Limeira

Limeira is a city in the eastern part of the Brazilian state of São Paulo. With a population of approximately 291,869 people¹ (2022 IBGE.) and covering an area of 581 square kilometers, it sits at an elevation of 588 meters. The city is situated 154 kilometers from São Paulo, the capital of the state, and 1011 kilometers from Brasilia, the capital of Brazil. Limeira is conveniently accessible from São Paulo via two highways: Rodovia Anhanguera and Rodovia dos Bandeirantes. In the past, Limeira was a significant center for coffee cultivation and played a strategic role in the industry. It also earned the nickname "Brazilian orange capital" due to its extensive production of citrus fruits. However, the primary agricultural focus in the city has now shifted to sugar cane cultivation. Limeira has gained international recognition as "Brazil's plated jewelry capital" due to its thriving industry in plated and semi-jewelry. More than 450 companies in Limeira are responsible for half of Brazil's exports in this sector. Limeira is part of the São Paulo metropolitan complex, which is the largest in the southern hemisphere, with an estimated population of around 30 million people.

Limeira is a city in the eastern part of the Brazilian state of São Paulo. With a population of approximately 291,869 people (2022 IBGE.) and covering an area of 581 square kilometers, it sits at an elevation of 588 meters. The city is situated 154 kilometers from São Paulo, the capital of the state, and 1011 kilometers from Brasilia, the capital of Brazil. Limeira is conveniently accessible from São Paulo via two highways: Rodovia Anhanguera and Rodovia dos Bandeirantes. In the past, Limeira was a significant center for coffee cultivation and played a strategic role in the industry. It also earned the nickname "Brazilian orange capital" due to its extensive production of citrus fruits. However, the primary agricultural focus in the city has now shifted to sugar cane cultivation. Limeira has gained international recognition as "Brazil's plated jewelry capital" due to its thriving industry in plated and semi-jewelry. More than 450 companies in Limeira are responsible for half of Brazil's exports in this sector. Limeira is part of the São Paulo metropolitan complex, which is the largest in the southern hemisphere, with an estimated population of around 30 million people.

History

The history of Limeira dates back to the economic exploitation of the state of São Paulo, specifically in the mid-1820s, marking the foundation of the Limeira region. The city's name is steeped in legend, offering an intriguing explanation for its origins. According to local folklore, pioneers would often seek respite at a guesthouse situated approximately 150 km from São Paulo, near the Tatuibi River. In the Tupi-Guarani language, "Tatuibi" translates to "small armadillo." This resting place became known as Rancho Morro Azul (Blue Hill Ranch) due to its proximity to a striking blue-hued hill that could be seen from a distance. According to the legend, in 1781, a caravan traveling to the wilderness of Araraquara made a stop in Limeira and set up camp near a stream called Córrego do Bexiga, which is now the location of the Market Model. Among the members of the caravan was a Franciscan friar named João das Mercês, who carried a variety of lime orange known as "picuá de limas," believed to possess healing properties for fevers. However, the friar fell ill later that night and attributed his sickness to the limas, suspecting that they had been poisoned. He died during the night, and the following day, he was buried at the same site along with his untouched Picuá de Lima limes that no one dared to consume due to the perceived risk of poisoning. Legend has it that a lime tree sprouted from the seeds of those limes. Over the years, the place originally known as Rancho do Morro Azul (Blue Hill Ranch) came to be called Rancho de Limeira (the Ranch of the Lime Orange Tree).

Geography

Limeira is located at an elevation of 588 meters in the Campinas Administrative Region, 145 km northwest of São Paulo city. It serves as the administrative hub for the Limeira Microregion, which encompasses eight municipalities: Araras, Leme, Limeira, Pirassununga, Cordeirópolis, Conchal, Santa Cruz da Conceição, and Iracemápolis. The city benefits from its strategic positioning along major road and rail networks, connecting São Paulo state to Minas Gerais and the Midwest region of Brazil. It is also well-connected to a prominent railway line that facilitates the transportation of goods from the Amazon region to the port of Santos. Limeira is situated near the Tietê-Paraná Waterway, a significant water route that links it to the southern states of Brazil and the Mercosur countries. The city is positioned in a region characterized by a peripheral depression, with elevations ranging from 500 to 800 meters. Morro Azul is a notable landmark in the Limeira region, standing at an elevation of 831 meters¹ above sea level, making it the highest point in the area. This prominent feature has served as a reliable reference point for pioneers and travelers, guiding them through the vast territories of the region.

