Curiúva
Curiúva is a Brazilian municipality located in the interior of the state of Paraná. It belongs to the Intermediate Geographic Region of Ponta Grossa and the Immediate Geographic Region of Telêmaco Borba and is situated northwest of the state capital, approximately away. It covers an area of, of which are in the urban area. According to 2018 IBGE estimates, its population was inhabitants.
The municipal seat has an average annual temperature of, and the predominant vegetation in the municipality is the mixed ombrophilous forest. With 68.77% of its residents living in the urban area, the municipality had nine healthcare facilities in 2009. Its Human Development Index is 0.675, which is considered to be in the medium range compared to the state average.
The territory where Curiúva is located began to be colonized around 1947. The original name of Curiúva was Caetê, and its earliest inhabitants were the Kaingang people. Founded through State Law No. 2 on October 10, 1947, and officially established on October 26 of the same year, it was emancipated from São Jerônimo da Serra. Today, the main economic activities in Curiúva are agriculture and service provision.
History
Origins
The explorations that took place in the mid-19th century, aimed at forging paths into the interior along the Tibagi and Paranapanema rivers, are the earliest historical records of what is now the municipality of Curiúva. At that time, at the request of the Baron of Antonina, the explorer Joaquim Francisco Lopes ventured into the tropical forest, crossing the Facão and Caeté ranges. The old trail, connecting the to the then Jataí Military Colony, evolved into a highway due to the constant movement of numerous troops in the opposite direction.The first residents of the area were Fortunato Rodrigues Jardim and Antônio Cunha, who owned vast tracts of land in the region. Many travelers passing through the small settlement that formed grew fond of the place and stayed, beginning to establish a new way of life in a land of warm climate and fertile soil.
There were no doctors in the settlement, and diseases, many transmitted by animals, were a constant issue. Healing was done solely through folk healing and blessings, with doctors or medicine traders visiting only occasionally, arriving on horseback. In 1912, a police district was established, and on November 1, 1913, the area received its first visit from a priest. In 1922, João Antônio Desidério de Oliveira was appointed as the official postman.
Administrative formation and etymology
The original name of Curiúva was Caetê, referencing the range of the same name, which in the Guarani language means "virgin forest." Under this name, the settlement was elevated to the status of a Police District in 1912 by Paraná State Decree-Law No. 985, belonging to the municipality of São Jerônimo da Serra. By Paraná State Decree-Law No. 199 of December 30, 1943, amended by Decree-Law No. 311 of February 26, 1945, the Caetê District began to form the municipalities of Araiporanga and Congonhinhas. From then on, the district was renamed Curiúva.On October 10, 1947, through Paraná State Law No. 2, approved by the then governor of Paraná, Moysés Lupion de Tróia, the municipality of Curiúva was founded and officially established on October 26 of the same year. On the same day, Luíz Lemos took office as the first appointed mayor. The first elected mayor in 1947 was Joaquim Carneiro, a businessman, ceramist, and pharmacist. However, his term was short-lived, ending the following year, as he took his own life, overwhelmed by insurmountable issues in the cooperative he founded. In 1951, the Sapopema District was created, which was emancipated from Curiúva in 1960 to become a municipality. In 1983, Curiúva lost another portion of its territory to form the municipality of Figueira. Today, Alecrim is the only Administrative District.
The name Curiúva comes from the Guarani language and refers to a variety of pine tree, which was abundant in the region during the time of settlement. The term “curi” means “pine cone” or “pine nut,” and “uva” means “tree.” Thus, the city’s name can be interpreted as “pine wood” or “pine tree.”
Geography
According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, the municipality’s area is, with in the urban area and the remaining in the rural area. It is located at and is west of the state capital. It borders Sapopema, Figueira, and Ibaiti to the north; Ortigueira to the west; Telêmaco Borba to the south; and Ibaiti and Ventania to the east.According to the regional division in effect since 2017, established by the IBGE, the municipality belongs to the Intermediate Geographic Region of Ponta Grossa and the Immediate Geographic Region of Telêmaco Borba. Previously, under the division into microregions and mesoregions, it was part of the Ibaiti microregion, which was included in the Norte Pioneiro Paranaense mesoregion.
Geomorphology and hydrography
Geologically, the municipality’s terrain is of Permo-Carboniferous, Permian, and Paleozoic-Permian origin. The soils in the municipality include red-yellow acrisol, latosol, lithic neosol, and haplic cambisol, predominantly with a sandy texture. The municipal seat is at an elevation of. The municipality’s terrain is quite undulating and almost mountainous, with elevations ranging between. Curiúva is located in the Second Paranaense Plateau. The maximum elevation is approximately at Serra do Caeté, and the minimum is at the Tibagi River.Curiúva is part of the hydrographic basins of the Tibagi and Das Cinzas rivers. The main rivers that flow through the municipality are not navigable, including the Laranjinha, Lajeado, and Das Antas, except for the Tibagi, which originates in Campos Gerais.
