Jesus Maria (Argentina)

Jesús María is a city in the north-central part of the province of Córdoba (Argentina), and head of the Colón Department. It is also the main urban area of the department, if the respective section of Greater Córdoba is not considered. It is located 50 km north of the city of Córdoba, linked by National Route 9, in the contact area of the eastern foothills of the Sierra Chica with the Pampean Plain, on the banks of the Guanusacate River. The climate is hot and subhumid to dry, with occasional intense cold in the winter^{[citation needed]}.

Jesús María is a place that has very ancient roots and a notable cultural wealth. At first it was an indigenous town called Guanusacate, "dead or bathed water", which over the years developed thanks to the settlement of the Jesuit order. Currently it is the most important financial and agricultural center in the north of the province. In its surroundings there are important ranches that combine farm work with ecotourism or stay tourism.

Known for hosting the National Festival of Dressage and Folklore, Jesús María unites the history and tradition of the gaucho lineage with musical numbers of international prestige. Visitors can visit sites of archaeological and historical value and do outdoor activities on the surrounding circuits.

History

Its origin as a population of European origin dates back to the 17th century from a Jesuit Estancia named after Jesus and the Virgin Mary. In colonial times it was developed not only as a stay of the Company of Jesus, but as a stage of the highway called Camino Real that connected the ports of the Atlantic with the mining areas of Upper Peru.

The Estancia Jesús María was the second productive nucleus of the system created by the Company of Jesus. It was built in 1618 and was characterized by its wine production, promoted by Father Pedro de Oñate, who bought it from Gaspar de Quevedo, owner of the Estancia Guanusacate. In the old Jesuit winery the 'lagrimilla de oro' wine was made. The ranch includes the church, the residence and the winery, remains of old mills, perchel and tajamar. The ranches and the fields for cultivation and grazing disappeared. Built around a central patio, closed on two sides by a two-level cloister, the construction of superimposed arches stands out.

The church with a single vaulted nave is arranged in the shape of a Latin cross. In front of the presbytery, there is the dome and the stone belfry next to the sacristy stands out in the construction.

In 1775, the Estancia Jesús María, whose lands are located in two departments: Totoral and Anejos Norte, were acquired by Mr. Félix Correa de Larrea, leaving it, upon his death, for his heirs until 1863, when Pío A large part of them is bought by León, a Paraguayan citizen who has lived in the region for a long time and married a woman from Córdoba, Doña Saturnina Berrotarán. Already in 1860, León served as an authority in the Totoral department.

Foundation

In 1868 the railway from Córdoba to Tucumán was built, passing through the area. Given this fact, Pío León decided to subdivide the land to establish the town and to fulfill this idea, he commissioned the corresponding work to the same company that built the railway: Telfener and CIA.

In September 1873, the subdivision was ready and four lots per block began to be sold, at which time a new population was born on the land of the Jesús María ranch. By Municipal Ordinance, September 28 is considered the founding date. 1873, the day on which Pio León submitted to the Superior Government of the Province the plans of the so-called 'Villa Primera'. Twenty months later, the first section of the railway was inaugurated, whose route begins in the City of Córdoba and culminates in Recreo, Santiago del Estero, with regular services. This takes place on May 9, 1875. In 1892 the Anejos Norte Department changed its name to the Colón Department and Jesús María was declared Headquarters, ceasing to be called Villa Primera.

Relevant historical facts

Since the 1870s it received important European immigration, mainly from Friulans and Piedmontese. Due to this immigration, the food industry was strengthened (factories of sausages, pickles, pasta, production of jams, alfajores, cookies, wines and liquors).

• In 1871 the telegraph was moved from San Isidro. The Swiss hotel starts working.

• On March 15, 1878, the Friulan immigrants who settle in the Caroya National Colony arrived in the area, known as Casa de Caroya.

• The Government of the province established the Municipality in October 1880, with jurisdiction throughout the department of Anejos Norte. The first government was a triumvirate by neighbors Pio León (son), Antonio Bottazzini and Cástulo Peña.

