Pijao, Quindío facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pijao, Quindío
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Municipality and town
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Bolívar square of Pijao
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Location of the municipality and town of Pijao, Quindío in the Quindío Department of Colombia.
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| Country |  Colombia |
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| Department | Quindío Department | |
| Elevation | 1,650 m (5,410 ft) | |
| Population
(2023)
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| • Total | 5,439 | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time) | |
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Pijao is a small town and municipality located in the south-eastern part of the Quindío Department in Colombia. It is about 31 kilometers (19 miles) south of Armenia, which is the capital city of the department. Pijao is part of the famous "Colombian Coffee Growing Axis." This area is so special that UNESCO recognized it as a "Coffee Cultural Landscape" World Heritage Site in 2011.
In 2023, Pijao had an estimated population of about 5,439 people.
Contents
Geography of Pijao
Pijao covers an area of 243 square kilometers (94 square miles). It shares its borders with several other places:
- To the north: Buenavista and Córdoba
- To the south: Génova
- To the west: The Valle del Cauca Department
- To the east: The Tolima Department
Pijao's Climate
Pijao has a subtropical highland climate. This means it usually has mild temperatures all year round. The average temperature in Pijao is about 18°C (64°F).
History of Pijao
Early Settlers
The first people to settle in the Pijao area arrived in the 1890s. Many of them came from the Tolima region. They were looking for a new home away from political problems and civil unrest happening at the time.
Other settlers came from cities like Manizales and the Antioquia Department. These early residents decided to build a town. They wanted a place where they could have a church, a school, and other important services.
Founding the Town
A person named Juan García generously donated land for the new village. This land was located in a small valley next to the Lejos River. The official founding document of the town was signed on May 15, 1902.
The settlement was first called San Antonio de Colón. In 1905, it became known as a corregimiento (a type of local administrative division) of Calarcá. Later, in 1927, Pijao became its own separate municipality. The name was officially changed to Pijao in 1930.
Road Access and Growth
For the first 36 years, Pijao did not have any roads connecting it to other places. There was only a mountain path to Calarcá. Traveling this path by mule took two days! People who were carried in special seats by porters took even longer, about three days.
Building the first road from the Verde River was a big project that took ten years to finish. This important road was finally opened on July 20, 1938.
Pijao originally included the land where the town of Buenavista is now located. Buenavista was founded in 1933 and became a corregimiento of Pijao in 1936. In 1966, after the Quindío Department was formed, Buenavista became its own separate municipality.
See also
In Spanish: Pijao (Quindío) para niños
