Coronel Oviedo (), locally simply known as Oviedo, is a city in east-central
Paraguay
Paraguay (; ), officially the Republic of Paraguay ( es, República del Paraguay, links=no; gn, Tavakuairetã Paraguái, links=si), is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to th ...
. It is the capital of the
Caaguazú Department, about 150 kilometers east of
Asunción
Asunción (, , , Guarani: Paraguay) is the capital and the largest city of Paraguay.
The city stands on the eastern bank of the Paraguay River, almost at the confluence of this river with the Pilcomayo River. The Paraguay River and the Bay of ...
, and was founded in 1758.
The city has a population of about 52,400 (2006 Estimate) and is the hometown of former president
Nicanor Duarte Frutos. Coronel Oviedo is an important transit point, as it lies halfway between Asunción and
Ciudad del Este. In addition, it sits at the intersection of highways
Ruta 2,
Ruta 7 and
Ruta 8.
The moniker for the city is the "Capital of Work" or ''capital de trabajo'' in
Spanish.
The original name of the city at the time of its founding was "Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Ajos" or "Our Lady of the Rosary of Garlic", as the cultivation of
garlic
Garlic (''Allium sativum'') is a species of bulbous flowering plant in the genus ''Allium''. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, Welsh onion and Chinese onion. It is native to South Asia, Central Asia and northeaster ...
was a prominent local cash crop and formed a significant base for trade in the city. In 1931 the government of Paraguay changed the name of the city to Coronel Oviedo in memory of Cnel Florentin Oviedo, hero of the
War of the Triple Alliance. After the war Oviedo settled in Ajos live there until his dead in 1935.
The city is the seat of the
Roman Catholic Diocese of Coronel Oviedo.
Climate
See also
*
List of cities in Paraguay
*
Departments of Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay (; ), officially the Republic of Paraguay ( es, República del Paraguay, links=no; gn, Tavakuairetã Paraguái, links=si), is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, ...
*
Caaguazú Department
References
{{Authority control
Populated places in the Caaguazú Department
Populated places established in 1758
1758 establishments in the Viceroyalty of Peru