Concepción, Paraguay

Concepción
City and district
Concepción
Coordinates: 23°24′0″S 57°25′48″W / 23.40000°S 57.43000°W / -23.40000; -57.43000
CountryParaguay
DepartmentConcepción
Established1773 by Agustín Fernando de Pinedo
Government
 • Intendente municipalLuis Herminio Acosta Paniagua (PLRA)
Area
 • Total
8,490 km2 (3,280 sq mi)
Elevation
44 m (144 ft)
Population
 (2008)
 • Total
76,378
 • Density9.00/km2 (23.3/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-03 (PYT)
Area code8700
ClimateAw

Concepción (Spanish pronunciation: [konseβˈsjon]) is a city and district in northern Paraguay and capital of the Concepción Department. It is situated next to the Paraguay River.

Founded in 1773 by Governor Agustín Fernando de Pinedo, the town prospered in the early years of the 20th century as a river port and a center for the north of the country, exploiting the new wealth of the Gran Chaco. The town also played an important role in the Paraguayan Civil War of 1947. The city is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Concepción en Paraguay.