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São José dos Campos

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Template:Foreignchars São José dos Campos is a major city in the state of São Paulo, Brazil and one of most important industrial and research centers in Latin America.

It is located in the Vale do Paraíba (Paraiba Valley), between the two most active production and consumption regions in the country, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

According to a 1999 UN study, São José dos Campos, and it was rated one of the top 25 Brazilian cities for quality of life. With its high per capita income, long life expectancy and high level of infrastructure, São José dos Campos is a safe and secure city that offers a wide variety of stores and services.

São José dos Campos, Brazil
Flag of São José dos Campos Coat of Arms of São José dos Campos
(Flag of São José dos Campos) (Coat of Arms of São José dos Campos)
Speaker of City Council:
Mayor: 		Dilermando Dié (PSDB)
Eduardo Cury (PSDB)
Latitude:
Longitude: 		23°13'21" S
45°51'21" W
Land area: 1102.2 km²
Population (2005 est.): 600,089

Geographic information

  • total area: 1102,2 km² (about 425 miles²)
  • geographical coordinates:

23°13′21″S 45°51′21″W / 23.22250°S 45.85583°W / -23.22250; -45.85583

Climate

The climate is humid subtropical, with the dry season in winter. The greatest precipitation occurs from November to March, contributing to 72% of the annual volume.

The annual average relative humidity is 76%. Tropical air masses predominate during 50% of the year and colder air masses predominate for the rest of the year

In the summer, the average maximum temperature is 29 °C and in the winter, the average minimum temperature is 12°C. The average annual temperature is 20 °C.

Topography

Highlands predominates in the north region of the municipality, whose altitutes range from 660 the 975 meters. They are called Sea of Hills. It is also found peaks and mountains that can reach up to 2082 meters.

In the urban area, there are tubular plateaus and hills.

In the south, Serra do Mar's main escarpment forms the boundary between the sea-level littoral and the inland plateau (planalto), which has a mean altitude of 400 to 500 m.

  • Municipal: altitudes 550/2,082
  • City: altitudes 550/690, average of 660m

Hydrography

The municipality is inserted in the Hydrological Basin of the Paraíba do Sul River that crosses the city longitudinally. It is characterized by having more significant tributaries, concerning volume of water, on the left banks of Paraiba River. However, on the right banks, the Jaguari River and the Buquira River, alongside with other tributaries, have great importance because they cover all the urban area and constitute important part of the city's draining system. Among these minor rivers we may identify the Comprido River, the Pararangaba River and the Lambari River.

For the water supply of the population and cattle, the Fish River, tributary of the Jaguari River, stands out. It drains the north portion of the municipality and its waters contribute significantly to the Jaguari Dam, which forms an important reservoir used by CESP for electricity generation.

Along with the mountainous topography, a great number of fluvial elements, such as waterfalls, arise.

The quality of the water is excellent, and the artesian wells of the region possess average outflow of 30m²/hour.

History

The beginning

The territory of São José was initially occupied by a cattle farm, created through a concession of settlements around 1590 after a request of Jesuits. This farm was located on the banks of the Rio Comprido, the natural division between São José and Jacareí today.

The farm was actually an artifice used by the Jesuits to hide a religious mission from the Portuguese expedition leaders, the Bandeirantes, who were Native hunters.

On 10th September 1611, a law, which regulated the settlement of Native communities by the Jesuits, recognized the farm as mission, which upset the farmers, because precluded them from utilizing the Natives as slaves, which was usual in the region. A conflict between them led to the expulsion of the Jesuits in 1640 from the region and the consequent extinction of the mission and the dispersion of the inhabitants.

However, after few years, the Jesuits returned and reestablished a new settlement, where today the current city´s downtown is found. It was about 15 km northeast of the previous mission . Above a geological depression, there was a privileged view from the higher new place, guaranteeing greater security against invasions and protecting it as well as from flooding. Again, despite being a new mission, it was officially treated as a cattle farm.

The initial urban organization of this future village is attributed to the Jesuit priest Manoel de Leão, whose main occupation was really to be an administrator of the community.

In 1692, the settlement was named Residência do Paraíba do Sul and in 1696 the official name was Residência de São José.

At the beginning of the gold mining economic cycle in Brazil, the settlement goes through serious difficulties due to the exit of labor to the mines.

