Cascavel
Municipality in Paraná, Brazil
title: "Cascavel" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["cascavel", "populated-places-established-in-1928", "municipalities-in-paraná-(state)"] description: "Municipality in Paraná, Brazil" topic_path: "general/cascavel" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascavel" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Municipality in Paraná, Brazil ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Cascavel |
| official_name | Municipality of Cascavel |
| settlement_type | Municipality |
| native_name | |
| nicknames | Capital of the West |
| Mercosur Metropolis | |
| image_skyline | {{multiple image |
| image1 | Cascavel - Vista bairro Country.jpg |
| image2 | Foto da Praça do Migrante tirada a noite com Drone por Fabio Covaleski.jpg |
| image3 | Praça Itália, Cascavel(PR) 03.jpg |
| image4 | Monumento Imigração Japonesa 03.jpg |
| image5 | Igreja do Lago Municipal de Cascavel.jpg |
| image6 | Panorama de Cascavel.jpg |
| image_flag | Flag_of_Cascavel.jpg |
| image_seal | Brasao cascavel.jpg |
| image_map | Parana Municip Cascavel.svg |
| mapsize | 250px |
| map_caption | Location in Paraná |
| pushpin_map | Brazil |
| pushpin_label_position | above |
| pushpin_mapsize | 250 |
| pushpin_map_caption | Location in Brazil |
| subdivision_type | Country |
| subdivision_type1 | Region |
| subdivision_type2 | State |
| subdivision_name | Brazil |
| subdivision_name1 | South |
| subdivision_name2 | Paraná |
| leader_title | Mayor |
| leader_name | Renato Silva (PL) |
| leader_title1 | |
| established_title | Founding |
| established_date | March 28, 1928 |
| established_title2 | Emancipation |
| established_date2 | November 14, 1951 |
| established_title3 | |
| unit_pref | |
| area_total_km2 | 2101.074 |
| area_land_km2 | |
| area_metro_km2 | 10562.37 |
| population_as_of | 2025 IBGE estimate |
| population_total | 368 195 |
| population_density_km2 | auto |
| population_metro | 552097 |
| population_density_metro_km2 | auto |
| utc_offset | -3 |
| coordinates | |
| elevation_footnotes | |
| elevation_m | 781 |
| postal_code_type | Postal code |
| postal_code | 85816-000 |
| area_code | (+55) 45 |
| blank_name | HDI (2010) |
| blank_info | 0.782 – high{{Cite web |
| website | |
| :: |
::callout[type=note]
::
| name = Cascavel | official_name = Municipality of Cascavel | settlement_type = Municipality | native_name = | nicknames = Capital of the West Mercosur Metropolis | image_skyline = {{multiple image|total_width=300px|perrow=1/2/2/1|border=infobox |image1 = Cascavel - Vista bairro Country.jpg |image2 = Foto da Praça do Migrante tirada a noite com Drone por Fabio Covaleski.jpg |image3 = Praça Itália, Cascavel(PR) 03.jpg |image4 = Monumento Imigração Japonesa 03.jpg |image5 = Igreja do Lago Municipal de Cascavel.jpg |image6 = Panorama de Cascavel.jpg | image_flag = Flag_of_Cascavel.jpg | flag_size = | image_seal = Brasao cascavel.jpg | seal_size = | image_shield = | shield_size = | image_map = Parana Municip Cascavel.svg | mapsize = 250px | map_caption = Location in Paraná | image_map1 = | mapsize1 = | map_caption1 = | pushpin_map = Brazil | pushpin_label_position = above | pushpin_mapsize = 250 | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Brazil | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_type2 = State | subdivision_name = Brazil | subdivision_name1 = South | subdivision_name2 = Paraná | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Renato Silva (PL) Liberal Party | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title1 = | leader_name1 = | established_title = Founding | established_date = March 28, 1928 | established_title2 = Emancipation | established_date2 = November 14, 1951 | established_title3 = | established_date3 = | unit_pref = | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 2101.074 | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | area_total_sq_mi = | area_land_sq_mi = | area_water_sq_mi = | area_water_percent = | area_urban_km2 = | area_urban_sq_mi = | area_metro_km2 = 10562.37 | area_metro_sq_mi = | population_as_of = 2025 IBGE estimate | population_footnotes = | population_total = 368 195 | population_density_km2 = auto | population_metro = 552097 | population_density_metro_km2 = auto | population_urban = | population_density_urban_km2 = | utc_offset = -3 | coordinates = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = 781 | elevation_ft = | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = 85816-000 | area_code = (+55) 45 | blank_name = HDI (2010) | blank_info = 0.782 – high{{Cite web |title=Archived copy |url=http://www.pnud.org.br/arquivos/ranking-idhm-2010.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708233352/http://www.pnud.org.br/arquivos/ranking-idhm-2010.pdf |archive-date=July 8, 2014 |access-date=August 1, 2013 |publisher=United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) | website =
Cascavel is a city in the state of Paraná in Brazil. It is the fifth most populous city in the state with 368.195 inhabitants, according to IBGE 2025 estimate. The distance to Curitiba, the state capital, is 491 kilometers by freeway.