• The new Municipalities Act, in force since 1884, proclaims the figure of the mayor, the vowels (concejales) and local jurisdiction. The first mayor was Pio León (son).

• The first Registry Office was opened in 1887.

• The Plaza Pío León was opened in 1888. (The current San Martín Square is fifteen years older because it was born with the same town)

• In 1889 the Civil Registry was installed and in 1892 the School of the Garden was created.

• In August 1946, on the initiative of Senator Antonio Guyón and in session chaired by the engineer Ramón Asís, Jesús María is declared a new city in the Province of Córdoba.

It is an outstanding national tourist center with international projection due to the National Festival of Dressage and Folklore, and its Jesuit monuments have been included by UNESCO within the historical and cultural heritage of humanity. On December 20, 2017, Mariana Ispuzua takes office as the first female Municipal Mayor.

Seismicity

The region has medium seismicity; and his last expressions occurred:

• 22 September 1908 (115 years), at 1700 UTC-3, with 6,5 Richter, Mercalli VII scale; location 30°30′0′S 64°30′0′ / -30.50000, -64.50000; depth: 100 km; produced damage to Deán Funes, Cruz del Aje and Villa de Soto, province of Córdoba, and in the south of the provinces of Santiago del Estero, La Rioja and Catamarca.

• 16 January 1947 (76 years), at 2.37 UTC-3, with a magnitude of approximately 5.5 in the Richter scale (Córdoba earthquake of 1947)

• March 28, 1955 (68 years), at 6.20 UTC-3 with 6,9 Richter: in addition to the physical gravity of the phenomenon the absolute ignorance of the population was joined to these recurring events (Villa Giardino's earthquake of 1955)

• 7 September 2004 (19 years), at 8.53 UTC-3 with 4.1 Richter

• 25 December 2009 (13 years), at 21.42 UTC-3 with 4.0 Richter

Urban structure

The city has income from the four cardinal points: from the north through National Route No. 9, from the south through the same artery you reach the city of Córdoba and Colonia Caroya. From the east and west along provincial routes that link it with surrounding towns, it presents a linear structure, derived from the railway that began it, but the growth of its plot is contrary to this development, as a consequence of geographical conditions, such as the river, and the limit with the city of Colonia Caroya. This city serves as the limit to the south and the previously named river to the north, so the city grows to the east and west.

The city, since 2020, has the Parque del Oeste Natural Reserve, in addition to a large number of public squares and urban trees, which give it great environmental quality.

Population

Jesús María has 31,602 inhabitants (Indec, 2010). However, it constitutes a single urban agglomeration next to the town of Colonia Caroya; Between them they reached 47,770 inhabitants, which positioned them as the 8th provincial population by its magnitude; This agglomeration is called Jesús María - Colonia Caroya. In the 2008 Provincial Census, there were 30,727 inhabitants registered for the city itself and another 19,272 for Colonia Caroya, totaling 49,999 inhabitants, making it the 10th city and the 6th of the urban areas of the province..

Graphic of Demographic Evolution of Jesus Mary between 1970 and 2010

Source of National Censuses of INDEC

Economy

Jesús María is the most important town in the north of Córdoba in relation to those in the south. It is the headquarters of public and private institutions, both at the national and provincial levels. Such is the case of INTA, SENASA, Ferrocarril General Belgrano, Vialidad Nacional, Correo Argentino, ANSeS, PAMI, APROSS, National Registry of Automotive Property, Cáritas, Rotary Club, delegations of different professional and union associations, among others. It also has delegations of the Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock and Renewable Resources of the Province of Córdoba and the Ministry of Labor of the Province of Córdoba. In Matters of Justice, the Civil, Commercial, Conciliation and Family Court of First Instance operates; and a Minor and Misdemeanor Investigation Court. The National Night Festival of Dressage and Folklore is the main tourist attraction and takes place during the month of January.

The main economic activity is agriculture, since the primary sector is of fundamental importance for the local economy, not only because of the direct funds it generates but also because of the multiplier effects it produces on other sectors of economic activity.

