Gravataí

This article is about the city. For the river, see Gravataí River.
Gravataí
Municipality
The Municipality of Gravataí

Flag
Seal
Nickname(s): City of Bromelias
Gravataí

Location in Brazil

Coordinates: 29°56′38″S 50°59′31″W / 29.94389°S 50.99194°W / -29.94389; -50.99194
Country Brazil
Region South
State Rio Grande do Sul
Settled 1763
Incorporated (city) 1938[1]
Current limits 1988
Government
 • Type Mayor-Council
 • Mayor Marco Alba (PMDB)
Area
 • Total 463.5 km2 (178.96 sq mi)
Elevation 26 m (75 ft)
Population (2010 census)
 • Total 255,762
 • Density 551.8/km2 (1,429.16/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Gravataiense
Time zone UTC-3 (UTC-3)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-2 (UTC-2)
Postal Code 94000-000
Area code(s) +55 51
Website Prefeitura de Gravataí

Gravataí (Tupi–Guarani: gravatá, a kind of flower common in the region; y, river.) is a Brazilian municipality near Porto Alegre at the Rio Grande do Sul State. Its population is approximately 250,000 people, making it the sixth most populous city in the state.

History

The land where Gravataí is located was subject of dispute between Portugal and Spain until 1750, when they signed the Treaty of Madrid. Originally known as Aldeia de Nossa Senhora dos Anjos, Gravataí was founded on April 8, 1763 by settlers designated by the Portuguese to consolidate the crown presence in the region, led by Pedro Gonçalves Sandoval and João Lourenço Veloso. In 1772, the São Pedro province governor José Marcelino de Figueiredo started to develop the town. He built schools, mills and pottery facilities.

Then known as Aldeia dos Anjos, in 1806 the town was declared a district of Porto Alegre. By 1880 Gravataí was chartered as a borough ("Vila" in Portuguese). On March 2, 1938, the Executive order #311 declared Gravataí a city.[1]

Geography

According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, the city has a total area of 463.5 km²[1] (192.2 square miles) divided into five separate districts (boroughs): Gravataí, Barro Vermelho, Ipiranga, Itacolomi and Morungava. The main supply of drinking water is provided by the Gravataí River, formed at Banhado Grande and flowing west into the city towards the Guaíba estuary.

Climate

Gravataí
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
99
 
 
30
20
 
 
109
 
 
30
21
 
 
104
 
 
28
19
 
 
86
 
 
25
16
 
 
94
 
 
22
13
 
 
132
 
 
19
11
 
 
122
 
 
19
11
 
 
140
 
 
20
11
 
 
140
 
 
22
13
 
 
114
 
 
24
15
 
 
104
 
 
27
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102
 
 
29
19
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: The Weather Channel – Gravataí

The climate in Gravataí is humid subtropical (Cfa). Summers are warm and the hottest month is February, with an average temperature of 25 °C (77 °F). Winters are cold (by Brazilian standards) and the coldest month is July, with an average temperature of 14 °C (57 °F). The wettest months are August and September, with 140 mm (5.51 in) of precipitation, with rain regularly falling all year long.[2]

Neighbor cities

Economy

The Chevrolet Celta is a low cost supermini produced in Gravataí for the Latin American market.

Agriculture was essential to Gravataí's economy during its first two centuries. After the 1950s the city started a process of industrialization. This process was accelerated in 2000 after the inauguration of a General Motors manufacturing plant. Since its opening 600,000 cars have been built, more than one hundred thousand Chevrolet Celta (also known as Suzuki Fun) and Chevrolet Prisma per year.

Today, manufacturing is the major economic driver and Gravataí has been classified as a blue collar city.

Government

The city elects a mayor, who serves a maximum of two four-year terms; Marco Alba is the current mayor.

The city council ("Câmara de Vereadores" in Portuguese) is composed of 21 aldermen elected to office for four years. The council functions as a parliamentary or congressional style legislative body, proposing bills, holding votes (especially the municipal budget), and passing laws to help govern the city.

