Uberaba

Uberaba Município de Uberaba
Municipality
Municipality of Uberaba
Top left: Mata do Ipe Ecological Park, Top middle: Manhattan Flat Service Foundation in Frei Fugenio Square, Top right: Sao Domingos Church, Middle left: Areal View in Centro area, Middle right: Acacias Park (Parque das Acacias), Bottom: Panorama view of Downtown Uberaba, from Jacaranda Zoological Park in Joao Luiz Alvarenza Street
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname(s): Capital do Zebu Princesa Maravilhosa Ura Cidade das Sete Colinas
Location of Uberaba in the state of Minas Gerais
Uberaba Localization of Uberaba in Brazil
Coordinates: 19°44′52″S 47°55′55″W / 19.74778°S 47.93194°W / -19.74778; -47.93194Coordinates: 19°44′52″S 47°55′55″W / 19.74778°S 47.93194°W / -19.74778; -47.93194
Country	Brazil
State	Minas Gerais
Founded	2 March 1809
Founded by	Antônio Eustáquio da Silva e Oliveira
Government
• Mayor	Paulo Piau (PMDB)
Area
• Total	4,529.7 km2 (1,748.9 sq mi)
Elevation	823 m (2,700 ft)
Population (2015)
• Total	322,126
• Density	71/km2 (180/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−3 (BRT)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−2 (BRST)
Postal Code	38000-000
Area code(s)	+55 34

Uberaba is a municipality in the west of the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil. Its population is 302,623 (2012) with an area of 4529.7 km², giving a density of 60.71 people per km². It is located on a plateau at an elevation of 823 meters and is in the Uberaba River floodplain. It became a city in 1856.

Statistical micro-region

Uberaba is also a statistical micro-region including 07 municipalities: Água Comprida, Campo Florido, Conceição das Alagoas, Conquista, Delta, Uberaba, and Veríssimo. In 2007 the population was 370,645 inhabitants in a total area of 9,392.60 km². The population density was 30.62 inhab/km² (2000).^[1]

History

The town was founded in 1809 by the sergeant ("sargento-mor") Antônio Eustáquio da Silva e Oliveira. The name was taken from the Brazilian native language, Tupi and means "bright water". It was classified as indigenous territory in February 1811 and then as a freguesia on March 2, 1809 with the name of Santo Antônio e São Sebastião do Uberaba. Uberaba became a city on February 22, 1836.

The region known as Triângulo Mineiro, where Uberaba is located, was part of Goiás until 1816, when it became part of Minas Gerais.

The district of Peirópolis, located 19 km from the city's center, is an important Cretaceous paleontological site, first studied by the Brazilian paleontologist Llewellyn Price.^[2]

The city is also famous in Brazil for having been the home of Chico Xavier, a respected and popular medium.

Economy

Shopping Uberaba.

Uberaba is the trade centre of an important agricultural area, producing cattle, soy, corn and sugarcane is now becoming an important activity as new two ethanol plants are being implanted on the city. A well-known cattle and agricultural exhibition is held there each May. In 2006 there were 133,204 head of cattle on 825 establishments, 4,216,778 head of poultry on 448 establishments and 36,230 head of swine on 303 establishments. Milk production was substantial with 29,542 liters being produced a day on 576 farms in 2006.^[3]

The city's well-developed industries include cement and phosphate fertilizer plants, processed foods (sweets), cosmetics, shoe factories, furniture factories and electronics represented by a Stanley Black & Decker plant.

The city also has around twenty four chemical companies which are the largest producers of phosphated fertilizers in Latin America. Among them are Vale Fertilizantes, FMC, Sipcam Nichino Brasil, Bunge and Agronelli.

Uberaba is known nationally as a center of livestock genetic improvement and as an important producer of grain in Minas Gerais.

Freight is transported by rail and road to Belo Horizonte, the state capital 460 km to the east, and to neighbouring communities in Minas Gerais and São Paulo states.

The city is one of the largest promotional centers of cattle auctions in the country. During the expositions of zebu cattle, there are many events, which attract Brazilians and foreigners. During the year there are about 300 auctions with the sale of about 200,000 animals for reproduction, fattening, and milk.

The most famous is the Expozebu promoted by ABCZ, the greatest exposition of zebu in the world, which takes place every year in May. Besides the exposition, these annual ABCZ's events also bring carnivals and shows, a way to entertain all the family and to attract more tourists.

Uberaba is served by Mário de Almeida Franco Airport.

Higher education

Uberaba is an important university city. The nine colleges and universities offer approximately 94 courses at the undergraduate level and 49 at the graduate level. The main schools are:

• IFTM - Instituto Federal do Triângulo Mineiro
• UFTM - Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro
• UNIUBE - Universidade of Uberaba
• FCETM - Faculdade de Ciências Econômicas do Triângulo Mineiro
• FAZU - Faculdades Associadas de Uberaba
• CESUBE - Centro de Ensino Superior de Uberaba
• IFET - Instituto Federal de Educação Tecnológica de Uberaba
• UNOPAR - Universidade Norte do Paraná
• UNIPAC - Universidade Presidente Antônio Carlos
• FACTHUS - Faculdade Talentos Humanos

Popular culture

• The city is celebrated in song by Torcuato Mariano on his instrumental track "Train to Uberaba" from his Paradise Station album, 2004.

References

External links

• Official Uberaba Government Website
• Uberaba Business Guide