Relatively new and with a privileged topography, Cascavel's development was planned, which gives it wide streets and well distributed neighborhoods. With an area of 2,100,831 km2, it is considered a strategic hub of Mercosul. It is the main city in the Cascavel Metropolitan Area.
The city is on a plateau 781 meters above sea level. It is 504 km west of the state capital of Curitiba and 605 km west of the sea port of Paranaguá, 140 km from the three borders (Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil) at 24° 58' South, 53° 26' West.
Toponymy
The name of the city means rattlesnake in Portuguese; it arises from a variation of the classical Latin "cascabus", meaning "bubbling water boiling". According to legend, a group of settlers camped one night in the region and they were woken by the sound of a rattle; later they realized they set up the camp next to a rattlesnake.
History
Cycle of "erva mate"
The Caingangue natives inhabited western Paraná, which was occupied by the Spaniards in 1557, when they founded the Ciudad del Real Guayrá, in the current city of Terra Roxa.
A new occupation started in 1730 with troops (tropeirismo in Portuguese), but the settlement of the current city began in the late 1910s by settlers of mixed racial ethnicity (caboclos (people of indigenous and European descent)), and descendants of Slavic immigrants, at the peak of the cycle of erva mate.
The village began to form on March 28, 1928, when José Silverio de Oliveira, dubbed "Nho Jeca", bought a glebe from the settler Jose Antonio Elias, in the historical area called Encruzilhada dos Gomes, and which is currently the Cascavel Velho neighborhood. It was at a junction of several trails open by ervateiros (cultivators of erva mate), drovers and military, where de Oliveira set up his warehouse. His entrepreneurial spirit was key to the arrival of new people, who brought ideas and investments.
From the 1930s and 1940s, thousands of southern settlers, mostly descendants of Poles, Germans, Italians, Ukrainians and caboclos migrating from coffee regions, began logging, farming and raising pigs in the village, which became a district in 1938.
Notably, the locality was already included in military maps from 1924, and the village was made official by the town hall of Foz do Iguaçu in 1936, with the name of Cascavel. The prelate of that city, Monsignor William Maria Thiletzek, renamed it "Aparecida dos Portos" (a Brazilian name for Mary, The Mother of Jesus), a name that did not prosper amongst the inhabitants.
Cycle of wood
In the 1930s, with the cycle of erva mate at a close, the surrounding area entered into the so-called "cycle of wood", which attracted a large number of families from Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. In particular, there were many Polish, German and Italian settlers, who formed the basis of the municipal population.
As the native forests were depleted, the land became available to agriculture sector, which underpins the present-day economy.
In 1938, Cascavel became an administrative district.
Emancipation
The municipality of Cascavel was emancipated on November 14, 1951, by state law n° 790, separating it from Foz do Iguaçu. For decades there was a discussion about whether this would be the proper date, as the installation of the first municipal government occurred only on December 14, 1952. However, in 2010, with the law n° 5.689, the discussion was put to rest.
Development
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/Praça_Migrante_Galafassi.jpg" caption="Praça do Migrante"] ::
As the cycle of timber closed in the late 1970s, industrialization began along with increased agricultural activity and a rising service industry. In less than six decades, Cascavel went from a rest stop for travelers and trappers, to the largest municipality in western Paraná and one of the largest economic centers in southern Brazil.
List of mayors
::data[format=table]
| Name | Terms |
|---|---|
| José Neves Formighieri | December 14, 1952, to December 14, 1956 |
| Helberto Edwino Schwarz | December 14, 1956, to December 14, 1960 |
| Octacílio Mion | December 14, 1960, to December 14, 1964 |
| Odilon Correia Reinhardt | December 14, 1964, to January 31, 1969 |
| Octacílio Mion | January 31, 1969, to January 31, 1973 |
| Pedro Muffato | January 31, 1973, to January 31, 1977 |
| Jacy Miguel Scanagatta | February 1, 1977, to January 31, 1983 |
| Fidelcino Tolentino | February 1, 1983, to December 31, 1988 |
| Salazar Barreiros | January 1, 1989, to December 31, 1992 |
| Fidelcino Tolentino | January 1, 1993 to December 31, 1996 |
| Salazar Barreiros | January 1, 1997, to December 31, 2000 |
| Edgar Bueno | January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2004 |
| Lísias Tomé | January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2008 |
| Edgar Bueno | January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2016 |
| Leonaldo Paranhos | January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2024 |
| Renato Silva | January 1, 2025 to Current affairs |
| :: |
Source: Jornal Hoje
Geography
Climate
Cascavel is a humid city, with a humid subtropical climate (Cfa, according to the Köppen climate classification). The annual average temperature is 21 °C (70 °F), with a maximum of 28° (85 °F). Annual average precipitation is 1965 mm (77.362 inches).