After the expulsion of the Jesuits from Brazil in 1759, all the religious order's assets, such as farms, colleges and villages were taken under the Portuguese Crown's custody. The governor, D. Luis Antonio Botelho Mourão, had as a priority to turn these new properties into productive units. For that, Boutelho Mourão requested, successfully, authorization from the Viceroy to create parishes and small towns.

Then, on 27th July 1767, the community reached the official status of village, whose name Vila de São José do Paraíba was formalized. But for many years it maintained the same rural characteristics. The main difficulty was the fact that the Estrada Real (Royal Road) passed by its limits, far from the village.

Cotton and coffee

In the middle of the 19th Century, the Vila de São José do Paraíba had demonstrated some signs of economic growth through the development of agriculture. Cotton evolved rapidly in the region. The production reached a peak in 1864.

In the same year, on 22 April, the village was elevated to status of town. And in 1871, finally the town acquires the current name of São José dos Campos, followed by the creation of a judiciary district in 1872. Almost simultaneously, there is the development of coffee crops in the Paraíba Valley, which starts to take off from 1870, counting also on the participation of São José.

However, it was in the year 1886, having support from the railroad which was opened in 1877, that coffee production in São José reached its peak - even though this crop started to decay in the region - managing to run steady until the 1930s.

Hydro-mineral retreat and industrialization

Historical populations
Census
year		 Population
1940 36,279
1950 44,804
1960 77,533
1970 148,332
1980 287,513
1991 442,370
2000 539,313
2002 est. 559,710
2004 est. 589,050
2005 est. 600,089

The call for the municipality of São José dos Campos for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis by sanatoriums became noticed at the beginning of last century, due to its supposedly favorable climate conditions. However, only in 1935, when the municipality was transformed into a hydro-mineral retreat did São José begin to get official resources which could be applied in the health area. With the advent of antibiotics in the 1940s, tuberculosis begins to be treated anywhere, thus ending the healthcare advantage carried out by São José, whereas the establishment of industries was about just to start.

The industrialization process of the municipality takes hold from the installation of the Brazilian Aerospace Technical Center, in 1950's and also with the opening of the Dutra Highway (BR-116), thus making possible a faster connection between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo and cutting into the urban area of São José dos Campos. Altogether, these factors allowed the municipality to make strides towards fulfilling its scientific and technological potential.

Demographics

A conurbation between São José dos Campos and the neighbor city Jacarei have been emerged in the last two decades. The estimated population is around 835,000. The cities have physically merged to form one continuous built up area.

The large population growth that occurred in the city was a result of continuous migration from other regions of the country. As consequence, in 1991 people that were born in São José dos Campos represented only 47% of population (according to IBGE). According to a new research from UniVap, this number ascended to 49.83% in 2004.

In the city, the population (according to census 2000) was spread out with 48.06% under the age of 24, 38.52% from 24 to 49, 13.40% who were 50 years of age or older.

Administration and political division

The city

The municipality is comprised by three districts: São José dos Campos - the city itself (also the seat), Eugênio de Melo and São Francisco Xavier. The last one is known by its natural sites and ecotourism. The district of São José dos Campos is also subdivided in 4 administration zones: Center, North (Jardim Telespark), South (Parque Industrial, Jardim Satélite, Dom Pedro I e II, Campo dos Alemães) and East (Vila Industrial).

São José dos Campos has a "strong mayor" system in which the mayor is vested with extensive executive powers, as it is in all municipalities in Brazil. The mayor is elected to a four-year term by universal voting. The City Council is elected every four years with the mayor. The current mayor is Eduardo Cury, from PSDB, elected in 2004.

Address of Local Government is: Rua José de Alencar 123, Jd. Santa Luzia Zip Code: 12.209-530 São José dos Campos - SP - Brazil

Borders of the municipality

  • North

Camanducaia, Sapucaí Mirim in Minas Gerais

  • South

Jacareí, Jambeiro in São Paulo State

  • East

Monteiro Lobato, Caçapava in São Paulo State

  • West

Igaratá, Joanópolis, Piracaia in São Paulo State

The region of São José dos Campos

The State of São Paulo is divided politically and administratively into 15 regions. São José dos Campos is the capital and gives the name for the 3rd Administrative Region, which includes the North Coast of São Paulo state and Paraíba Valley. The region is comprised of 39 municipalities with sharp contrasts. São José dos Campos is a big city, with 490 inhabitants/square kilometers, whereas the quiet municipality of São José do Barreiro has only 7 inhabitants/square kilometer. There are both highly industrialized cities and other ones whose economies are focused on crop/livestock farming and tourism.

