Brusque is a city in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. It was founded in August 4, 1860, by 55 German immigrants.
The city was originally called Colônia Itajahy, but on 17 January 1890 it was renamed Brusque after former Santa Catarina province president Francisco Carlos de Araújo Brusque.
Brusque is home to Clube Atlético Carlos Renaux, the first professional football team in the state, founded on September 14, 1913. Currently, their official football team is Brusque Futebol Clube, founded on October 12, 1987.
Brusque has a strong women's volleyball team, Abel Moda Vôlei, in the Superliga Brasileira de Voleibol.
- The city is a pioneer in the invention of the voting machine, and the first polling station to use it was also in Brusque (1988).
- First Latin American city to have public computers (1995).
- Headquarters of the first spinning industry of Santa Catarina (1892 - Textile Factory Renaux).
- Headquarters of the only English colony of Santa Catarina (1867).
- The only city in Brazil to use chlorine dioxide to treat water consumed by the population.
Current ethnic composition: 90% Whites; 5% Pardos; 4% Blacks; 0.5% Native American; 0.5% Asian. Original Population: 50% German; 30% Italian; 10% Portuguese; 9% African; 1% Asian.
80% Catholics; 15% Lutherans; 4% Evangelicals; 1% Jehovah's Witness.