Vitória da Conquista

Vitória da Conquista is a city in Bahia, Brazil which serves as a regional center for the smaller cities Barra do Choça, Planalto and Poções. These cities on the plateau, all around 1000 meters in elevation, form the basis of a strong traditional coffee-producing region as well as a rapidly-expanding center for new businesses.

It is the third largest city in the state of Bahia, after the state’s capital, Salvador, and Feira de Santana. Its population, according to IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics) registered 308,204 in April, 2007.

Climate

The climate is tropical and dry, moderated in temperature by the elevation. The altitude of the city itself varies between 857 meters (2811 feet) and 950 meters (3116 feet). Precipitation from April to August is often characterized by fine, misty rain, while heavier rains fall from October to March. Winters (July through October) tend to be dry, with cold air coming up to the plateau from the ocean and often producing fog.

Mean temperature varies from a low of 17.8 C (64F) in July to 21.8 C (71F) in March. Mean rainfall ranges from 17.9mm (.7 inches) in July to 127.8mm (5 inches) in December . (1961-1990 trends from Hong Kong Observatory).

The vegetation ranges from very dry and coarse (1000 meters and above) to an array of grasses, ferns and palms in slightly lower elevations on the plateau. This is the coffee-growing elevation. (MEDEIROS, Ruy H. A. - Notas Críticas ao livro "O Município da Vitória"de Tranquilino Torres, p.87)

Foundation

Vitória da Conquista was founded in 1783, after several battles against the native Imboré and Mongoió tribes and João Gonçalves da Costa, born in Chaves, Trás-os-Montes, Portugal.

Costa had been sent to Brazil by the king of Portugal, Joseph I, to fight against the natives, conquer their land, and then convert them to Christianity. He founded The Arraial da Conquista ("Conquest Town") on the site of the last battle and began the building of a church in honour of the Holy Mother of Victory.

At the same time, João Gonçalves da Costa ordered the construction of two of the main roads in the state of Bahia, one from Vitória da Conquista to Ilhéus and another from Vitória da Conquista to River Jequitinhonha in Minas Gerais. Today this second road has become part of a much longer federal highway known as the "Rio-Bahia".

Business and Commerce

The major economic activities are commerce, medical services, and coffee growing. The city is becoming a universitary centre, mainly due to the establishment and growth of Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia - UESB [http://www.uesb.br] (Southwest Bahia State University).

The business atmosphere is energetic and in fullblown expansion mode. From larger businesses such as Grupo Marinho de Andrade (Teiú e Revani), Coca-Cola, Dilly Calçados (shoes), Umbro, BahiaFarma, Café Maratá, to the smallest cottage industries, the area continues to attract strong interest.

The entrepreneurial Ymborés Industrial Center (Centro Industrial dos Ymborés) lies on the outskirts of the city with industries such as ceramics, marble, shoes, toilet valves, cleaning, bedding, and many others. Micro industries produce safes, candles, clothing, packaging, and hundreds of other products for local consumption and export.As a business center, Vitoria da Conquista serves the entire southwest region of the state of Bahia and the northern part of the state of Minas Gerais.

The real estate market is also booming, especially around the fast-growing University.

Recent studies highlighted Vitoria da Conquista as the city in Brazil with the highest number of new cars per inhabitant.