Climate
According to the IBGE, Curiúva’s climate is classified as humid subtropical, with an average annual temperature of, mild temperatures, and constant rainfall throughout the year. The warmest month, January, has an average temperature of, with a maximum of and a minimum of. The coldest month, June, averages, with a maximum of and a minimum of. Autumn and spring are transitional seasons.The average annual precipitation is, with August being the driest month, receiving. January, the wettest month, averages. In recent years, however, hot and dry days during winter have become more frequent, often exceeding, especially between July and September. For example, on August 30, 1994, thermometers reached nearly in the middle of winter. According to the SIMEPAR Technological Institute, the highest recorded temperature was on November 17, 1975, when some areas reached. The lowest recorded temperature was on July 18, 1975, with an average of.
Ecology and environment
At the time of the discovery of Brazil in 1500, the municipality was covered by a single vegetation formation, the mixed ombrophilous forest. Over time, parts of the native forest gave way to the timber industry and the exploitation of aspidosperma spruceanum, pine, and coal, which are the main plant and mineral resources found in the municipality, as well as to agriculture and pastures for the expansion of livestock farming.Coal has been mined since 1941 by the Cambuí Coal Company, and there are traces of uranium, although the presence of permanent preservation areas now limits which areas can be exploited, even on private property. Non-governmental organizations also contribute to combating illegal deforestation, with projects in the municipality focused on environmental preservation, including native forest restoration, rural property adaptation with technicians and farmers, and environmental education in local schools.
Demography
In 2010, the municipality’s population was counted by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics at inhabitants. According to the 2010 census, inhabitants were male, and were female. The same census reported that inhabitants lived in the urban area, while resided in the rural area. According to 2018 estimates, the municipal population was. Of the total population in 2010, inhabitants were under 15 years old, were aged 15 to 64, and were over 65, with a life expectancy at birth of 72.7 years and a fertility rate of 2.5 children per woman.In 2010, Curiúva’s population consisted of whites, 630 blacks, 116 Asians, pardos, and two indigenous people. Regarding region of birth, were born in the South, 48 in the North, 148 in the Northeast, 33 in the Central-West, and 810 in the Southeast. inhabitants were natives of Paraná, of which were born in Curiúva. Among the natives of other states, São Paulo had the largest presence with 514 people, followed by Minas Gerais with 268 residents, and Santa Catarina with 63 inhabitants. Curiúva has two quilombola communities located in the rural area: Água Morna and Guajuvira.
The municipal Human Development Index of Curiúva is considered medium by the UNDP, with a value of 0.656. The city’s indicators are close to the national average according to the UNDP. Considering only the education index, the value is 0.546; longevity is 0.795, and income is 0.649. From 2000 to 2010, the proportion of people with a per capita household income of up to half a minimum wage decreased by 69.1%, and in 2010, 87.2% of the population lived above the poverty line, 8.8% were at the poverty line, and 4.1% were below. The Gini coefficient, which measures social inequality, was 0.450, with 1.00 being the worst and 0.00 the best. The share of the richest 20% of the city’s population in the total municipal income was 50.4%, or 9.7 times higher than the 5.2% share of the poorest 20%.
According to 2010 census data from the IBGE, Curiúva’s population consisted of Catholics, Protestants, 421 people without religion, 19 Spiritists, and 0.87% were divided among other religions. According to the Catholic Church division, the city is home to the Divine Holy Spirit Parish, established as a community on February 14, 1952, and emancipated in 1953, under the Diocese of Cornélio Procópio.
Politics and administration
Municipal administration is carried out by the executive and legislative branches. The representative of the executive power in Curiúva, chosen by the people in the 2024 municipal elections, was Christiano Borges of the Social Democratic Party, who won a total of votes, with Pithi as vice-mayor.The legislative branch consists of the Municipal Chamber, composed of nine councilors elected for four-year terms. It comprises two seats from the PMB, two from the PSC, two from the PTB, two from the PSB, and one from the PP. The chamber is responsible for drafting and voting on fundamental laws for the administration and the executive, particularly the participatory budget.
The municipality is part of the Curiúva Judicial District, created by Decree-Law No. 5809 on June 15, 1968, following requests from local and regional authorities and leaders, and officially established on July 15, 1970. It also includes the municipalities of Figueira and Sapopema. There were voters in February 2014, representing 0.144% of the total in Paraná.
