Piracicaba

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Coordinates: 22°43′31″S, 47°38′57″W Piracicaba is a city located in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. The population in 2004 was 355,039 on an area of 1,371.8 km², at an elevation of 547 m. This place name comes from the Tupi language, that means "place where the fishes stop". The name is due to the beautiful waterfalls of the Piracicaba river that cuts the city, where the "piracema" (fishes swimming upstream to reproduce) of big fishes such as the dourados can still be observed. It is famous for its sugarcane plantations, its traditional sugarcane spirit production, its traditional music, and the oldest Agronomist Engineering College, the "Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz". The college is more than 100 years old and it is located on a farm with a fantastic collection of trees and plants. People from Piracicaba (known as "piracicabanos") have a distinctive accent. Piracicaba is known by the nickname "Noiva da Colina" (the bride of the hills). Every year there's a traditional party called "Festa das Nações" (Fair of the Countries) where people can eat food from the entire world. In 1766 Antonio Correa Barbosa, charged with the task of establishing a settlement on the Piracicaba river's estuary opted for a location about 90km from it. Piracicaba was officially founded in August 1, 1767.

Piracicaba's economy is fueled in part by the rapidly expanding sugar-cane industry. The harvesting of sugar-cane yields many products, such as sugar, oil, and alcohol. Copersucar, a large company establishment that has a research center focusing on the genetic improvement of sugar-cane, helps fuel this growing industry. Piracicaba is also known for making the best Pamonhas in the world.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MUNICIPALITY

Total Area: 1,312.30 km². It is the 19th city in the State of São Paulo.

Urban area (city and districts): 158.06 km². 95% of Piracicaba's population live in the urban area.

Rural area: 1,154.24 km².

Geographic location: latitude: S 22°42'30 longitude: W 47°38'01

Altitude: 554m.

Weather:

• 37.5° Celsius (maximum)
• 18.0°. Celsius (minimum)

Rain Level: 1,070.6 mm

Distance from São Paulo, the state capital: 152 km - Anhanguera Highway 175 km - Castelo Branco Highway.

Population: (approximately) 300,500

• Women: 151,100
• Men: 149,400
• Urban Population: 286,960
• Rural Population: 13,540

Geometric Rate of the Annual Population Increase: 1.34%

A city of young people: 37% of the population is under 19; 18% is between 20 and 30 years old; 28% is between 30 and 50; only 17 % is over 50.

The urban area consists of:

• 33,093 lots
• 74,759 homes
• 6,907 commercial buildings
• 2,228 industrial buildings

Water and Power supply: practically 100%

Number of telephones (per 1000 inhabitant): 164,26

Number of cars (per 1000 inhabitant): 333,09

Voters: 172,535