Catu

Infobox City
official_name = Catu

---

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Catu
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = Region
subdivision_type2 = State
subdivision_name = flagicon|BRA Brazil
subdivision_name1 = Northeast
subdivision_name2 = Bahia
area_total_km2 = 439.573
population_as_of = 2007
population_total = 48648
population_density_km2 = 110.67
timezone = UTC-3
utc_offset = -3
timezone_DST = UTC-2
utc_offset_DST = -2
latd = 12|latm= 20|lats= 59|latNS=S
longd = 38|longm=22|longs= 59|longEW=W
elevation_m = 100
elevation_ft =
website = |

Catu is a city in Bahia, Brazil. Its population is 48648 as of 2007 [IBGE, [http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/populacao/contagem2007/default_coment.shtm Contagem da População 2007 e Estimativas daPopulação 2007] published in Publicada no Diário Oficial da União October 25, 2007] . It is located at coord|12|20|59|S|38|22|59|W.

Catu is a prosperous city, with a prominent petroleum and commercial sector, both of which are equally well developed. It is known for its irregular topography and is located on the BR-110 between Salvador and Alagoinhas, approximately 78km from the former and 32km from the latter. It is part of Salvador's Metropolitan Region.

Origins

When the Portuguese arrived in Bahia, the Patachó and Tupiniquim indigenous peoples inhabited the territory where the city is presently situated. These early inhabitants moved inland to the "sertão", in order to escape Portuguese persecution.

Up to 1782 historical facts are few and imprecise. The area where the city of Catu was built on is known to have integrated the captaincy of the count da Ponte, whereto many colonists migrated. It was left to the Catholic Church to take the first steps towards the foundation of the parish of Santa do Catu, enclosing the vast territory.

In 1787, the then 12th Archbishop of Bahia, Dom Antônio Correia, founded the parish. Nearly half a century later, on July 23, 1830, priest João Nepomuceno Moreira de Pinho, the vicars of Santana do Catu and of Alagoinhas met to remove the limits of their parishes and came to an agreement. The new divisions were recognized on June 26, 1863 by the president of the Province, Dr. José Bonifácio Basconcelos de Azambuja.

Santana do Catu became a city on July 26, 1868.

Administration

With the inception of provincial law number 1058 on July 26, 1868, the municipality of Santana do Catu was created, containing territory from the previously called Vila de São Francisco.

In the administrative division of 1911 Brazil, the municipality was composed of the districts Santana do Catu (main district), Pojuca and São Miguel, losing Pojuca with law number 979 of July 29, 1913, which promoted the district to a municipality. Santana de Catu had its name simplified by the state Decree number 7455 of July 23, 1931, which was validated by the Decree number 7479, of July 8 of the same year. It was promoted to a city on March 30, 1938.

Since state Decree number 11089 of November 30, 1938, Catu is formed by three districts: Catu (main district), Bela Flor (formerly São Miguel) and Sítio Novo, and since May 29, 1966 it is the headquarters of Comarca.

References