Atibaia
| Estância de Atibaia | |||
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Central Atibaia
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| Nickname(s): Atibaia | |||
 Location of Atibaia |
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 Estância de Atibaia
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| Coordinates: 23°07′01″S 46°33′01″W / 23.11694°S 46.55028°W | |||
| Country |
 Brazil
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| Region | Southeast | ||
| State |
 São Paulo
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| Founded | June 24, 1665 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 479 km2 (185 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 803 m (2,635 ft) | ||
| Population (2010) | |||
| • Total | 126,140 | ||
| • Density | 260/km2 (680/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-3 (UTC-3) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-2 (UTC-2) | ||
| Postal code | 12490 | ||
| Area code(s) | (+55) 11 | ||
| Website | Atibaia City (Portuguese) | ||
Atibaia (or Estância de Atibaia) is a Brazilian municipality in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The name is derived from an indigenous language called Tupi, and means "healthy water river". Its name has changed over time, from the primitive Tupi word Tybaia, to Thibaia, Atubaia, Thibaya, and finally the city's modern name, Atibaia.
Its strawberry crops are well known. These crops are cultivated mainly by Japanese descendants, since the city was a common Japanese immigrant center.
In 1665, Jerônimo de Camargo and his expedition found a hill near a river named Tubaia (later called Atibaia River). Jerônimo de Camargo was a Bandeirante explorer. Their main objective was to search the interior lands of Brazil for rich mineral resources, such as gold, silver and emeralds in present-day state of Minas Gerais.
Camargo had his men build a chapel by the Tubaia river, which served as shelter to "tropeiros"—interior explorers on horse back—as well. The area was already occupied by Mateus Nunes da Siqueira, a priest who established contact with the Guarulhos tribe.
In June 1665, a farm was established and Father Mateus built a village with the help of enslaved natives. The village was called Atibaia.
Atibaia was a very important settlement at that time, because it was part of the route to Minas Gerais. São Paulo, probably the second most important city in Brazil at that time, was south of Atibaia, and the mining region north of it, locating Atibaia midway between those two important points.
As time passed, Atibaia became very important. Even the king of Portugal, D. João VI, visited the small town. Many famous artists lived in or visited Atibaia, such as Benedito Calixto, a famous church fresco painter. The city boasts two of his paintings. Alberto Santos-Dumont, an aviation pioneer, also visited Atibaia.
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Wikipedia