Symbols
The symbols of the municipality of Curiúva are the flag, coat of arms, and anthem. The coat of arms, flag, and anthem were adopted as symbols by Municipal Law No. 595 on December 1, 1994. The coat of arms is a modern French shield, topped with a chief in argent featuring the dove of the Divine Holy Spirit, symbolizing the municipality’s patron saint. On the right flank of the shield is a fleur-de-lis, representing social change and the happiness of the people, and on the left, a stylized sun at its zenith, heralding a future of achievements for all. In the lower field of the shield, agriculture, reforestation, and araucarias symbolize key economic activities of the municipality. As supports, two factory chimneys represent the potential of industrialization, which could make Curiúva one of the most developed municipalities in the region in the near future. Coffee, maize, and rice with their stalks entwined represent the most important agricultural riches of the municipality. Below the shield is a scroll with the inscriptions 10/10/1947 — Curiúva — 26/10/1947, and above it is a crown with five golden towers.The flag, designed by Professor José Carlos Pereira, consists of a rectangle with the municipal coat of arms in the center and five vertical stripes: vert, argent, and or. Its colors are vert for honor, civility, courtesy, joy, abundance, and hope; or for glory, splendor, wealth, grandeur, and leadership; and argent for peace, friendship, work, purity, and religiosity. The anthem of Curiúva was written by Professor José Carlos Pereira, with music composed by the maestro from Minas Gerais, Sebastião Lima, who settled in Paraná.
Economy
In Curiúva’s Gross Domestic Product, agribusiness and the service sector stand out. According to 2012 IBGE data, the municipality’s GDP was. came from taxes on products net of subsidies at current prices, and the per capita GDP was. In 2010, 61.76% of the population over 18 was economically active, while the unemployment rate was 6.04%.Wages, along with other remuneration, totaled, and the average monthly wage in the municipality was 1.8 minimum wages. There were 422 local units and 418 active companies. According to the IBGE, 73.76% of households survived on less than one minimum wage per month per resident, 20.22% earned between one and three minimum wages per person, 2.10% received between three and five, 0.93% had incomes above five, and 2.98% had none.
; Primary sector
In 2012, of the city’s GDP came from the gross added value of agribusiness, while in 2010, 40.52% of the municipality’s economically active population was employed in this sector. According to the IBGE, in 2013, the municipality had cattle, 630 buffalo, 500 goats, horses, sheep, pigs, and poultry. cows were milked, producing liters of milk. Additionally, kilograms of honey and kilograms of silkworm cocoons were produced.
In terms of temporary agriculture, the main crops are maize, soybean, and sugarcane, in addition to garlic, peanut, rice, onion, bean, cassava, watermelon, tomato, and wheat. In terms of permanent crops, coffee, orange, and lemon stand out, with banana, persimmon, papaya, mango, passion fruit, peach, tangerine, and grape also cultivated.
; Secondary and tertiary sectors
Industrial production contributed to the municipality’s GDP in 2012, primarily from agribusiness and timber extraction, with a smaller presence of mineral, non-metallic product, metallurgical, mechanical, chemical, food, and textile establishments. According to the IBGE, in 2013, m³ of firewood and m³ of logs were extracted, with 32.3% used for pulp production, and according to 2010 statistics, 8.18% of Curiúva’s workers were employed in the manufacturing sector.
In 2010, 7.73% of the employed population worked in construction, 1.25% in public utilities, 11.58% in commerce, and 26.81% in services, and in 2012, of the municipal GDP came from the gross added value of the tertiary sector. Since the settlement’s establishment, commerce has been a significant source of income for the population. In 1907, the first merchant, Constante José Borges, arrived in what was then Caetê from Tibagi. From 1913, commerce began to develop and prosper in the municipality, selling a wide variety of products such as food, fabrics, footwear, clothing, hats, hardware, and subsistence goods.
Infrastructure
Housing and crime
In 2010, the city had permanent private households. Of these, were houses, 16 were apartments, and there were no tenement houses. Of the total households, were owned properties ; 651 were rented; 541 were ceded, and three were occupied in other ways. Some of these residences had access to treated water, electricity, sewage, urban cleaning, fixed telephony, and mobile telephony. households were served by the general water supply network ; had exclusive bathrooms; were served by some form of garbage collection provided by the city hall; and had electricity supply.In 2008, the rates of homicide, suicide, and deaths from traffic accidents were low in Curiúva compared to much of Brazil. Under the Brazilian Federal Constitution, the municipality has a Municipal Guard, tasked with protecting public assets, services, and facilities. Public security services have existed since December 18, 1912, when, through State Decree No. 985, the Caetê Police District was created, with Sub-Commissioner Roberto Mathias taking office under Decree No. 996 on December 27 of the same year.
