Chimpay

Chimpay
Municipality and village
Entrance to Chimpay
Chimpay
Coordinates: 39°10′S 66°09′W
Country	Argentina
Province	Río Negro Province
Department	Avellaneda Department, Río Negro
Elevation	489 ft (149 m)
Population  (2010 census [INDEC])
• Total	4,025
CPA Base	8364
Area code	+54 2946
Climate	BSk

Chimpay is a municipality in Río Negro Province in Argentina. It lies on the National Route 22 in the Mid Valley of the Río Negro.

Populated by the Tehuelche and the Mapuche before the Conquest of the Desert, lonco Manuel Namuncurá established himself there for years, after receiving lands there as a condition to surrender to the Argentine Government. The village is known as the birthplace of his son, blessed Ceferino Namuncurá, who dedicated his short life to help the locals.

The economy is mostly based on its agriculture sector with religious tourism also playing a role. Renowned for its cherry production, the town is considered the Cherry Capital of the province.

Etymology

Chimpay is a Mapudungun word that means curve or turn. In this case, it refers to the turn that the Río Negro makes near the town.

History

Before being incorporated to the Argentinian State, the Mid Valley of the Río Negro was populated by the Mapuche and the Tehuelche nations. The Epeditionary Army arrived to the area in 1870 during the Conquest of the Desert. After years of heavy fighting, local lonco Manuel Namuncurá, saw himself obilged to surrender to the national troops in 1884. Salesian priest Domingo Melanesio acted as a mediator in the negotiations with the Buenos Aires Government.

The natives were granted lands in the current Chimpay. Namuncurá, then with the rank of Colonel of the Army, settled in the area for various years before finding more favorable lands for his people in San Ignacio in the Neuquén Province. From his relationship with former Chilean captive Rosario Burgos, future blessed religious student Ceferino Namuncurá, venerated througout northern Patagonia and Argentina was born in 1886.

The Namuncurás, left to right: Julián, Manuel and Ceferino

The railway station was inaugurated in 1889 as a stop in the Bahía Blanca-Confluencia line of the Buenos Aires Great Southern Railway. Around 1900, settlers started populating the region of the Mid Valley, organized with Choele Choel as its center. At that time, the town was considered just a refuge on the side of the road.

Ceferino Namuncurá died from tuberculosis at the early of 18 on May 11, 1905 in Rome, where he had been studying to become a priest and met Pope Pius X. As there was no official founding date, the day of his death was chosen as the town's founding date. The first developing comitee was established on April 6, 1934.

As Namuncurá started being venerated in places as far as Buenos Aires by the 1960s, Chimpay became a site of pilgrimage and his first statue was placed in 1971. It drew world attention in 2007, when Pope Benedict XVI blessed him and a populous ceremony with political and religious authorities took place there.

Apart from its religious prominence, Chimpay developed as an agricultural productive area, not much different from the neighboring towns.

Geography

Chimpay belongs to the Avellaneda Department of the Río Negro Province in northern Patagonia. It lies in the Mid Valley of the Río Negro on the left bank of the river, sorrounded by the typical steep slopes that are known in the area as bardas. The general elevation is 149 m (489 ft) above sea level. The climate is described as mild continental and semi-arid.

Served by the National Route 22, it is located about 858 km (533 mi) from the national capital, Buenos Aires.

Demographics

As of the 2010 Argentine census, there were a total of 4,025 ihnabitants in the municipality. It was recorded a growth of 25,4% in comparison to the 2001 census, when 3,003 people lived in the municipality. Previous censuses showed a total of 1,268 (1991) and 880 (1980) inhabitants, respectively.

Economy

The region's economy is mainly based on agriculture. A number of fruit companies settled in the Mid Valley between the late 1990s and the early 2000s, causing a population growth. Chimpay is known as the leader in cherries production in the province. Religious tourism, especially among Ceferino Namuncurá's devotees, brings also an important revenue to the local economy.

Local culture

Gravel road in Chimpay

Chimpay is strongly influenced by the figure of blessed Ceferino Namuncurá, who dedicated his short life to help his people and pursued the goal of becoming a priest to come back to the region. Although a small town life with little movement on its streets is seen most of the year, thousands of pilgrims arrive there in August to celebrate Namuncurá's birth date. The celebration lasts a few days and different activities, such as religious services, cultural events and a local craftsmen fair take place.

The Ceferinian park with has around 4 ha of extension with trees, paths and a lagoon. The chapel located there has Mapuche and Tehuelche elements, such as graphic symbols, a mural displaying Jesus Christ with the natives and a tent-shaped roof. Additionally, a 5 m (16 ft) marmor statue of him on a 4 m (13 ft) base was unveiled on 2009.

Renowed by its cherry production, the Provincial Cherry Festival is held every year. In its three days, cultural events, an agricultural fair and a craftsmen fair among others take place.