Passo Fundo

History

The territory that today constitutes the Passo Fundo region was part of the famous Jesuit Province of the Eastern Missions of Uruguay. Its first inhabitants were the Tupi-Guarani indigenous people and, later, the Jê group, notably the Kaingang, called "Coroados". They sustained themselves through hunting, honey, fruits, and the cultivation of corn and beans. The municipality of Passo Fundo, emancipated by Provincial Law No. 340 of January 28, 1857, and established on August 7 of the same year, was formed from 1827 onwards, as a result of the occupation of the Middle and Upper Uruguay Plateau, with its original territory now encompassing one hundred and seven municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul. It was named after the Passo Fundo River, used by muleteers since the 18th century.

To avoid the difficulties of the old road that passed through Viamão and Santo Antônio da Patrulha and headed towards the lands of São Paulo, new paths were opened that crossed the pampas. The drovers chose to enter the still deserted countryside, thus traveling a less winding route between southern Rio Grande do Sul and São Paulo, and vice versa. The designation of the ford, that is, the shallow stream that allowed passage on foot, called "passo," extended to the respective river and the place where it was located, a small cluster of houses formed next to the road, thus giving rise to the current city of Passo Fundo.

Geography

Accessibility

The following highways leave Passo Fundo:

• BR 285: east to west
• BR 153: north to south
• RS 324: northwest to southeast
• RS 135: northeast

The town is served by Lauro Kurtz Airport located on BR-285, São José. Daily flights from Passo Fundo are headed to:

• With Oceanair - Guarulhos, SP
• With Azul - Campinas, SP
• With NHT - Porto Alegre, Santo Ângelo, Pelotas, Rio Grande, Sant'Ana do Livramento/Riveira, Santa Maria, Florianópolis, Curitiba, Santa Rosa, Erechim, Caçador, and Joaçaba.

Distances to other major cities

Distances from Passo Fundo to:

• Bagé, RS: 541 km.
• Balneário Camboriú, SC: 570 km
• Buenos Aires, Argentina: 1238 km.
• Caxias do Sul, RS: 207 km.
• Chapecó, SC: 180 km.
• Curitiba, PR: 582 km.
• Florianópolis, SC: 510 km.
• Montevideo, Uruguay: 1026 km.
• Pelotas, RS: 561 km.
• Porto Alegre, RS: 280 km.
• Santana do Livramento, RS: 591 km.
• Santa Maria, RS: 293 km.
• São Paulo, SP : 966 km.
• Uruguaiana, RS: 562 km.

Climate

Lying near latitude 28° South at an elevation of 690 m, Passo Fundo has a humid subtropical climate. The annual mean temperature is 17.7 °C with highs of 28.4 °C in January and 18.3 °C in July and lows of 17.7 °C in January and 8.8 °C in July. Winters can be slightly cool with temperatures below 0 °C, frequent frosts and occasional snowfalls. Rainfall is spread out throughout the year with September receiving the highest amount of 183.4 mm and May receiving the lowest amount of 133.5 mm. Humidity is around 70% every month.

|Jan record high C = 35.0 |Feb record high C = 35.1 |Mar record high C = 35.9 |Apr record high C = 32.0 |May record high C = 29.8 |Jun record high C = 27.2 |Jul record high C = 27.1 |Aug record high C = 31.6 |Sep record high C = 32.8 |Oct record high C = 34.5 |Nov record high C = 35.2 |Dec record high C = 36.3 |year record high C = 36.3 |Jan record low C = 9.4 |Feb record low C = 8.5 |Mar record low C = 6.1 |Apr record low C = 2.1 |May record low C = -1.5 |Jun record low C = -1.8 |Jul record low C = -3.5 |Aug record low C = -2.5 |Sep record low C = -2.5 |Oct record low C = 3.4 |Nov record low C = 3.5 |Dec record low C = 6.5 |year record low C = -3.5 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220324043914/https://portal.inmet.gov.br/uploads/normais/Normal-Climatologica-TMAX.xlsx | archive-date = 24 March 2022 | access-date = 20 May 2024}} | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220324043931/https://portal.inmet.gov.br/uploads/normais/Normal-Climatologica-TMEDSECA.xlsx | archive-date = 24 March 2022 | access-date = 20 May 2024}} | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220324044001/https://portal.inmet.gov.br/uploads/normais/Normal-Climatologica-TMIN.xlsx | archive-date = 24 March 2022 | access-date = 20 May 2024}} | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220324043703/https://portal.inmet.gov.br/uploads/normais/Normal-Climatologica-PREC.xlsx | archive-date = 24 March 2022 | access-date = 20 May 2024}} | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220324044003/https://portal.inmet.gov.br/uploads/normais/Normal-Climatologica-PRENDIAS1.xlsx | archive-date = 24 March 2022 | access-date = 20 May 2024}} | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220324043838/https://portal.inmet.gov.br/uploads/normais/Normal-Climatologica-UR.xlsx | archive-date = 24 March 2022 | access-date = 20 May 2024}} | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220324043829/https://portal.inmet.gov.br/uploads/normais/Normal-Climatologica-INSO.xlsx | archive-date = 24 March 2022 | access-date = 20 May 2024}}{{cite web

Economy

The economy is predominantly based on services, with some light industry and agriculture in the surrounding area. Transformation industries employed 8,731 workers in 2006, with commerce employing 19,287, public administration employing 2,808, education employing 3,374, and health employing 4,624 workers.