The main products are soybeans and corn. Other important crops are grain sorghum and perennial pastures. Livestock also occupies a prominent place within the economy of Jesús María and its area of influence, linking the primary sector with industry, which is represented in the area by the company COL-CAR S.A, one of the largest meat processing plants in the province based in the city of Colonia Caroya.

In industrial matters, there is an important chocolate production plant in the town, owned by the company Arcor, a soap factory (José Guma S.A) and a significant number of establishments for the production of Bakery and Confectionery Products, Cold Cuts and Sausages., Wines, and Non-alcoholic Beverages and Soft Drinks.

In commercial matters, it is worth noting that in Jesús María there are 1,081 businesses registered, which are mostly dedicated to the sale of food and groceries, kiosks, and bars. The number of businesses linked to the marketing of automobiles, their accessories and spare parts is also important. Because regional economic activity is concentrated in the agricultural sector, the number of businesses focused on this sector is important.

National and International Festival of Dressage and Folklore of Jesús María

The Jesús María National and International Dressage and Folklore Festival is one of the most important folk music festivals in Argentina and the most renowned horse riding event in the country. It takes place in the city of Jesús María, located 50 km north of the provincial capital of Córdoba, in the José Hernández Amphitheater, which has a stage (Martín Fierro) and a field for gaucho horseback riding.

The festival has been taking place uninterruptedly since 1966 in the first half of January, over ten nights, combining the skill of horseback riding and exhibition of gaucho skills, folk and popular music and the tasting of dishes typical of Creole cuisine.

It is a massive festival that serves as a tourist attraction for the town, attended in 2007 by more than 400,000 people, including those who go to the amphitheater and those who visit the clubs and the craft fair.

Education

There are 9 primary schools in the town:

1. Esc. Ortíz de Ocampo
2. Esc. Dr. José Manuel Estrada
3. Esc. First Lieutenant Morandini
4. Esc. Dr. Francisco Narciso de Laprida
5. Esc. National Gendarmerie
6. Esc. Pedro Giachino
7. Esc. Our lady. (public administration and private administration)
8. Esc. Our lady. of the Miracle Rosary (public administration and private administration

There are 7 secondary schools:

1. IPETyM 69 Juana Manso de Noronha (Provincial Institute for Technical and Media Education)
2. IPEM 361 (Ex-IPEM 69 "ANEX")
3. IPEM 272 Domingo Faustino Sarmiento
4. IPEM 294 Jesus Mary
5. Priv Institute. Our lady. (public administration and private administration)
6. Instituto Nuestra Sra. of the Miracle Rosary (public administration and private administration)

Others: General Maria Paz school, (Primary for adults) C.E.N.M.A. "Jesus Maria" (Secondary for Adults)

Zarela Moyano Higher Institute of Toledo (where careers such as Initial Education Teaching, Primary Education Teaching, Secondary Education Teaching in Mathematics and Higher Technician in Management and Administration of Organizations are taught)

Health

In Jesús María the public offer is made up of a second-level public provider, dependent on the province, the Vicente Agüero hospital, which is one of the most important in the north of Córdoba. It also has five first-level municipal health care clinics, distributed in different neighborhoods of the municipality. Likewise, there are numerous private clinics and private offices of health professionals.

Transport and Infrastructure

Railway

Jesús María has a railway station that currently does not provide passenger services, only cargo services. Its tracks correspond to the CC Branch of the General Belgrano Railway. Its tracks and facilities are in charge of the state company Trenes Argentinos Cargas.

Urban Transport

Jesús María has 6 lines, 4 within the city and 2 that go to its neighboring towns of Sinsacate and Colonia Caroya. Companies from ERSA, COLONIA TIROLESA SRL, FONO BUS carry out the Local Jesús María - Colonia Caroya service together with the Jesús María Company at the cost of $100. Interurban Transport departs to locations in the North/Northwest, Sierras Chicas, Colonia Tirolesa, Córdoba Capital. By Long Distance they go to Tucumán, Catamarca, La Rioja, Santiago del Estero, Tucumán, Salta, Jujuy.