Demographics

As of the 2010 Census,[3] Gravataí had a population of 255,660, with 92,425 households, and 82,442 families residing in the city. The population density was 551.8 people per km² (1,429.16/sq mi). There were 92,425 housing units at an average density of 199.4/km² (480.86/sq mi). The ethnic/racial makeup of the city was 84.7% White, 8% Brown, 7% Black, 0.2% Asian, and 0.2% Amerindian.[4]

The per capita income for the city was R$18,642 (US$10,965) in 2007.[5]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1872[6] 5,852—    
1890[7] 9,693+65.6%
1900[8] 12,855+32.6%
1920[9] 20,394+58.6%
1940[10] 22,894+12.3%
1950[11] 27,853+21.7%
1960[12] 45,951+65.0%
1970[13] 52,462+14.2%
1980[14] 107,437+104.8%
1990[1] 173,396+61.4%
2000[1] 232,629+34.2%
2010[1] 255,762+9.9%
Note 1: Canoas was spun out of Gravataí in 1939.

Note 2: Cachoeirinha was spun out of Gravataí in 1966.

Note 3: Glorinha was spun out of Gravataí in 1988.

Religion

Main article: Religion in Brazil
Religion Percentage Number
Catholic 66.14% 169,095
Protestant 18.27% 46,705
No religion 5.88% 15,031
Kardecist 3.79% 9,684
Umbanda and Candomblé 2.69% 6,879
Jehovah's Witnesses 1.04% 2,667
Buddhist 0.12% 299
Other 2.07% 5,300

Source: IBGE 2010.[15]

Education

Gravataí has three colleges and universities offering bachelor's and professional or master's degree programs: Universidade Luterana do Brasil, FACENSA, and Faculdade QI.

Transportation

By land, Gravataí is practically midway between São Paulo and Buenos Aires, the two main economic centers of Mercosur. The interstate highway BR-290 passes through the city and connects to BR-101 highway. Rio Grande do Sul capital, Porto Alegre, is 16 miles (26 km) to the west.

Interstates and major highways

Airport

The closest airport to the city is the Salgado Filho International Airport, located off BR-290 highway, 14 miles west of Gravataí.

Public transportation

Public transit throughout the region is provided by SOGIL, Unesul, VICASA, and TransCal.

Waterways

Though it is not used for transporting goods and materials, the Gravataí River is a navigable waterway for boating.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 (Portuguese) IBGE Cidades@ – Gravataí Accessed December 12, 2010.
  2. ↑ (Portuguese) Gravataí, Rio Grande do Sul, The Weather Channel, accessed December 07, 2010.
  3. ↑ (Portuguese) Primeiros Dados do Censo 2010 Accessed March 22, 2012.
  4. ↑ (Portuguese) IBGE Censo 2010 - Painel Accessed March 22, 2012.
  5. ↑ (Portuguese) Produto Interno Bruto dos Municípios 2003-2007 Accessed December 16, 2009.
  6. ↑ (Portuguese) UFPel – Departamento de Economia / Recenseamento da População do Império do Brasil: 1872 – Paróquia de N. S. dos Anjos d'Aldêa Accessed May 25, 2008.
  7. ↑ (Portuguese) Officina de Estatistica – Synopse do recenseamento do Brazil de 31 de dezembro de 1890 (página 102) Accessed September 3, 2008.
  8. ↑ (Portuguese) Typographia da Estatistica – Synopse do recenseamento do Brazil de 31 de dezembro de 1900 (página 85) Accessed September 3, 2008.
  9. ↑ (Portuguese) Typographia da Estatística – Recenseamento do Brazil Realizado em 1 de Setembro de 1920 – Volume IV (2ª Parte) Tomo II (página 536) Accessed October 19, 2010.
  10. ↑ (Portuguese) IBGE – Recenseamento Geral do Brasil (1940) – Série Regional, Parte XX (1950). Rio de Janeiro: Serviço Gráfico do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística Accessed September 3, 2008.
  11. ↑ (Portuguese) IBGE – VI Recenseamento Geral do Brasil (1950) – Série Regional Volume XXVIII, Tomo I. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE Accessed September 3, 2008.
  12. ↑ (Portuguese) IBGE – Censo Demográfico de 1960 – Série Regional Volume I, Tomo XVI. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE Accessed September 3, 2008.
  13. ↑ (Portuguese) IBGE – VII Recenseamento Geral – 1970 Série Regional Volume I, Tomo XXI (página 454). Rio de Janeiro: IBGE Accessed September 3, 2008.
  14. ↑ (Portuguese) Dados do IBGE compilados pelo DATASUS
  15. ↑ "Religion in Gravataí by IBGE". Sidra.ibge.gov.br. Retrieved 2013-01-07.

Coordinates: 29°56′S 50°59′W / 29.933°S 50.983°W / -29.933; -50.983

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