Santos Dumont, Minas Gerais
| Santos Dumont | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipality | |||
 | |||
| |||
| Nickname(s): Terra do Pai da Aviação | |||
  Santos Dumont Location in Brazil | |||
| Coordinates: 21°27′S 43°33′W / 21.450°S 43.550°W | |||
| Country |
 Brazil | ||
| Region | Southeast | ||
| State |
 Minas Gerais | ||
| Founded | July 27, 1889 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Carlos Alberto Ramos de Faria | ||
| Elevation | 839 m (2,753 ft) | ||
| Population | |||
| • Total | 47,244 | ||
| Time zone | UTC-3 | ||
| Postal Code | 36240-000 | ||
Santos Dumont (formerly known as Palmira) is a municipality in southern Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The population (2006) is estimated to be 49,137 and the total area of the municipality is 639.1 km2 (246.8 sq mi). It lies at an elevation of 839 m (2,753 ft) just off the main interstate highway, BR040, between the urban centers of Barbacena (north) and Juiz de Fora (south). It is 240 km (150 mi) from the state capital, Belo Horizonte, and 220 km (140 mi) from Rio de Janeiro. It became a city in 1889.
Climate
The average annual temperature is approximately 20 °C (68 °F), with the average maximum of 21 °C (70 °F), and the average minimum of 19 °C (66 °F).
Economy
Agriculture
Livestock raising is the main economic activity with approximately 30,000 head of cattle and an annual production of milk of about 15,000,000 l (3,300,000 imp gal).
The region produces corn, strawberries, guava, nectaries, manioc, beans, oranges, coffee, peach and banana.
Industry
Santos Dumont has the Companhia Brasileira de Carbureto de Cálcio, (CBCC), which produces silicone iron and metallic silicone, exporting to several countries.
History
Santos Dumont is the birthplace of aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont and is named in his honour. Prior to the renaming the city was known as Palmira. The Cabangu museum, located 16 km (9.9 mi) from the centre of the city (21°25′32″S 43°40′27″W / 21.42556°S 43.67417°W) is dedicated to his memory. It is located in the house where he was born and has personal objects, photos and an aviation museum.
Demographics
Since the 1980s the municipality has been experiencing a period of slight demographic standstill. Between the census held in 1996 and the census held in 2000 the population increased at the rate of 0.32% per annum which is much lower than other places in the country. This is partially explained by the economic attraction of the nearby city of Juiz de Fora, making it the destination of many immigrants.
According to the 2000 census, the average income of the workers of the municipality was calculated at R$450 (237 USD at that time), but workers earning less than the national minimum wage (R$151, 80 USD) accounted for 38.8% of the total employees, meanwhile only 1.00% of them earned more than the equivalent to 20 minimum wages (R$3,020 or 1,590 USD).
See also
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Santos Dumont, Minas Gerais. |
Coordinates: 21°27′24″S 43°33′09″W / 21.45667°S 43.55250°W