Taubaté

Infobox City
official_name = "Município de Taubaté"
native_name = Taubaté
nickname =
motto = "Per aspera pro Brasilia"


imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

---

mapsize =
map_caption = Location in the state of São Paulo and Brazil
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Brazil
subdivision_type1 = Region
subdivision_name1 = Southeast
subdivision_type2 = State
subdivision_name2 = São Paulo
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Roberto de Alvarenga Peixoto
established_title =
established_date =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 625.9
area_land_km2 =
area_water_km2 =
area_water_percent =
area_urban_km2 =
area_metro_km2 =
population_as_of = 2008
population_note =
population_total = 270918
population_footnotes =
population_density_km2 = 424.2
population_metro =
population_density_metro_km2 =
population_urban =
timezone = UTC-3
utc_offset = -3
timezone_DST = UTC-2
utc_offset_DST = -2
latd= 23 |latm= 01 |lats= 30 |latNS=S
longd= 45 |longm= 33 |longs= 20 |longEW=W
elevation_m =
postal_code_type =
postal_code =
website = [http://www.taubate.sp.gov.br/ www.taubate.sp.gov.br]
footnotes =

Taubaté is a city in the State of São Paulo, in southeastern Brazil. Its strategic geographical location, between the two most important Brazilian cities (São Paulo (123 km) and Rio de Janeiro) (280 km), and between high, cold mountains and the Atlantic Ocean has helped the development of the city. The city has over 250,000 inhabitants and has become an industrial center, seating branches of several companies, including Volkswagen, Ford, LG, among many others.

History

Taubaté was part of the ancient Tupinamba Territory, along the Paraiba do Sul River. The Tupinamba Territory in the 16^th Century, stretched from the Juqueriquerê River on the shores of Caraguatatuba to the Cape of Saint Thomas (Cabo de São Tomé) in the State of Rio de Janeiro. The first village was created in 1640 being proclaimed as an autonomous locality on December 5, 1645, by a pioneer named Jacques Felix. It was the first location in the Vale do Paraiba region to obtain autonomy. The locality got its current city status in 1842. By that time, it was one of the most important coffee production centers in the country. In 1908, the city was made the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Taubaté.

Demographics

Male: 120.288; Female: 123.819; Urban: 229.810; Rural: 14.297 (Source: Censo 2000 - IBGE)

Education and Literature

Taubaté is also a university city, which attracts young people from all over the country who come to study in one of its many colleges, such as Medical School, Law, Dentistry, Engineering, Business Management, at the Universidade de Taubaté.

Monteiro Lobato, the most important Portuguese-language writer of books for children was born in Taubaté. His books have been translated into many other languages. Another very important man in Taubatean and Brazilian history was Amacio Mazzaropi who was one of the pioneers on the movie industry, creating many classics that show a rural Brazil in the first half of the 20^th Century.

Sports

Esporte Clube Taubaté is a football (soccer) club based in the city.

Quality of life

Taubaté has been ranked by the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) the 21^st out of 645 cities in the State in terms of quality of life (safety, schooling, medical and dental care, transportation facilities, low pollution levels, piped sewage and piped water reaching all houses, etc.).

External links

* [http://www.taubate.sp.gov.br Official website]
* [http://www.explorevale.com.br/cidades/taubate/index.htm Page About the city of Taubaté]
* [http://www.ciaux.com/TAUBATEphotoColor.html WEB Taubaté Photos]