It is one of the state's most dynamic areas, the fourth one in terms of population density, and covers 11.3% of the state territory. The main municipalities are São José dos Campos, Taubaté, Jacareí, Guaratingueta, Caraguatatuba, Campos do Jordão, São Sebastião, Lorena, Pindamonhangaba, Ubatuba and Caçapava.

Population : 2 million Population Density: 126.9 inhabitants per square kilometer

Shopping areas

Tourists and locals find complete and diversified shopping areas in São José dos Campos. All the major hypermarkets, supermarket chains and discount and department stores are in city. The largest malls are:

  • CenterVale Shopping;
  • Shopping Colinas;
  • Vale Sul Shopping;
  • Shopping Center São José.

Besides those malls, the most important commercial centers include:

  • The Old Downtown area including:
    • Rua Sete de Setembro - Calçadão - a popular shopping pedestrian street.
    • Rua XV de Novembro - where it is located the Afonso Pena Square - the town square. This street was the main street in São José dos Campos in 1950's and 1960's. On the weekends, handcraft exhibitions are held in Afonso Pena Square.
    • Other streets: Rua Rubião Júnior, Rua Vilaça, Rua Siqueira Campos and Rua Sebastião Hummel.
    • the Municipal Market ( popular groceries, stores);

And newer areas such as:

  • Avenida Francisco José Longo and Avenida Nelson D´Ávila (hotels and maintenance services);
  • Avenida Nove de Julho (fashionable boutiques and restaurants)
  • Rua Luis Jacinto (nighclubs and restaurants);
  • Rua São João (with a small mall with exquisite boutiques called Shopping Esplanada, besides restaurants and schools);
  • Avenida Adhemar de Barros, where are located schools and the Santos-Dumont Park.

The neighboorhood Vila Ema concentrates the most interesting sites for nightlife including bars and restaurants. Please note: rua is the Portuguese word for street and avenida for avenue

Business, tourism and interesting sites

The city is an important business center, attracting thousands of visitors. Several fairs and expositions are done at the 2 pavillions located in the city.

The attendance rate at the hotels are high through the year. A diversity of hotels are offered including Accor Hotels (Ibis São José, Ibis Colinas, Mercury, Novotel and Space Valley Parthernon Flat), Caesar Business, Blue Tree Towers, Shelton Inn, Urupema, Carlton Plaza, Intervale Othon, Confort Inn and Di Giulio. The following sites attract visitors:

  • CTA and MAB (Brazilian Aerospace Memorial)
  • Burle Marx Municipal Park with the Olivo Gomes residence
  • São Francisco Xavier
  • Santos Dumont Park
  • Municipal Market
  • Banhado
  • Sanatorium Vicentina Aranha
  • Old Cathedral
  • Municipal Public Library (former Theatro São José)
  • Espaço Mario Covas (former City Council seat)
  • São Benedito Church
  • Nossa Senhora Aparecida Chapel

Heritage and culture

In 1985, the municipality established the Cassiano Ricardo Cultural Foundation, named after the Brazilian poet. It aims to promote and sponsor cultural activities and events, spreading and extending knowledge among the population. Furthermore, the public foundation estimulates creation and emerging of new artists in different sectors. The foundation was also charged on the preservation and expansion of the Municipal Public Archives and to provide support to the Municipal Historic Preservation Council (COMPHAC). Several cultural centers are maintained by the foundation including Cine Santana and Helena Calil Arts Center.

The São José dos Campos Symphony Orchestra, fomented by Cassiano Ricardo Cultural Foundation, is an already respected orchestra in the country. The city also homes important choirs, with popular and erudite presentations.

São José is an important center for dance. It is the headquarters for diverse dance schools, that already have taken part of several international contests. Jazz, step dance, ballet, techno, aerobic, among other dance compositions, are presented to the public in December every year at municipal competitions.

