# Faxinal dos Guedes

Faxinal dos Guedes is a municipality located in the west of the state of Santa Catarina, in the South Region of Brazil. Its population, according to the 2022 Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics Census, was 11 192 inhabitants. With an area of 340,070 km$^2$, part of its territory is located on the western edge of a meteoritic crater, the Vargeão Dome.
It is one of the highest altitude cities in the state of Santa catarina, with its urban area having peaks of up to 3297,244 ft (1.005 m). Because of this, it bears the title of Capital of the Winds.
It is located in the Immediate Geographical Region of Xanxerê and in the Intermediate Geographical Region of Chapecó. It is in the expansive area of the Metropolitan Region of Chapecó and at 307 miles away from the capital of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis.
With a high index of human development, the city is a highlight in the national scenario because it is the only one in the entire southern region of Brazil to have basic sanitation services serving 100% of the urban area besides having almost all of its asphalted streets.
Its economy is based on industry, with emphasis on the production of paper and packaging, and on the agricultural sector, with emphasis on the production of corn and soy.

## Etymology

The name of Faxinal dos Guedes was born, due to the existence of the Guedes Ramos family, powerful landowners, Antonio José and Estevão Guedes Ramos, hence the name Guedes. As for Faxinal, by the characteristic of the municipality, faxinal forests identified by pastures, interspersed with slender trees.

## History
### Foundation

In 1910, it was called Gramado de Joaquina Rosa (Joaquina Rosa's lawn), which had acquired the lands of the former military colony, an integral part of the old municipality of Chapecó, Iguaçu Territory.
The first human groups that occupied the territory of today's municipality of Faxinal dos Guedes, according to archaeological remains, were indigenous people from the Tupi-Guarani Group around 2.000 years ago.
In 1940, the first families of settlers began to arrive, coming from Rio Grande do Sul, mainly descendants of Italians and Germans, including Vergílio Barcelos, Arcangelo Santin, Alexandre Antoniolli, Francisco Antoniolli, Fachinello, Migliorini, Rosa e Silva, Vicente de Oliveira Morais, João Pompermayer and Afonso Scheis, these began to focus mainly on the exploration of native wood, the cultivation of corn and wheat, also appearing the first commercial houses and a more intense social life, with the foundation of the Itagiba Recreational Club in the years 1943.
That same year, colonizers such as Migliorini, Grando & Cia. Ltda, Fioravante Massolini and colonizer Cruzeiro began selling lots from Ressaca farms, Cerca Velha and others. Still in the same year, elevated to the category of 7yh District of Chapecó, he built the 1st School, which also served as a Catholic church, with techers: Juvenal Cunha, Doraci Cavalheiro and Reinaldo Macari, and as Priest Father Gaspar, coming from Palmas.
Around 1943, the first streets and avenues were opened by firm Migliorini, Grando & CIa Ltda, a commercial house was installed by Mr. Vergilio Barcelos, the 1st Sawmill was installed and the Itagiba Recreational Club was created.
The first authorities were, as sub-Mayor, Mr. Antônio Firmino Pereira and, as clerk of Peace, Mr. Francisco Brito de Miranda.
In 1958, as a District of the Municipality of Xanxerê, Faxinal dos Guedes achieved its emancipation, through State Law nº 348 of June 21, with the installation taking place on July 26th of the same year, with Mr. Alexandre Antoniolli as Mayor, and the first elected Mayor was Mr. Antônio Domingos Migliorii, who took office on January 31, 1959.

### Chronology

* Its surface of 339 km² was covered with yerba mate and pine trees.
* District created with the name Faxinal dos Guedes, by municipal law nº 23, of july 10, 1919, subordinate to the municipality of Chapecó.
* In an administrative division referring to the year 1933, the district appears in the municipality of Chapecó.
* Elevated to the category of municipality with the name of Faxinal dos Guedes, by state law nº 348, of june 21, 1958, separated from Xanxerê in the former district of Faxinal dos Guedes. Installed on July 26, 1958.
* By municipal law nº 24, of February 16, 1959, the district of Vargeão was created and annexed to the municipality of Faxinal dos Guedes.
* In a territorial division dated 1-VII-1960, the municipality is made up of 2 districts: Faxinal dos Guedes and Vargeão.
* By state law nº 954, of March 16, 1964, the district of Vargeão is separated from municipality of faxinal dos Guedes. Elevated to the category of municipality.
* In 1964, its surface was reduced to 273 km² with the separation of the current municipality of Vargeão.
* By state law nº 963, of May 15, 1964, the district of Barra Grande was created and annexed to the municipality of Faxinal dos Guedes.
* In a territorial division dated 1-I-1979, the municipality is made up 2 districts: Faxinal dos Guedes and Barra Grande
* Thus remaining in territorial division dated 14-V-2001.

## Geography

It is located at a latitude 26º51'10'' south and a longitude 52º15'37'' west, being at an altitude of 3297,244 ft. The area of the municipality is 273 km$^2$, with approximately 21 km in elongated form in the north-south direction, while its approximate dimension in the East-West direction is 18 km.

### Climate

The climate of the municipality of Faxinal dos Guedes is temperate. The annual average temperature is 16,4 °C, which in winter can reach temperatures below 0 °C causing snow to occur and in summer can reach temperatures up to 30 °C;
The wind in the municipality is constant due to its altitude, with the main directions being Northeast and South.

### Neighboring municipalities
## Infrastructure
### Culture and Events Center

The municipality has two culture and events centers. The largest, located in the downtown, has a modern auditorium with capacity for 530 people, dressing rooms, theater, elevator and a modern sound system. This building also houses the city council and the municipal library. His name, Cesar Avelino Bragagnolo, was a tribute to the son of an important businessman from Faxinal dos Guedes. In addition to this, there is also a smaller culture and events center in the district of Barra Grande.

### Municipal Sports Complex

Located in the São Cristóvão neighborhood, the municipal sports complex has a fully paved athletics track with LED lighting, as well as a football field, health gym and an area for athletics such as shot put.

### Transport

The Vitório Alessio Bus Terminal was strategically built next to the main access interchange to the city. inside the terminal there are ticket counters, a snack bar and public bathrooms. There are line to the main cities in the region and the country through the company Reunidas, among others. Public transport is provided by a local bus company with a line in daily operation between the central regional and the district of Barra Grande.
The main access is via the BR-282 highway for those coming from the Coast or the Far West. It is also possible to arrive using Xanxerê Airport for small aircraft, about 8,6 miles away and with an air taxi company operating regularly, or Chapecó Airport, about 42,2 miles away, which has regular flights to the entire region country by the companies Gol Linhas Aéreas, Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras and Latam.

### Education

According to IBGE, Faxinal dos Guedes has 6 primary schools and 2 secondary schools. Basic education schools are administered by the state of Santa Catarina and offer secondary education, while municipal schools are administered by the municipality and offer only elementary educationBasic education schools are administered by the state of Santa Catarina and offer secondary education, while municipal schools are administered by the municipality and offer only elementary and kindergarten education.
* School of Basic Education Teacher Salustiano Antônio Cabreira
* School of Basic Education Teacher Tertuliano Turíbio de Lemos
* Santa Terezinha Municipal School
* Airo Ozelame Municipal SchoolTeori Zavascki
* Alexandre Antoniolli Municipal School
* Tereza Migliorini Municipal School

## Illustrious Citizens

Teori Zavascki, Minister of the Brazilian Federal Supreme Court.