Economy

Industry

Limeira's industrial legacy dates back to 1850 when it first ventured into the manufacturing of agricultural equipment. During the Paraguayan War, Limeira played a pivotal role by producing instruments for soldiers. Between 1907 and 1922, Limeira witnessed the emergence of significant industries, including Chapéus Prada (1907), Café Kühl (1920), and Indústria de Papel Santa Cruz (1922). However, it was after the 1940s that Limeira gained recognition for its industrial sector. Between the 1940s and 1970s, Limeira witnessed the rise of several citrus companies engaged in orange cultivation and orange juice production. These companies catered to both domestic and international markets, including the United States and Europe, contributing to Limeira's reputation as "The City of Orange". Among the prominent players were Citrobrasil (1940) and Citrosuco (1966), which dominated the orange production sector in Limeira. However, the orange industry in Limeira faced a significant setback when the United States implemented protective measures to support its own orange industry in California. This led to a decline in orange production in Limeira. Additionally, the automotive sector gained prominence in Limeira after World War II, with the establishment of companies like 'Freios Varga' (now TRW) in 1945 and 'Rodas Fumagalli' in 1946. In the aftermath of the 1970s, Limeira's industrial sector experienced a rapid expansion, attracting the interest of multinational corporations. Among the notable companies that established their presence in the city are Ajinomoto. In 1974, the American corporation Rockwell acquired Fumagalli, and in 2000, 'Freios Varga' became a part of the English-based Lucas Group. In more recent years, Limeira has become a preferred destination for Japanese and Korean automotive companies, including Yacchyio do Brasil, Stanley, Mando, DAS, and Faurecia. Furthermore, the city has witnessed the construction of a new plant by the French company Faurecia. In 2011, Samsung made a substantial investment of $300 million to establish its manufacturing facility in Limeira. Limeira is renowned for its thriving plated jewelry and semi-jewelry industry, attracting customers from all over the world and earning the city the title of "Brazil's capital of plated jewelry." To make the city more appealing to industries, The local government has implemented various incentive programs aimed at reducing unemployment and informal labor, which have been on the rise along with the city's population. A significant portion of the population commutes to nearby cities such as Piracicaba and Americana for work. According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), Limeira had a GDP of R$12.155 billion (approximately U$3.81 billion) in 2017, with the industrial sector accounting for roughly 50% of registered jobs in the city. Limeira's industrial park has been developed and implemented guided by its incentive program, emphasizing its industrial vocation. Limeira benefits from several advantageous factors for its development, including the expansion of the Bandeirantes Highway (Rodovia dos Bandeirantes), the establishment of the Tietê-Paraná waterway, and the installation of the Brazil-Bolivia gas pipeline.

Agriculture

Rural production in Limeira is primarily focused on sugar cane (for ethanol production) and citrus fruits, which have remained relatively stable over the past two decades, with a slight decline in recent years . The city produces over 1 million tons of sugar cane and more than 1.4 billion units of citrus fruits annually . Additionally, there is smaller-scale production of avocados, corn, rice, and beans. Limeira is renowned as the leading citrus producer in São Paulo and is particularly known for its production of citrus seedlings. Limeira has also developed into a prominent center for plant and seedling commerce, particularly in the Geada area along the Limeira-Piracicaba Road (located at kilometer 120). Notable companies in this sector include Félix Plantas, Bonin Plantas, Dierberger, and Chácara Roseira.

Media

There are two daily newspapers available in the city: "A Gazeta de Limeira" established in 1831¹, and "O Jornal de Limeira," established in 1982. In addition, there are several weekly newspapers, such as "Folha de Limeira," "Folha Cidade Interior," "Folha Cidade Gospel," and "Cidade Mais." In telecommunications, the city was served by Telecomunicações de São Paulo. In July 1998, this company was acquired by Telefónica, which adopted the Vivo brand in 2012. The company is currently an operator of cell phones, fixed lines, internet (fiber optics/4G) and television (satellite and cable).

Health

Limeira is home to five major hospitals, two of which operate as charitable institutions and receive public financial and management support: Santa Casa de Misericórdia Sociedade Operária Humanitária The other three hospitals are privately owned: Hospital Unimed Hospital Medical Hospital Dia (previously known as "Hospital Filantrópico Beneficência Limeirense," which has been closed and taken over by the Santa Casa de Misericórdia). Serving patients from 92 cities in São Paulo and southern Minas Gerais, the Santa Casa de Misericórdia operates as one of the largest public hospitals in the countryside of São Paulo State. It is the designated facility for the Brazilian public health system (SUS).

Sports

Limeira is home to Inter de Limeira (Associação Atética Internacional de Limeira), a highly regarded football club, along with Independente Futebol Clube. The primary stadium in the city is the Major José Levy Sobrinho (Limeirão), established in 1977¹. In basketball, the city is represented by Associação Limeirense de Basquete, competing in the Novo Basquete Brasil and the Liga Sudamericana. Their home arena is the Ginásio "Vô" Lucato.

See also

European immigration to Brazil German Brazilian Piracicaba Ajinomoto List of municipalities in São Paulo

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links

Cityhall official website State of São Paulo official website

Text derived from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1374657478 under CC BY-SA 4.0; modifications have been made.