Blumenau

Infobox City
official_name = Blumenau
other_name =
native_name =
nickname = Cidade Jardim ("Garden City")
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imagesize = 250px
image_caption = Blumenau downtown


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map_caption = Location in the state of Santa Catarina and Brazil
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Brazil
subdivision_type1 = Region
subdivision_name1 = South
subdivision_type2 = State
subdivision_name2 = Santa Catarina
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = João Paulo Kleinübing
established_title = Founded
established_date = September 2 1850
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area_total_km2 = 510
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population_as_of = 2007 est.
population_footnotes = [ [http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/populacao/contagem2007/popmunic2007layoutTCU14112007.xls IBGE – Estimativas 2007 / Contagem da População 2007] ]
population_note =
population_total = 292972
population_density_km2 = 563.6
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timezone = GMT-3
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latd= 26 |latm=55 |lats=08 |latNS=S
longd=49 |longm=03 |longs=57 |longEW=W
elevation_m = 21
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website = [http://www.blumenau.sc.gov.br]
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Blumenau is a city in Santa Catarina state in southern Brazil. It was founded on September 2, 1850 by Dr. Otto Hermann Blumenau along with 17 German immigrants. A few years later Fritz Müller migrated to Blumenau as well.

Etymology

The name of the city is of German origin, with "Blumen" meaning "flowers", and "Au" being a suffix used to refer to floodplains. "Blumenau" hence means "Floodplain of Flowers".

Demographics

As of 2006, Blumenau had an estimated population of 300,000 people, with an area of 510 km². The main ethnic groups of the city are Germans (majority) and Italians. The city displays many historical and cultural reminders of their heritage, such as houses and other buildings built in a traditional German style, statues, and memorials.

Blumenau has a high standard of living, with a Human Development Index of 0.856 as of 2000. [http://www.frigoletto.com.br/GeoEcon/idhsc.htm Frigoletto] The crime rate is very low and the illiteracy rate is under 2.85%.Fact|date=January 2008

Ethnicity

Economy

The municipality's economy is based on industry, commerce, and tourism. The city is a major textile center of Brazil. The headquarters of Hering and Karsten are located there. Recently, Blumenau has also become important in software development, with Senior Sistemas, WK Sistemas, and Benner as its main software employers. Another recent economic development is beer production, with the micro-brewery Eisenbahn.

The principal commercial streets are found in the central area, with XV de Novembro being the most important thoroughfare. Blumenau also has many shopping centers, with Neumarkt being the biggest, its tower easily visible against the city's skyline.

The most significant period for tourism is during Oktoberfest, a traditional Bavarian beer festival. Oktoberfest was created in 1984 after the second major flood to celebrate the resilience of its people. In 2005 there were 365,288 tickets sold, and 266,811 liters of beer were bought at its pavilions.

Divisions

Blumenau has 2 districts and 33 neighbourhoods:

Trivia

* The city was owned by its founder for 32 years, until it was emancipated in March 18th, 1882.
* Blumenau was Brazil's first city to have public electrical lights in the streets. They started working in February 19th, 1909.
* The city was divided in 1934, creating four new towns: Gaspar, Indaial, Timbó, and Dalbérgia (later renamed Ibirama).
* Cinema began in Blumenau in 1900. Radio arrived in 1935, and television in 1969.
* Teatro Carlos Gomes, the city's main theatre, was opened to the public in 1939.
* In 1956 the city's first major church opened. It was later rebuilt in 1963, with the addition of a bell tower.
* The city's most famous landmark is Moellman's Castle, a replica of the city hall of the German city Michelstadt. It was inaugurated in 1978.
* The city's new city hall was inaugurated in 1982.
* Blumenau's first shopping center opened in 1994.

Famous inhabitants

* Theo Balden, sculptor and writer;
* Fritz Müller, biologist;
* Vera Fischer, actress;
* Mariana Weickert, model;
* Ana Moser, volleyball player.
* Rafael Schmitz, Lille OSC football player.
* Tiago Splitter, Professional basketball player (San Antonio Spurs contracted)
* Emílio Henrique Baumgart, architect
* Hermann Blumenau, founder of the city
* Evandro Goebel, soccer player
* Christian Maicon Hening, soccer player
* Urda Alice Klueger, writer
* João Geraldo Kuhlmann, botanist
* Jean Carlo Witte, soccer player
* Rosana Couthino, film executive

ee also

* Villa General Belgrano

References

External links

* [http://www.blumenau.sc.gov.br/ City hall site]
* [http://www.blumenau.com.br/ Informational site for tourism and business people]
* [http://www.furb.br/ FURB - Universidade Regional de Blumenau, local university]
* [http://www.oktoberfestblumenau.com.br/ Oktoberfest/Blumenau (in Portuguese)]
* [http://www.genealogienetz.de/reg/WELT/brasil.html German Genealogy: Brazil]