Joaçaba

Infobox City
official_name = Joaçaba
nickname =
motto =


imagesize = 250px
image_caption = Joaçaba, general vision


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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Joaçaba
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = Region
subdivision_type2 = State
subdivision_name = flagicon|BRA Brazil
subdivision_name1 = South
subdivision_name2 = flagicon|Santa Catarina Santa Catarina
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Armindo Haro Neto
leader_party = PMDB
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
leader_title2 =
leader_name2 =
leader_title3 =
leader_name3 =
established_title = Founded
established_date = August 25, 1917
established_title2 =
established_date2 =
established_title3 =
established_date3 =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 232.354
area_total_sq_mi =
area_land_km2 =
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area_water_km2 =
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area_water_percent =
area_urban_km2 =
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population_as_of = 2007
population_note =
population_total = 24850
population_density_km2 = 105.16
population_density_sq_mi =
population_metro =
population_footnotes =
population_density_metro_km2 =
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population_urban =
timezone = UTC-3
utc_offset = -3
timezone_DST = UTC-2
utc_offset_DST = -2
latd=27 |latm=10 |lats=22 |latNS=S
longd=51 |longm=30 |longs=03 |longEW=W
elevation_m = 522
elevation_ft =
postal_code_type =
postal_code =
blank_name = HDI (2000)
blank_info = 0.866 – high
website = [http://www.joacaba.sc.gov.br www.joacaba.sc.gov.br]

Joaçaba is a small city situated in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, with approximately 25,000 inhabitants. Located in 27º10'22" S and 51º30'03" W and 516.74 m above sea level, the city was colonized in the early 20th century by German and Italian immigrants.

Its industry is based on agriculture and agricultural products such as chicken and pork.

History

This territory was considered Spanish territory as part of the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494). However, the Portuguese occupied this territory from early on.

In 1916, the State of Santa Catarina and its northern neighbor, the State of Paraná, fought for this land, in the so-called "Guerra do Contestado" ("War of the Contested Land"). Santa Catarina State won control of the region, and since then it has been under its jurisdiction.

On August 25, 1917, Joaçaba was established as Cruzeiro, and through its history has also been called Limeira and Cruzeiro do Sul, until federal legislation in 1943 prohibited cities in Brazil from sharing the same name (there is a Limeira in the State of São Paulo).

The current name Joaçaba is derived from the Tupi-Guarani, with the meaning of "crossway."

Today, the city is known for its medical center, which brings medical students and patients from all over Santa Catarina, as well as for its university (UNOESC - Universidade do Meio Oeste de Santa Catarina) which attracts students from all over the country.

It is also noted for its Carnaval and the high quality of life for its inhabitants, which was ranked 1st for the state of Santa Catarina and 8th for Brazil.

The IDH (HDI) list (Índice de Desenvolvimento Humano – Index of Human Development), provided by the UN, gave Joaçaba the score of "0.953" in a scale of 0 to 1 for the year 2003.