Where is it?
María Juana is located in the vast meadow of the west center at Santa Fé province, in the north of the Región Pampeana, in the area know as “Pampa Llana Santafesina”, which stands for its land completely horizontal, with no hills or mountains, besides of rivers or lakes. The town is in the exact geographical center of the triangle conformed by the cities of Santa Fé, Rosario and Córdoba, perhaps the richest area of the interior or Argentina. These cities are 125, 210 and 270 kms. respectively from María Juana, which extend the possibilities for cultural and commercial activities in the area. The rain is a very common factor in this territory, with an annual average of 900mm. The temperatures are pleasant, with an average of 11º in the winter and 24º during the summer time.

A little of history
The Chanatimbúes natives used to populate this region, as prove the many elements founded during the years. However, the suppositions of the researchers indicate that the characteristics of the land and the distance of the coast only allowed spend temporary stations with small tribes, mostly because of the lack of food and water. It is like this that by the time of the colonization, there were no more natives, well the progressive expand of the colonies in the province (Esperanza, San Carlos, San Martín de las Escobas) and the campaign of the governors Echagüe y Andia and Pablo López had them move further away. The first group of colonizers came from San Carlos –they were all Italians- with the intention of make of the vast virgin field an agricultural area. Dr. Melitón Espinosa founded the village in 1883 and named it María Juana after his wife Juana Henderson, although he added María because he believed it was to short.

The economic activity
The most important activity in the district is the agricultural and livestock, mainly the deary and its derivatives, which with almost 13.000.000 liters by year is the economic engine that has allowed the development of other activities. It also stands the work of the Honey-making industry and Farmer Cooperative of María Juana Ltda., that in the last harvest had a result of 65.000 kg. of honey of excellent quality. Soy and wheat are cultivate in the nearby colonies while in the town centre has seen a development of a strong commercial activity, along with metallurgists industries and furniture factories. It also stands the food industry, with bakeries, pastas, juices and ice creams. There is also a flour mill, with manufactured derivatives for the domestic and the foreign market, exporting to all Latin America. It is for emphasize the existence of the first national factory of rail carriages, that with facilities of 32.000 square meters is one of the main grounds of the metallurgist industry of the region.

Education, culture and communications
María Juana has two schools of Primary Education: the Escuela Fiscal N°398 Domingo Faustino Sarmiento and the Escuela Particular Incorporada N°1066 Santa María de los Angeles and three High Schools: the Escuehla N°2040 Santa María de los Angeles with guidance into Humanities and Social Sciences, the Escuela Técnica N°380 with guidance in Natural Sciences and the Escuehla Enseñanza Media Particular Incorporada with guidance in Production of Goods and Services. The town also has a School Workshop of Carpentry, a Technical School, an Adult School, a Rural Education Center, and a Center for Adult Literacy, an Academic Center of Higher Education at distance and a very complete Public Library. At the Ernesto Sábato Cultural room there are classes of language, cooking, painting, chess, among other subjects. There is also a Communal Choir for children and adults. A radio of regional range (101.9 MHz) and the show Cable Hogar María Juana (Channel 11) guarantee appropriate local and general information. The ground transportation is through buses that link the town with the rest of the country from the modern station Brigadier General Estanislao López.