| Arroio Grande | |
| Pushpin Map: | Brazil |
| Coordinates: | -32.2378°N -53.0869°W |
| Leader Type: | Mayor |
| Leader: | Jorge Luis Cardoso |
| Area Total Km2: | 2513.60 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Population Total: | 18,238 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 [1] |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Brazil |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Rio Grande do Sul |
| Subdivision Type2: | Mesoregion |
| Subdivision Name2: | Sudeste Rio-Grandense |
| Subdivision Type3: | Microregion |
| Subdivision Name3: | Jaguarão |
| Elevation M: | 22 |
Arroio Grande (Portuguese meaning the big stream) is a Brazilian municipality in the southern part of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The population is 18,238 (2020 est.) in an area of 2513.60 km².[2] Its second industry is agriculture which was primary until the 1970s, it currently has more urban population (80%) than rural (20%). Much of the area is made up of plains.
The settlement was founded in 1803, around eighteen years before independence by Manuel Jerônimo de Sousa, who was Baron of Mauá's grandfather. In the right bank, the Ferreira family halted the construction, on the right bank, the sons of Manuel de Sousa Gusmão constructed secretly a ranch.
Under law 54 of May 26, 1846, it was lifted to a parish as Nossa Senhora da Graça de Arroio Grande. Under law 596 on January 2, 1867, the municipality of Jaguarão was divided into five districts, one of which was Arroio Grande.
Under the provincial law 843 on March 24, 1873, it became a town with a same name. Under law 590 on November 5, 1890, it became a city with the name Federação, but on July 6, 1891, under law 522, it was renamed to Arroio Grande.
In 1959, the municipality lost part of its area which became the new municipality of Pedro Osório.
All streams empty into Lagoa Mirim.
Arroio Grande has one of the coolest climate in Brazil, its climate is subtropical, its medium annual temperature is 17.5 °C.
Its main agricultural products are rice, soy, wheat, corn and a few more, cattle includes bovines and ovine.
| Product | Tons | |
|---|---|---|
| Rice (in bags) | 216,000 | |
| Soy | 22,907 | |
| Wheat | 2,700 | |
| Corn | 2,400 |
Data: IBGE/2004
Arroio Grande is connected with the national road BR-116, one of the main roads of Mercosul, and additionally the state roads RS-602 and RS-473.