|metric first=y |single line=y |collapsed = Y |location = Cascavel, elevation 760 m, (1976–2005 normals, extremes 1973–1998) |Jan record high C = 34.4 |Feb record high C = 34.1 |Mar record high C = 33.9 |Apr record high C = 32.2 |May record high C = 31.0 |Jun record high C = 28.0 |Jul record high C = 28.9 |Aug record high C = 33.2 |Sep record high C = 35.4 |Oct record high C = 34.9 |Nov record high C = 36.6 |Dec record high C = 36.4 |Jan record low C = 9.8 |Feb record low C = 9.2 |Mar record low C = 6.7 |Apr record low C = 3.6 |May record low C = -0.4 |Jun record low C = -0.8 |Jul record low C = -4.2 |Aug record low C = -1.9 |Sep record low C = 0.2 |Oct record low C = 4.0 |Nov record low C = 7.2 |Dec record low C = 10.8 |Jan high C = 28.6 |Feb high C = 28.3 |Mar high C = 28.2 |Apr high C = 25.8 |May high C = 22.4 |Jun high C = 20.4 |Jul high C = 20.9 |Aug high C = 22.7 |Sep high C = 24.0 |Oct high C = 26.2 |Nov high C = 27.8 |Dec high C = 28.3 | year high C = |Jan mean C = 23.1 |Feb mean C = 22.7 |Mar mean C = 22.2 |Apr mean C = 19.9 |May mean C = 17.0 |Jun mean C = 15.1 |Jul mean C = 15.2 |Aug mean C = 16.7 |Sep mean C = 18.0 |Oct mean C = 20.2 |Nov mean C = 21.8 |Dec mean C = 22.8 | year mean C = |Jan low C = 19.1 |Feb low C = 19.0 |Mar low C = 18.3 |Apr low C = 16.0 |May low C = 13.3 |Jun low C = 11.5 |Jul low C = 11.3 |Aug low C = 12.6 |Sep low C = 13.6 |Oct low C = 15.8 |Nov low C = 17.1 |Dec low C = 18.6 | year low C = |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 191.9 |Feb precipitation mm = 177.6 |Mar precipitation mm = 141.5 |Apr precipitation mm = 167.2 |May precipitation mm = 192.3 |Jun precipitation mm = 131.1 |Jul precipitation mm = 110.2 |Aug precipitation mm = 107.1 |Sep precipitation mm = 159.0 |Oct precipitation mm = 224.9 |Nov precipitation mm = 181.7 |Dec precipitation mm = 187.5 |year precipitation mm = | unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm | Jan precipitation days = 14 | Feb precipitation days = 13 | Mar precipitation days = 12 | Apr precipitation days = 10 | May precipitation days = 10 | Jun precipitation days = 10 | Jul precipitation days = 8 | Aug precipitation days = 8 | Sep precipitation days = 10 | Oct precipitation days = 12 | Nov precipitation days = 11 | Dec precipitation days = 12 | year precipitation days = | Jan humidity = 77 | Feb humidity = 79 | Mar humidity = 75 | Apr humidity = 74 | May humidity = 76 | Jun humidity = 77 | Jul humidity = 73 | Aug humidity = 69 | Sep humidity = 69 | Oct humidity = 70 | Nov humidity = 68 | Dec humidity = 73 | year humidity = |Jan sun = 224.3 |Feb sun = 193.7 |Mar sun = 216.0 |Apr sun = 202.3 |May sun = 196.5 |Jun sun = 183.9 |Jul sun = 209.7 |Aug sun = 202.8 |Sep sun = 179.0 |Oct sun = 203.7 |Nov sun = 223.9 |Dec sun = 226.4 |year sun = | source 1 = Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA){{cite web | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240114130030/https://ainfo.cnptia.embrapa.br/digital/bitstream/item/143521/1/Atlas-climatico-da-regiao-Sul-do-Brasil.pdf | archive-date = 14 January 2024 | url = https://ainfo.cnptia.embrapa.br/digital/bitstream/item/143521/1/Atlas-climatico-da-regiao-Sul-do-Brasil.pdf | title = Atlas climático da Região Sul do Brasil: Estados do Paraná, Santa Catarina e Rio Grande do Sul. | publisher= EMBRAPA | access-date = 25 May 2024}} | source 2 = IDR-Paraná (precipitation days and sun 1973–1998){{cite web | url = https://www.idrparana.pr.gov.br/system/files/publico/agrometeorologia/medias-historicas/Cascavel.pdf | title = Medias_Historicas - Cascavel | publisher= IDR-Paraná | access-date = 24 May 2024}}
Demographics
According to the IBGE, the population of Cascavel is formed of the following ethnicities ::data[format=table]
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White | 70,15% |
| Mixed | 26,25% |
| Black | 2,59% |
| Asian | 0,88% |
| Indigenous | 0,27% |
| :: |