Popular parties are also important events. Perhaps the most distinguished is the so called Festa Junina (June Festival). It is mainly celebrated on key days following the Catholic feast days of Saint Anthony, John the Apostle and Saint Peter. It happens at different churchs, schools and parks in June.

The Sports Museum was opened on July 30th, 1999. In exhibition are trophies, medals, photos and newspapers about the history of sports of São José dos Campos since 1910.

City's Anniversary Run - a 12 kilometer run done on the streets of the city center in the morning , joining hundreds of athletes from the city and from the Vale do Paraíba region on July 27th.

Entertainment, leisure and sports

Although São José is an industrial center, the city still preserves green areas and quiet town districts, which guarantees quality of life and leisure to the population. Around 62% of the area from the municipality is characterized as an environmental preservation area. São Francisco Xavier is a community the offers many of those attributes. Furthermore, there is an easy access the mountain cities (Campos do Jordão , Santo Antonio do Pinhal) and to the beaches of the Northern Coastline.

The city counts 3 parks and several sport and country clubs. Important country clubs are Clube Luso Brasileiro, Tenis Clube São José (important center for amateur sport such as volleyball and basketball), Clube Santa Rita - which holds a golf course, Thermas do Vale and Associação Esportiva São José.

A soccer stadium, called Estádio Martins Pereira, is the home ground of São José Esporte Clube, a professional soccer team. The city also has an important rugby team (São José Rugby Clube).

There are 19 movie theaters and 2 theaters including one inside the UniVap - Universidade do Vale do Paraiba.

Education and research centers

Library of ITA, projected by Oscar Niemeyer

São José dos Campos is an important research center in Brazil. The Brazilian National Institute for Space Research (INPE) has its headquarters there. It coordenates intensive research and development in areas such as Earth observation, space sciences and space technologies. Also the Brazilian Aerospace Technical Center (CTA) has its facilities in the city. The city holds:

Media

Founded on January 2nd, 1952, ValeParaibano is the most important daily newspaper in São José dos Campos. The reported circulation data were around 20,000 on weekdays and 30,000 on Sundays in 2002.

Infrastructure

Transportation and Communication

Number of Vehicles
1996 138,540
1997 147,290
1998 161,154
1999 172,800
2000 185,560
2001 198,182
2002 207,367
2003 216,787
2004 225,386
2005 est. 230,000

The city has 2 bus stations, having lines to cities in all regions of the country and international routes to Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile.

São José dos Campos boasts an extensive bus system. Operated by three companies (Viação Capital do Vale, Viação São Bento and Viação Real), lines serve nearly all areas in the city through 319 buses. São José dos Campos also has an alternative system with minivans to supplement the regular buses.

The city counts with a ring road system, that interconnects it to important national and state highways:

  • BR-116 (federal highway), which crosses the urban area of São José. It runs in a north-south way in the country, near but not on Brazil's coastline. The section that connects Rio to São Paulo is known as Presidente Dutra. It is widely used inside the urban area of São José dos Campos for commuting purpose;
  • SP-099 (state highway) also known as Rodovia dos Tamoios which connects São José to the coastal lowlands of the city of Caraguatatuba;

The city is also served by a railway (the former Central do Brasil), administered by MRS Logística, which today only operates for cargo.

The ports of São Sebastião and Santos can be reached through the highways SP-099, SP-155, and BR-101.The transportation of cargo to the domestic and foreign markets is made through both ports.

The airport of São José dos Campos (IATA:SJK) has a heavy passengers flow, mainly business trips during weekdays, and it is an important connection between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. With a 3000m runaway, the airport also serves people who come visit the tourist city of Campos de Jordão. The airline OceanAir (passenger transportation) fly from Sao Jose dos Campos to Rio de Janeiro (45´) and to São Paulo (15´). It is also used for the transportation of cargo from the several industries located in the so-called Cone Leste Paulista ("São Paulo's East Cone"). Infraero and and the Federal Revenue Agency are also introducing a new concept called airport-industry, that will offer fiscal incentives and fast importation and exportation procedures. The municipality has also a Customs Station for the Hinterland (dry port), controlled by the Federal Revenue Agency.

São José dos Campos receives natural gas from two gas pipelines, and large companies such as General Motors, Kodak, Monsanto and Embraer are among the main users. The city is the 3rd largest in the country referring to the distribution net of natural gas for residential use.

