San Pedro del Paraná facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids San Pedro del Paraná
San Pedro del Paraná Location in Paraguay
Country	Paraguay
Department	Itapúa
Founded	June 29, 1789by Joaquin Alós y Bru
Area
• Total	1.421 km² (0.549 sq mi)
Population (2002 Census)
• Total	5,328
• Density	39.43/km² (102.1/sq mi)
Time zone	-4 Gmt
Postal code	6700
Area code(s)	(595) (742)

San Pedro del Paraná is a town in the Itapúa department of Paraguay. It is about 360 kilometers (224 miles) from Asunción, the capital city of Paraguay. You can reach it by following Route No. 1 Mariscal Francisco Solano López, which also leads to Encarnación.

Geography and Climate

Land and Farming

San Pedro del Paraná is located in the northern part of the Itapúa Department. The area has both flat lands and hills. These lands are great for farming and raising animals.

Weather in San Pedro

This area is one of the coldest in Paraguay. This is because it is located in the southern part of the country. There are no tall hills to block the cold south winds. The air also has a lot of moisture.

The average temperature is usually below 21 °C (70 °F). In some coastal areas near the Paraná River, the temperature can drop to -4 °C (25 °F). During summer, it rarely gets hotter than 39 °C (102 °F). The town gets about 1,700 millimeters (67 inches) of rain each year, with October being the wettest month.

People of San Pedro del Paraná

Population Facts

San Pedro del Paraná has a population of about 34,742 people as of 2008. Most of the people (about 81.61%) live in rural areas. There are more males (18,286) than females (16,456) in the district.

Here are some facts about the people living here:

About 42.1% of the population is under 15 years old.
On average, women have 3.5 children.
About 8.0% of the people cannot read or write.
Most people work in farming (22.8%) or other primary jobs (23.6%).
About 27.6% work in manufacturing or construction.
About 47.1% work in services, like shops or offices.
Most homes (94.7%) have electricity.
About 33.8% of homes have running water.

Community Needs

Some people in San Pedro del Paraná still need better access to basic services:

About 7.9% need better access to education.
About 21.1% need better healthcare facilities.
About 31.2% need better housing.
About 20.1% need more support for their daily living.

History of the Town

Founding San Pedro

San Pedro del Paraná was founded a long time ago, on June 29, 1789. The Spanish governor, Joaquin Alós y Bru, was there for the founding. A local leader called Bob chieftain helped the new settlers. He provided food and goods as families moved into the area.

Old Buildings and Heritage

You can still see many old buildings from the early days. Around Epifanio Mendez Fleitas square, there are interesting examples of old Paraguayan architecture. Some homes have walls made of adobe (a type of mud brick) and roofs made of palm leaves.

Other buildings have traditional colonial corridors with wooden pillars. There are also large houses that show the influence of Italian immigrants who settled here. Many owners still take care of these historic buildings.

The Church of St. Peter

The Church of St. Peter the Apostle is an important place of worship. It is dedicated to the town's patron saint. The old church building has been expanded over time, but it still has its original walls, wood, and a beautiful main gate.

Inside, you can find old religious statues with serious and thoughtful faces. These statues show the strong faith of the first settlers. There is a statue of the Virgen del Rosario and a set of Christ Crucified with San Juan and the Virgin of Seven Sorrows. Other saints like the Lord of Las Palmas, San Miguel Archangel, and San Pedro are also kept in the church. Many people believe these statues came from Jesuit workshops.

Historic Places to Visit

San Pedro del Paraná has many places with interesting history.

Campamento Cué: This area is said to be where the residentas (women and children who followed the army) camped during the Paraguayan War (1865–1870). They were seeking safety from Brazilian soldiers. Another story says that General Dr. Manuel Belgrano's forces camped here in 1811 on their way to Asunción.
Isla Yobai: This was a resting place for General José Gervasio Artigas. Around 1940, a priest collected items that simple farmers had saved from this important historical figure.
Noviretá: This area, once called Bobiretá (named after Bob chieftain), is where the old train station used to be.

Economy and Jobs

Most people in San Pedro del Paraná work in agriculture. They grow crops like cotton, sesame, soy, corn, and manioc.

Some people work as civil servants (government employees) or teachers. There are also artisans who create beautiful fabrics like ao po'i and other embroidered items. Small businesses like carpentry shops and bakeries also exist.

Transportation and Communication

Roads and Travel

The most important road for San Pedro del Paraná is Route No. 8, which is fully paved in this area. The district has 74 companies and 12 settlements, with over 500 kilometers (310 miles) of roads.

The two main streets in San Pedro del Paraná, Captain Nicanor Torales and Captain Fulgencio Leguizamón, are cobbled, along with some cross streets. These roads help people and goods move easily between different parts of the district.

There are modern bus services that connect villagers to the capital city, the departmental capital, and other parts of Paraguay.

Getting to San Pedro

From Asunción: You can take daily buses from the Central Bus Station with companies like Tebicuary and La Yuteña. There is an unpaved road that links the town to Route 1, which connects to Encarnación and Asunción.
From Ciudad del Este: You can take Route 6 through Route "Graneros del Sur," passing by Guazu Ygua to San Pedro del Paraná.

Health and Education

Services and Schools

San Pedro del Paraná has had electricity since 1984. It also has a district hospital to provide healthcare.

There are several elementary schools:

Enrique Solano López
Parroquial San Juan Bosco
San Miguel
Juan Javier Romero

For older students, there are:

National School Capitán Nicanor Torales
Agricultural College

Higher Education and Media

The town has two radio stations:

Community Radio Tavañe'e
Radio San Pedro

The Catholic University offers courses in History, Mathematics, and Accounting. Other universities, like the Polytechnic University of Paraguay and UTCD, also have branches here.

The Centro Social Alicia Elisa Lynch, founded in 1953, is a social gathering place for the community.

Important People from San Pedro

San Pedro del Paraná is the hometown of several important people:

Epifanio Mendez Fleitas: A famous Paraguayan poet, musician, and politician. He held important public positions and wrote beautiful songs like "Serenata," "Che Jazmín," and "Che mbo'eharépe."
Gregorio Cabrera: Also born in this district.
Fernando Lugo: The former president of Paraguay, who served until 2013, was born here.

Local Government

The mayor of San Pedro del Paraná is Mr. Sixto Ramon Figueredo, who belongs to the PLRA party. He served as mayor from 2006 to 2010.

Town Size and Population Density

The district of San Pedro del Paraná covers an area of 1,421 square kilometers (549 square miles). With a population of 34,742 people (as of 2008), the population density is about 39.43 people per square kilometer.

The main activities of the people are farming and raising livestock. There are also small businesses like carpentry, bakeries, and clothing production.

Borders of San Pedro

San Pedro del Paraná shares borders with other areas:

North: The Department of Caazapá, separated by the Tebicuary River.
South: The districts of Fram and La Paz.
West: The district of General Artigas.
East: The districts of Alto Verá and Obligado.

Rivers and Streams

The district of San Pedro del Paraná gets its water from the Tebicuary River and several streams:

Arroyo Itá
Arroyo Tacuaru mi
Arroyo Frazada
Arroyo Benítez
Arroyo Poramoco
Arroyo Tacuatí

Tourism and Nature

Natural Attractions

One special natural place in the region is the San Rafael mountain range. This is where the San Rafael natural reserve park is located.

This mountain range is the highest point in the area and is one of Paraguay's most important places for biodiversity. It is home to over 100 types of birds that are in danger because their forest homes are disappearing.

The Tebicuary River Basin, with its many streams and smaller rivers, is one of the most important freshwater reserves in the region.