Nova Almeida, Espírito Santo
Encyclopedia
Nova Almeida is a town in the municipality
of Serra
, in the State of Espírito Santo
, Brazil
. Its official status is "neighbourhood" (bairro in Portuguese
). The town is located about 30 km (19 mi) north of the state capital, Vitória. It has a population of around 266,800.
amongst native Amerindians
. First founded under the name "Reis Magos" (now the name of the river at whose mouth it rests), it was then known as "Aldeia Nova" (taking that name from neighbouring Aldeia Nova, which today is Santa Cruz). It later changed to its current name, Nova Almeida. Around 1760, there were about 3000 Tupiniquim
Amerindians living here, forming the bulk of Nova Almeida's population.
at sea level. It is now considered part of the Greater Vitória
metropolitan area, since it lies within Serra.
and industry
. Today, it has two large-scale port
s as part of its infrastructure and a number of industrial enterprises.
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
of Serra
Serra, Espírito Santo
Serra is the name of a municipality and its capital in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Bordering the north of the state's capital, Vitória, the municipality is part of the Greater Vitória metropolitan area...
, in the State of Espírito Santo
Espírito Santo
Espírito Santo is one of the states of southeastern Brazil, often referred to by the abbreviation "ES". Its capital is Vitória and the largest city is Vila Velha. The name of the state means literally "holy spirit" after the Holy Ghost of Christianity...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. Its official status is "neighbourhood" (bairro in Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
). The town is located about 30 km (19 mi) north of the state capital, Vitória. It has a population of around 266,800.
History
Nova Almeida was founded in 1556 by Jesuit priests who wanted to spread the Christian faithChristianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
amongst native Amerindians
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
. First founded under the name "Reis Magos" (now the name of the river at whose mouth it rests), it was then known as "Aldeia Nova" (taking that name from neighbouring Aldeia Nova, which today is Santa Cruz). It later changed to its current name, Nova Almeida. Around 1760, there were about 3000 Tupiniquim
Tupiniquim
Tupiniquim is the name of an Amerindian tribe who now only live in three reservations . All three are located in the municipality of Aracruz in northern Espírito Santo state, southeastern Brazil. As of 1997 their population was 1,386...
Amerindians living here, forming the bulk of Nova Almeida's population.
Geography
Nova Almeida's area is 547 square kilometre, and it lies on the coastCoast
A coastline or seashore is the area where land meets the sea or ocean. A precise line that can be called a coastline cannot be determined due to the dynamic nature of tides. The term "coastal zone" can be used instead, which is a spatial zone where interaction of the sea and land processes occurs...
at sea level. It is now considered part of the Greater Vitória
Greater Vitória
Greater Vitória is an administrative entity in Brazil made up of the following municipalities: Cariacica, Fundão, Guarapari, Serra, Vitória, Vila Velha, and Viana according to IBGE and it has an area of 2,331.01 km², and 1,627,651 inhabitants ....
metropolitan area, since it lies within Serra.
Economy
This town has undergone great transformation in the last 30 years or so; from a typical rural area, it has become an international hub for commerceCommerce
While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...
and industry
Industry
Industry refers to the production of an economic good or service within an economy.-Industrial sectors:There are four key industrial economic sectors: the primary sector, largely raw material extraction industries such as mining and farming; the secondary sector, involving refining, construction,...
. Today, it has two large-scale port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
s as part of its infrastructure and a number of industrial enterprises.