Healthcare and education
In 2009, the municipality had nine healthcare facilities, including hospitals, emergency rooms, health centers, and dental services, with four being public municipal facilities and five private. All nine were part of the Unified Health System. In 2013, 84% of children under one year old had up-to-date vaccination records. In 2012, 191 live births were recorded, with an infant mortality rate of 15.7 deaths per thousand in that year. In 2010, 2.67% of girls aged 10 to 17 had children, with an activity rate of 14.02% among girls aged 10 to 14. Of the children under two years of age who were weighed by the Family Health Program in 2013, 0.2% were found to be malnourished.In the field of education, the Basic Education Development Index average for Curiúva's public schools in 2013 was 4.8, on a scale ranging from 1 to 10. The score for 5th-grade students was 5.6, while for 9th-grade students, it was 3.9; the national average was 4.9. In 2010, 4.16% of children aged between six and fourteen were not enrolled in primary education. The completion rate for youths aged 15 to 17 was 61.6%, and the literacy rate for young people and adolescents aged 15 to 24 was 99.0%. In 2013, the age-grade distortion among primary education students, meaning those older than the recommended age, was 13.7% for the early years and 30.6% for the final years, while in secondary education, the distortion reached 27.7%. Among residents aged 18 or older, 25.99% had completed primary education, 14.53% had completed secondary education, and the population had, on average, an expected 10.95 years of schooling.
In 2010, according to data from the demographic census sample, out of the total population, inhabitants were attending daycares and/or schools. Of this total, 62 attended daycare centers, 201 were in preschool, 66 were in literacy classes, 48 were in youth and adult education, 2,385 were in elementary school, 602 were in high school, 105 were in EJA in the former elementary school system, and 108 were in the former secondary school system. Thirty-six were enrolled in higher education specialization courses, and 254 were in undergraduate programs. people were not attending educational institutions, with never having attended and having attended at some point. In 2012, the municipality had enrollments in its educational institutions, with 12 schools offering primary education, seven of which belonged to the state public network and five to the municipal network. Three schools providing secondary education were part of the state network.
| Level | Enrollments | Teachers | Schools |
| Early childhood education | 262 | 13 | 6 |
| Primary education | 117 | 12 | |
| Secondary education | 649 | 46 | 3 |
Services
Electricity distribution in the municipality is provided by Companhia Paranaense de Energia. According to the company, in 2011, there were consumers, and kWh of energy was consumed, with a significant portion of the total energy consumed in the city coming from the Figueira Thermal Power Station, which was inaugurated in 1958 and began production on 4 April 1963. The water supply service for the entire city is managed by Sanepar.The area code for Curiúva is 043, and the postal code is 84280-000. On 1 September 2008, the municipality began to be served by number portability, along with other municipalities sharing the same DDD. Number portability allows users to change operators without needing to change their phone number.
Transport
In December 2011, the municipal vehicle fleet consisted of vehicles, including cars, 214 trucks, 36 tractor-trucks, 347 pickups, 152 vans, 21 minibuses, motorcycles, 132 mopeds, 75 buses, 42 trailers, 51 semi-trailers, one wheeled tractor, and ten utility vehicles. The city has a bus terminal, the Curiúva Bus Terminal, located in the city center on Edmundo Mercer Street, inaugurated on 29 April 2011 to replace the old one. It primarily connects the municipality to various cities in the states of Paraná and São Paulo. The first roads and vehicles appeared in the late 1940s and early 1950s during Tobias José Borges' administration, with the first bus line being Curiúva/Ibaiti, operated by Expresso Pássaro Brasileiro.The municipality is served by PR-160 and PR-090, which intersect within the municipality, as well as PR-962, a small access road to PR-160. The municipality was also served by rail transport from the Paraná-Santa Catarina Railway Network, but the railway passed through the district of Figueira, far from Curiúva’s center. The station, Lysimaco Costa, was inaugurated on 15 September 1948 and was the last stop on the Barra Bonita Branch, connecting Figueira to Tomazina. It operated until 1969, when train services ceased. The city where the station was located became independent on 20 April 1982.
Regarding air transport, Curiúva does not have an airfield. The region is served by the Telêmaco Borba Airport, which offers regular flights. Other nearby airports include the Cornélio Procópio Airport and the Londrina Airport.