São Vicente, São Paulo

Município da Estância Balneária de São Vicente
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname(s): bolono
Location of São Vicente
Coordinates: 23°57′48″S 46°23′32″W
Country	Brazil
Region	Southeast
State	São Paulo
Government
• Mayor	Tércio Garcia
Area
• Total	148 km2 (57 sq mi)
Elevation	6 m (20 ft)
Population (2007)
• Total	323,599
• Density	2,186.48/km2 (5,663.0/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-3 (UTC-3)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-2 (UTC-2)
HDI (2000)	0,798 – medium
Website	São Vicente City

São Vicente is a coastal city of southern São Paulo, Brazil. Its estimated population in 2006 was 329,370 inhabitants.

It was the first Portuguese permanent settlement in the Americas and the first capital of the Captaincy of São Vicente, now the state of São Paulo. Established as a proper village in 1532 by Martim Afonso de Sousa on what was then the Porto dos Escravos (port of the slaves), operated by three Portuguese colonists who trafficked on slaves captured by allied tribes, São Vicente is titled Cellula Mater (Mother Cell) of Brazil for being the first organized town in the country. The first City Council of all the Americas was democratically elected and established in São Vicente on August 22, 1532.

Today's city is positioned off the island of São Vicente, being mostly a dormitory city for the portuary and commercial city of Santos, with whom São Vicente share its island. São Vicente also has a small fishing industry in its mainland area.

A suspension bridge linking the island and the mainland was first constructed in 1914. Neighborhoods include Humaitá, Parque das Bandeiras, Vila Ema and Quarentenário. São Vicente is linked with the Rodovia Manuel da Nóbrega.

It is the birthplace of soccer player Robinho.

Population history

Year	Population	Density
2003	314,312	2,123.73/km²
2004	321,474	2,172.12/km²

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in South America

Twin towns — Sister cities

São Vicente is twinned with:

• Naha, Okinawa, Japan

References

Bibliography

• "Do Litoral ao Planalto". História do Brasil: Área Vicentina. http://www.multirio.rj.gov.br/historia/modulo01/col_jesuitas.html. 
• Lawrence, Rachel (January 2010). Alyse Dar. ed. Brazil (Seventh ed.). Apa Publications GmbH & Co. / Discovery Channel. pp. 183–204. 

External links

• (Portuguese) São Vicente's official home page
• (Portuguese) Portal Nosso São Paulo
• (Portuguese) São Vicente São Paulo Brazil