Boqueirão, four miles (6.5 km) from Curitiba, in 1950 was the largest Mennonite settlement in Brazil, begun in 1938 by settlers from the Krauel colony in Santa Catharina State.

In 1950 there were about 160 families living here, engaged almost exclusively in dairying. Most of them lived in three villages, two of which were, however, closed; i.e., there were a few non-Mennonites living in their area. The Mennonites were all well enough situated to make a good living. In addition, there were about 130 Mennonite families living at the fringes of Curitiba proper and within the city, half of whom were in the milk business, the other half engaged in skilled trades, factories, and independent business. Two churches, Mennonite Brethren and General Conference, were located in the area.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 397. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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