In the agricultural sector there was limited cattle-raising activity due to the small area of the municipality. The poultry industry was of some significance. The main crops were corn, soybeans, and wheat. In 2006 there were 887 farms employing around 3,600 workers, most of whom were relatives of the farm owner.

Health and education

Passo Fundo is the third largest medical center in southern Brazil. The city has one of the largest and most modern radiology centers and radiation based at São Vicente de Paulo Hospital.

On the Human Development Index Passo Fundo was given .804 in 2000, ranking 149 out of 467 municipalities in the state and 478 out of 3,527 municipalities in the country. Life expectancy (male and female) was 68.5 and the literacy rate was 94%.

In 2005 there were 72 health establishments, of which 4 were hospitals providing 837 beds (69 public).

• Hospital Beneficente Dr. César Santos, Endereço: Alcides Moura, 82 - Vila Popular
• Hospital da Cidade de Passo Fundo Endereço: Tiradentes, 295 - Centro
• Hospital Prontoclínica LTDA Endereço: Doutor Arthur Leite, 37 - Centro
• Hospital São Vicente de Paulo Endereço: Teixeira Soares, 808 - Centro

In the educational sector there were 78 primary schools, 8 middle and secondary schools, and 53 pre-primary schools. In 2005 there were 5 institutes of higher education with around 12,000 students.

The schools of higher education are:

• Faculdade de tecnologia SENAC Endereço: Sete de Setembro, 1045 - Centro Site:www.senacrs.com.br
• Faculdade Meridional Endereço: Senador Pinheiro, 304 - Vila Cruzeiro Site:www.imed.edu.br
• Faplan Endereço: Paissandu, 1200 - Centro Site:www.faplan.edu.br
• Portal Faculdades Endereço: RS-153, 555 - Vila Nossa Senhora Aparecida Site:www.facportal.com.br
• UPF - Universidade de Passo Fundo Endereço: BR-285, Km 171 - São José Site:www.upf.tche.br

National renown

Passo Fundo is nicknamed "A Terra de Gente Boa", Portuguese for "The Land of Good People or Folks." The city is known as being one of the most gaúcho cities in all of Rio Grande do Sul. It is not uncommon to see gaúchos walking the streets of Passo Fundo dressed in their full pilcha or typical gaúcho costumes. It is also known by the country as the National Capital of Literature, according to the law nº 11.264, because of the many literary events and debates organized in the city, such as the National Journey of Literature and the highest readership in the country (6.5 books per year per inhabitant).

Notable people

Passo Fundo is the home town of football coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, and also of the philosopher, opera singer, poet and Germanic philologist Henrique García, and the adopted place of Teixeirinha, a Gaúcho folkloric performer, the modern gaúcho band Pala Velho, as well as it is known for being Pipe's birthplace. The city is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Passo Fundo, elevated from a Diocese in 2011. It is also home of supermodel Letícia Birkheuer and famous volleyball players and brothers Gustavo and Murilo Endres.

In popular culture

• The city was mentioned in the 2002 M. Night Shyamalan science fiction-thriller Signs as the origin of a video from a child's birthday party, in which an image of an alien was captured.

References

References

1. [https://resultados.tre-rs.jus.br/eleicoes/2020/426/RS87858.html Regional Electoral Court's 2020 election results]
2. [https://cidades.ibge.gov.br/brasil/rs/passo-fundo/panorama IBGE 2020]
3. admin. (2025-09-08). "História da Arquidiocese {{!}} Arquidiocese de Passo Fundo".
4. (2017-08-07). "No aniversário de 160 anos, conheça a história de Passo Fundo".
5. link
6. "Tudo sobre a cidade Passo Fundo".
7. admin. (2025-09-08). "História da Arquidiocese {{!}} Arquidiocese de Passo Fundo".
8. [http://www.daer.rs.gov.br/daer_maparodoviario.htm Mapa rodoviario]
9. [http://www.pmpf.rs.gov.br/pagina_interna.php?t=35&c=88&p=181&a=3&pm=158 Prefeitura Municipal]
10. {{usurped
11. [http://www.climate-charts.com/Locations/b/BZ83914.php Climate Charts]
12. [http://www.ibge.gov.br/cidadesat/topwindow.htm?1 IBGE] {{webarchive. link. (2012-04-30)
13. [http://www.frigoletto.com.br/GeoEcon/idhrs.htm Frigoletto]
14. [http://www.ibge.gov.br/cidadesat/topwindow.htm?1 IBGE] {{webarchive. link. (2012-04-30)
15. "Lei no. 11.264".
16. "Signs Script - Dialogue Transcript".