do Pico includes most of the northern coast of the island, and extends to the summit of the stratovolcano
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| Official name: Concelho de São Roque do Pico | |
| Named for: Saint Roch | |
| Country |  Portugal |
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| Autonomous Region |  Azores |
| Group | Central |
| Island | Pico |
| Civil Parishes | Prainha, Santa Luzia, Santo Amaro, Santo António, São Roque |
| Landmark | Mount Pico |
| Center | São Roque |
| - elevation | 5 m (16 ft) |
| - coordinates | 38°31′46″N 28°19′19″W / 38.52944°N 28.32194°WCoordinates: 38°31′46″N 28°19′19″W / 38.52944°N 28.32194°W |
| Highest point | Mount Pico |
| - elevation | 2,351 m (7,713 ft) |
| - coordinates | 38°28′6″N 28°23′56″W / 38.46833°N 28.39889°W |
| Lowest point | Sea level |
| - location | Atlantic Ocean |
| - elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Area | 142.36 km2 (55 sq mi) |
| - water | .04 km2 (0 sq mi) |
| - urban | 6.05 km2 (2 sq mi) |
| Population | 3,388 (2011) |
| Density | 24/km2 (62/sq mi) |
| Settlement | fl. 1500 |
| - Municipality | c. 1542 |
| LAU | Câmara Municipal |
| - location | Alameda 10 de Novembro de 1542 |
| - elevation | 18 m (59 ft) |
| - coordinates | 38°31′32″N 28°19′9″W / 38.52556°N 28.31917°W |
| President | Manuel Costa (PPD/PSD) |
| Timezone | Azores (UTC-1) |
| - summer (DST) | Azores (UTC0) |
| Postal Zone | 9940-353 |
| Area Code & Prefix | (+351) 292 XX XX XX |
| Demonym | Sãoroquense |
| Patron Saint | São Roque |
| Municipal Holidays | 16 August |
 Location of the municipality of São Roque do Pico in the archipelago of the Azores
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| Website: http://www.municipiosrp.pt/ | |
| Geographic detail from CAOP (2010) produced by Instituto Geográfico Português (IGP) | |
São Roque do Pico (Portuguese pronunciation: [sɐ̃w ˈʁɔk(ɨ) ðu ˈpiku]) is a municipality in the northern part of the island of Pico, in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. The population in 2011 was 3,388, in an area of 142.36 km².
While the first incursions into the island occurred in the 15th century, the region that would become known as São Roque occurred later. The first colonizers of Pico came to occupy the area of Lajes, coming from the lands of the north of Portugal, because there were few anchorages in other parts of the island. What occurred in the north was starkly different: these colonizers were families from Graciosa, who would much later be supplemented by Flems from Faial, under the orders of Josse van Huerter. At this time São Roque was a peripheral jurisdiction of Lajes do Pico, and many of its religious and cultural ceremonies were centred in this municipal centre from the Convent of São Francisco.
This influence of Faial would continue for much of the island's history, becoming integrated into the Captaincy (colonial administration) of its neighbour.
The municipality was created in 1542, when its citizenry petitioned King John of Portugal to provide them administrative autonomy from Lajes. King John, therefore, carved from Lajes do Pico the territory of São Roque do Pico, while at the same time instituting the civil parishes of São Roque and Nossa Senhora da Ajuda. By granting this concession, the Álvares family promised to celebrate a mass once per week "...until the World lasted", which has been transmitted across their descendents.
The little hermitage of São Roque, and chapel of Bom Jesus, was insufficient to handle its growing populous, and it was decided in 1714 to construct the Church of São Roque, which was completed twelve years.
At the time the population was dedicated primarily to a subsistence lifestyle, with some small cultivation of grapes for the production of wine, and an active fishery. The volcanic eruptions that occurred during the 18th century turned much of the soil fertile, that resulted in the mass production of Verdelho wine, which was a popular export to America and Europe.
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Wikipedia