It has also a large net of fiber optics, with broadband services covering 75% of the city. There is 1 telephone for each 3 inhabitants and a vast service network of movable cellular telephones

Health and utilities

The city is further well known for the excellent quality of urban services: 96% of the residences have water supply and 89% are connected to the sewage system. Around 45% of the sewage and 97% of the water from the city are treated. Sabesp have been doing new investments. The city counts with a selective domestic waste collection, for recycling.

In the health sector, São José dos Campos is a reference for the medical/hospital attendance in the Paraíba River Valley, Northern Coastline and Southern Minas Gerais regions. It has 18 hospitals, 15 emergency centers, 33 health attendance posts and 9 specialized unities.

Economy

Overview

Cut through by Federal Highway BR-116 Dutra, which links it to the main economical centers of the country, São José dos Campos is a city that continuously tries to develop its structure and technology, improving the quality of life of its citizens and opening new opportunities for business. The presence of educational and research centers in the city was a major key for its fast economical development. It occupies the 9th position among the 100 best Brazilian cities for business, according to a study of the magazine Exame published in 2002. In another study, made by Cushman & Wakefield, an American company in the area of real estate business, São José dos Campos was appointed worldwide as one of the seventh best cities with opportunities of investment in real estate.

High and positive economy indicators show that this municipality has a great share in the state and in the country's economy. In 2002, the municipality had the ninth Gross National Product within the nation, the fourth industrial GDP and it was the second exporter only to the city of São Paulo.

However, in 2003, the city was displaced from these positions, holding currently the 13th GDP and seventh industrial one, because of deceleration of the industry, relative to other sectors in economy.

Discussions about how to diversify the activities of the city have been held lately. Around 66,6% of the local economy still comes from the manufacturing sector. Many economists, such as Roberto Koga, consider the city still heavily dependent from few sectors, specially the aerospace and defense industry.

Industry

In contrast to the rural town in 1950's, today São José is an important manufacturing center and holds a large array of industries. Over 670 industries are in the municipality and nearby 45,000 inhabitants work for industries. The three main industries are automotive, oil/petrochemical and aerospace. There are significant pharmaceutical, consumer durables, chemical, and telecommunication companies in the city.

It is also known as the "Brazilian aeronautics capital" because it is home to one of the biggest regional aviation aircraft manufacturers in the world, Embraer. It owes much of its economic success to Embraer's presence.

Service sector

Since the 1990s, the local economy has been evolving towards a different direction. The manufacturing economy has been downsized or replaced by tertiary and quartenary sectors of industries.

For instance, the Entrepreneurial District of Chacaras Reunidas concentrates companies of micro, small and medium size, which are mainly the result of downsizing from old large local industries. Yet most are industries, those companies provide service as well.

New technological parks and business incubators have been created - within universities or industrial facilities - or are in project, many with support from the Sao Paulo state government. There are incubators of companies installed at UNIVAP and at Revap/Petrobrás. Soon CTA will actuate other incubator, Incubaero. UNIVAP is constructing a technological park, with capacity for around 40 small to medium sized innovating companies in the areas of materials, electronics and telecommunications, information technology, aerospace, energy, environment control, biotechnology, bioinformatics, chemical engineering, and software among others.

As a result of its geographical location, the city became an important distribution center, having several logistics providers. Activities like purchasing, transport, planning and warehousing have employed many people recently.

Commerce and real estate ventures have developed in the last years, reflecting the changes in the economy. For instance, the largest shopping mall in the region was an old manufactory facility. Serving a population of approximately two million inhabitants, the city is the the regional hub for shopping and services for the Vale do Paraíba, the northern coast of São Paulo and southern Minas Gerais.

The city has 34 hotels (1784 apartments) and several auditoriums for meetings and conventions. There are 77 bank branches and 8 internet providers.

Advertising agencies have been established alongside television stations.

See also major companies in São José dos Campos area.

Sources

The history section was provided by the official site of The City Hall of São Jose dos Campos. Demographic numbers were provided by IBGE and Fundação Seade and ValeParaibano. Economy section was provided in a great extent by the official site of The City Hall of São Jose dos Campos and ValeParaibano. Information on the region of São José dos Campos was provided by the official site of The State Government of São Paulo.

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