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Povoação (parish)

Povoação
Civil parish (Freguesia)
Povoação2.jpg
The shoreline of the parish of Povoação, where the first settlers to the island of São Miguel disembarked
Official name: Freguesia de Povoação
Country  Portugal
Autonomous Region  Azores
Island São Miguel
Municipality Povoação
Rivers Ribeira de Além, Ribeira de Pelames
Coordinates 37°44′54″N 25°14′39″W / 37.74833°N 25.24417°W / 37.74833; -25.24417Coordinates: 37°44′54″N 25°14′39″W / 37.74833°N 25.24417°W / 37.74833; -25.24417
Lowest point Sea level
 - location Atlantic Ocean
 - elevation 0 m (0 ft)
Area 26.23 km2 (10 sq mi)
Population 2,161 (2011)
Settlement c. 1472
LAU Junta Freguesia
 - location Rua Monsenhor João M.A. Ferreira
President Junta José Daniel Cardoso Ferreira
President Assembleia Nancy Mota Franco
Timezone WET (UTC0)
 - summer (DST) WEST (UTC+1)
Postal zone 9650-426
Area code & prefix (+351) 292 XX XX XX
Patron saint Nossa Senhora da Mãe de Deus
Locator map AZO SMG POV Povoação.svg
Location of the civil parish (freguesia) of Povoação in the municipality (concelho) of Povoação
Povoação (parish) is located in São Miguel
Povoação (parish)
Location of the civil parish seat on the island of São Miguel
Website: www.jf-povoacao.com

Povoação is a civil parish in the municipality (concelho) of Povoação, on the island of São Miguel in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. The population in 2011 was 2,161, in an area of 26.23 km².

Colonization of the island is commonly associated with the settlement of Povoação Velha, the first colony on the island of São Miguel."Arriving here on the island, the nine discoverers took land in the place where today we call Povoação Velha for which they made later...and, disembarked between two fresh ravines of clear, sweet and cold waters, (the Ribeira de Além and the Ribeira de Pelames) between the cliffs and high lands, (Morro de Santa Bárbara and Lomba dos Pós) all covered in greenery of cedro, laurel, ginger and faias, and other diverse". From the beginning, the locality impressed the settlers, since it was abundant in vegetation, to them indicating a fertil land. Settlement, therefore, progressed from this point on the island: they transported cattle, wheat seed, legumes and agricultural implements.

The parish church, dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Mãe de Deus (Our Lady The Mother of God), was constructed from 24 July 1848, and emblematic for is gilded wood altarpieces and the image of its patron.

On 4 July 1865 the parish council building was first inaugurated, later to be the site of the municipalities local government.

For a long time the fertility of the lands within the Povoação crater made the region recognized as the cereal center of the island.


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