Coronel Du Graty facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Coronel Du Graty
City
Country	Argentina
Province	Chaco
Department	M. L. J. Fontana
Elevation	256 ft (78 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	9,015
Demonym(s)	dugratense
Time zone	UTC−3 (ART)
Postal Code	H3541
Area code(s)	03735

Coronel Du Graty is a small city and town in northern Argentina. It is located in the Chaco Province. Even though there isn't an exact founding date, the city got its name on January 26, 1942. This date is now celebrated as its official founding day.

How Coronel Du Graty Got Its Name

The city is named after a Belgian military officer, Colonel Alfredo Marbais, Baron Du Graty. The name was officially given on January 26, 1942. This happened through a special government order, signed by Vice President Ramón Castillo. The order named the railway station at "km 23" as Coronel Du Graty.

The Story of Coronel Du Graty

The exact start date of Coronel Du Graty is not fully known. We also don't know the names of the very first people who settled here. This is because there aren't many old documents to tell us the full story. However, one thing is clear: the railway was super important. It helped people settle down and made the town grow.

Some people say this area was first called "Ñandubay." Later, the first settlement was known as "Fortín Encrucijada." Finally, it became "Coronel Du Graty" after a government decision.

Fortín Encrucijada: An Old Fort

Close to where Coronel Du Graty is today, there was an old fort called Encrucijada. It was about 10 kilometers away, on what is now Route N° 95 towards Villa Ángela. This fort was part of a line of forts built by Manuel Obligado. These forts were meant to control the native people in the Chaco region.

According to Carlos Primo López Piacentini, Commander Juan José Rosetti built this fort in 1899. It was one of the first buildings put up by the government in this area. The fort was very important for exploring and taking control of the Chaco lands.

The fort started on August 17, 1899. Soldiers from the 6th Cavalry Regiment built a fort called General Necochea. One day, two soldiers were attacked by a tiger. One soldier bravely killed it. They cut off its head and put it on a pole at the fort's entrance. From then on, people called it "el cabeza de tigre" (the tiger's head) or Fortín "Cabeza del Tigre." This name is still used for the place today.

By 1910, the fort had 30 soldiers and 30 mules. They used the mules to travel through the area on trails cut through the bush. Because of this fort, one of the first names suggested for the new town was Fortín Encrucijada. But this name didn't stick. In 1942, it was changed to Coronel Du Graty by the French Railway Company and the government.

The Railway Arrives

In 1927, a railway line was extended from Villa Ángela. This was done by a company called "La Chaqueña." They needed to transport timber from the forests. The railway reached "Km 23," which is where Coronel Du Graty is now. This spot was also close to the old Fortín Encrucijada.

The new railway line from Villa Ángela to Ñandubay opened on May 29, 1927. There are old photos showing the opening ceremony. María Antonia Zuccarelli, whose father was the manager of La Chaqueña, poured champagne to celebrate.

This railway network helped transport wood easily. A special area was created for loading timber. Because of this, more people settled in the area. The economy grew quickly. A general store was opened by Mr. Victor Luis Goycochea.

Later, cotton farming became important. Farmers sent their raw cotton to other provinces for processing. But in the 1930s, cotton gins opened locally. This meant cotton bales and seeds could be transported by train. Many families from other towns moved to this area as the timber industry declined elsewhere.

A Wave of New People

In the 1920s, many people from other countries came to Coronel Du Graty. Between 1914 and 1947, the population grew a lot. This was because of the new railway lines and the chance to get land for cotton farming. Many Hungarian immigrants settled here.

In 1936, Mr. Carlos and Mr. César Ugarte planned how their land would be used for the town. An expert named Martín Julio Ledesma surveyed the land. At first, the town was going to be called Fortín Encrucijada. This was to honor the old army fort in the area. Today, there are no signs of the fort left. We only know what it looked like from a drawing in a school history book. This drawing was made from the description of an old resident, Ramón Moyano.

The Name Coronel Du Graty Becomes Official

In 1942, the French company that ran the railways asked for names for their railway stops and stations. Records from the Ministry of Public Works show this request. Since the railway had reached the Fortín Encrucijada area, they needed a name for this "detour of Km 23" southwest of Villa Ángela.

So, on January 26, 1942, Vice-President Dr. Ramón Castillo issued a decree. This order officially gave the name Coronel Du Graty to the place. The name was suggested to honor Colonel Du Graty. He was an important military man from another country who had helped Argentina.

See also

In Spanish: Coronel Du Graty para niños