Correia Pinto history

Foundation and First Mentions

The history of the city of Correia Pinto is inextricably linked to the colonisation of the mountain plateau of the state of Santa Catarina. The settlement is named in honour of Antônio Correia Pinto de Macedo, a famous pioneer and founder of the neighbouring city of Lages. Although the municipality gained administrative independence relatively recently, in the second half of the 20th century, the settlement itself emerged much earlier as part of strategically important territories in southern Brazil.

Key Development Factors

The formation of the city was facilitated by a successful combination of geographical and economic conditions:

• Tropeirismo: A crucial factor in development was the historic route of cattle drovers (tropeiros). The area served as a convenient resting point when driving herds from the southern prairies to the markets of the central regions.
• Forest Resources: The location within the zone of dense Brazilian araucaria forests attracted the attention of loggers, which stimulated an influx of population.
• Geography: Proximity to the Canoas River and the fertile lands of the plateau created favourable conditions for settled life.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

Since its foundation, the region's economy has relied on timber extraction and agriculture. Sawmilling became the city-forming industry, defining the industrial profile of the area. The cultural code of the residents was formed under the influence of "Gaúcho" traditions — with a characteristic lifestyle, folklore, and culinary preferences typical of the inhabitants of the country's southern mountain regions.

Major Historical Milestones

• 1766: Portuguese pioneer Antônio Correia Pinto de Macedo arrives in the region in southern Brazil to found a settlement for border protection and support of travellers.
• 1771: After floods destroyed the first structures by the river, settlers found Vila de Lages, but some residents remain in the area of the current city.
• 1910: In the village, then known as Vila do Bom Jesus de Canoas, the presence of a chapel, shops, and a permanent population is recorded.
• 1920: The settlement receives district status under the name Correia Pinto within the municipality of Lages.
• 1950: The consecration of the Nossa Senhora dos Campos Church marks the relocation of the city centre closer to the new BR-116 highway.
• 1961: The founding of a pulp and paper mill (now Klabin) gives a powerful impulse to the industrial development of the region.
• 1982: State Law No. 6.058 is passed, proclaiming political emancipation and the creation of an independent municipality.
• 1983: The official installation of the municipality takes place with the inauguration of the first mayor and city council.
• 1990s: The city secures the status of the "Capital of Paper" thanks to the expansion of production capacities and forestry.
• 2000s: The opening of the Planalto Serrano Regional Airport strengthens transport accessibility and the tourism potential of the city.

Stages of Transformation and Development

The development of the city of Correia Pinto is a journey from a small drovers' rest stop to an important industrial centre of the state of Santa Catarina. Each of the events listed below played a decisive role in shaping the modern appearance of the city, defining its economic and urban planning profile.

• Relocation of the City Centre (1950s): One of the most significant urban planning decisions in the history of the municipality. Moving residential quarters and commercial zones from the banks of the Canoas River closer to the highway under construction allowed the city to avoid damage from regular floods and provided space for planned development.
• Construction of the BR-116 Highway: The routing of this federal highway through the municipality's territory brought the region out of transport isolation. The road ensured a reliable connection with major economic centres of Brazil, stimulating trade and population influx.
• Launch of Pulp and Paper Production: The opening of a large industrial combine became a turning point in the economy. This event transformed the city from an agrarian-raw material settlement into an industrial centre, subsequently securing it the unofficial title of "Capital of Paper".
• Political Emancipation (1982): Separation from the municipality of Lages and obtaining independent city status gave a powerful impulse to development. The local administration gained the opportunity to manage taxes independently, investing funds in social infrastructure, education, and street improvements.
• Implementation of Sustainable Forestry: The transition from the uncontrolled felling of araucaria to planned reforestation (planting pine and eucalyptus) ensured a stable raw material base for industry. This decision guaranteed the economic security of the city and created numerous jobs in rural areas.
• Opening of the Planalto Serrano Regional Airport: The commissioning of a modern airport strengthened Correia Pinto's status as a logistics hub. The facility has strategic importance for the entire mountain region of the state, facilitating business contacts and cargo transportation.