Evolution of the population
The city has experienced significant population growth since its foundation, especially during the first decades. On the other hand, several municipalities were ultimately removed from Cascavel, which slightly reduced its demographic expansion. ::data[format=table]
| Year | Population | Percent change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 404 | |
| 1960 | 39,598 | 9.701% |
| 1970 | 89,921 | 127,08% |
| 1980 | 163,459 | 81,78% |
| 1991 | 192,990 | 18,07% |
| 2000 | 245,369 | 27,14% |
| 2010 | 286,172 | 16,63% |
| 2022 | 348,051 | 21,6% |
| :: |
Cascavel Metropolitan Region
Cascavel is the headquarters of the Cascavel Metropolitan Region, an area undergoing conurbation that comprises 23 municipalities in the Western Mesoregion and has a total population of 552,097. It was approved by the Paraná State Legislative Assembly on December 16, 2014, through bill 402/2012 and sanctioned by Governor Beto Richa on January 14, 2015, thus meeting a long-standing local demand.
Economy
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/Centralpark_cascavel.jpg" caption="Economic center of Cascavel"] ::
Cascavel is responsible for 26% of the total production of cereals in the state of Paraná. The main crops are soybeans, wheat, corn, rice, cotton and beans. It is also a big producer of poultry, swine and cattle.
Participation in the municipal GDP: :Livestock raising: 5.95% :Industry: 16.63% :Services: 77.42%
The main industries are food processing, chemicals, metallurgy, and beverages.
It is the terminus of a metre-gauge railway line that goes to the port of Paranaguá.
Transportation
In a strategic position within a big road junction, served by seven intercity roads, being four interstates, making it a mandatory passage for those traveling by road to the Iguazu Falls in Foz do Iguaçu, and to the neighboring countries, Argentina and Paraguay. Also for those heading from South to Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, Northwest to Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul and Uruguay or West to the state capital, Curitiba, the beaches and the seaports in the coastline.
The city is served by the Regional West Airport, previously named Coronel Adalberto Mendes da Silva Airport. The airport has been named in 2022 and 2023, the best regional airport in Brazil.
Universities
Cascavel is a very important college center. Besides a state university, in recent years the city became an important student hub centre, with an increasing number of private universities starting their activities in the city.
List of universities
- Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná
- Universidade Paranaense
- Federal Institute of Paraná - Cascavel campus
Sport
The city is home to the Autódromo Internacional de Cascavel - Zilmar Beux, racing track hosting among others the Copa Truck, Stock Car Brasil, Campeonato Brasileiro de Turismo, and the Mercedes-Benz Challenge.
The city is home to one of the top futsal clubs, Cascavel Futsal Clube, being a two-time Futsal Libertadores Cup winner.
The local association football teams are FC Cascavel and Cascavel Clube Recreativo, in the past there was also Cascavel Esporte Clube. The home of all the teams is the Estádio Olímpico Regional Arnaldo Busatto.
References
References
- (2023-06-28). "População em Cascavel (PR) é de 348.051 pessoas, aponta o Censo do IBGE".
- (2013). "Indicadores do Portal do Município de Cascavel".
- (1980-01-01). "Exibir Ato". Legislacao.pr.gov.br.
- "Portal do Município de Cascavel - Prefeito Edgar Bueno faz lançamento da marca".
- "Jornal Hoje – Especial Cascavel 55 anos".
- [http://www.ibge.gov.br/cidadesat/link.php?codmun=410480 IBGE Cidades - Cascavel]
- "Sobre a RM de Cascavel".
- "Tudo sobre a cidade Cascavel".
- "Universitários ganham novo espaço para eventos".
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::