Urban Evolution: From River to Highway

The architectural appearance of the city of Correia Pinto is unique in that it clearly demonstrates a radical shift in the urban planning paradigm in the mid-20th century. Unlike the ancient colonial centres of Brazil, there are no centuries-old cathedrals or narrow cobbled streets here. The history of the city's development is divided into two distinct stages, dictated by geography and economics.

Initially, the settlement formed spontaneously along the banks of the Canoas River, following the logic of river navigation and water supply. However, frequent floods and the construction of the federal highway BR-116 led to a massive relocation of the city centre to higher ground. The modern street layout, which took shape in the 1970s and 80s, is characterised by linearity and functionality, oriented towards the highway as the main economic artery.

Architectural Styles and Eras

The city's development is predominantly utilitarian, reflecting its status as an industrial and logistics centre. Nevertheless, several approaches can be traced in the appearance of the buildings:

• Traditional Wooden Architecture (Early 20th Century): In the early stages, thanks to the abundance of Brazilian araucaria forests, wooden structures dominated. This style, typical of the southern states, features pitched roofs for rain protection and spacious verandas. Echoes of this style are still found in the private sector and old farmhouses.
• Industrial Functionalism (1960–1980s): With the arrival of the large paper industry, the city began to be built up with standard residential quarters for workers and concrete administrative buildings. The main criteria were practicality and speed of construction, characteristic of the architecture of developing industrial cities of that era.
• Modern Utilitarian Architecture (Since the 1990s): New public buildings and commercial facilities are built using modern materials (glass, metal), emphasising simplicity of form and energy efficiency.

Landmarks

Although there are no monuments of global significance in the city, several objects form its visual identity:

• Church of Nossa Senhora dos Campos (Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora dos Campos): The main religious symbol of the city. The building is executed in a restrained modern style with elements of modernism. Its architecture symbolises a new stage in the life of the community after the relocation of the city centre from the river.
• Klabin Industrial Complex: The massive industrial structures of the pulp and paper mill are an integral part of the landscape, highlighting the industrial power of the municipality.
• Planalto Serrano Regional Airport: An example of modern transport architecture, combining the functionality of a terminal with aesthetics that fit into the mountain landscape of the region.

Distinguished Historical Figures

The history of the city of Correia Pinto is closely intertwined with the fates of pioneers, political figures, and folk heroes. Below are key figures who played a decisive role in the formation and development of this municipality in Brazil.

• Antônio Correia Pinto de Macedo (1719–1783)
  Founder and Pioneer
  A Portuguese Bandeirante and Captain-Major, in whose honour the city is named. Although he was based in neighbouring Lages, it was his expeditions that opened this region for colonisation. His name is immortalised in the name of the municipality as a tribute for the development of the mountain plateaus of the state of Santa Catarina.
• Domingos Alves Rodrigues
  Landowner and Urban Planner
  A key figure in the modern history of the city. In the mid-20th century, he donated land for the construction of the first church and school at a new location, which initiated the relocation of the city centre from the river banks to the BR-116 highway. In effect, he defined the current geography of the city's development.
• Hortêncio Alves Rodrigues
  Visionary and Community Leader
  Brother of Domingos Alves Rodrigues, who was the first to foresee the economic potential of the federal highway. It was he who convinced residents and relatives to move their homes and businesses closer to the road, which saved the settlement from isolation and regular floods.
• João Maria de Jesus (The Monk)
  Wandering Monk and Folk Healer
  A legendary figure for the entire south of Brazil. This mystic and preacher passed through the region in the early 20th century, leaving behind sources of "blessed water" and places of reverence. The city has a park and a statue dedicated to his stay and the blessings he bestowed upon the local residents.
• João Nunes do Amaral
  First Justice of the Peace
  He became the first official political authority in the settlement. In 1920, when the area received district status, he was elected the first Justice of the Peace (Juiz de Paz), laying the foundations for administrative management.
• Faustino Riscarolli
  First Mayor of the City
  A political figure who became the first elected prefect (mayor) after the official emancipation of the municipality in 1982. His administration focused on creating independent city infrastructure and government bodies.
• Celso Rogério Alves Ribeiro
  Politician and Historian
  Former mayor of the city and author of the book "History of the Municipality of Correia Pinto". Thanks to his works, many facts about the region's past, which might otherwise have been lost, were preserved and systematised.