Olímpia

Nickname(s): Coordinates: 20°44′14″S 48°54′53″W / 20.73722°S 48.91472°W / -20.73722; -48.91472Country BrazilRegionSoutheastState São PauloMesoregionSão José do Rio PretoGovernment • MayorEugênio José ZulianiArea • Total802.6 km² (309.9 sq mi)Elevation506 m (1,660 ft)Population • Total55,130 • Density62.32/km² (161.4/sq mi)Time zoneUTC−3 (BRT)Postal CodeArea code+55 17WebsiteOlímpia's Prefecture

Olímpia is a municipality in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, in the Microregion of São José do Rio Preto. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 55,130 inhabitants. The city has a total area of 802.6 km² (309.9 sq mi).

History

The oldest archaeological evidence in the territory dates back to the centuries 9th or 10th. In the early 1990s, workers of construction found four funerary urns containing bones, bead necklaces, and pots inside, which was later linked to the Tupi, and Macro Je people. Although it is known that Latin America was inhabited by nomadic tribes, this is actually the oldest evidence of human presence in the area prior to European colonization.^[2][3]

In the 19th century, the foundation of Olimpia (formerly knows as Fazenda Olhos d'Água, and then, Vila Olímpia) is related to the coffee industry during the Empire of Brazil, when plantation owners meet the demand of labor.^[4]

With the exhaustion of the gold mines, people abandoned their previous sites in search of a better one. The new settlers focus on the unexplored areas to dedicate themselves to agriculture and cattle raising.^{[citation needed]}

The first reports indicate that a farmer named ''Antônio Joaquim dos Santos'' was the first settler to establish a farm in the 19th century. He named his property as ''Fazenda Olhos D'Água'' (Portuguese for ''Water holes farm'') due to the amount of water springs in the area.^[5]

The increasing numbers of migrant colonials settling in the area and the need for a collectivized farming led the local community the decision to create the village.^[6] In 1903, the landowners invitated the English immigrants Robert John Reid, and William Leatherbarrow, to separate the lands and establish the city.^[7]

The town was elevated to a district of Barretos on December 18, 1906, and named as "Vila Olímpia" in honor to Maria Olímpia Rodrigues Vieira, who was the daughter of Antônio Olímpio Rodrigues Vieira. Vieira was one of the founders of the city.

Nowadays, a range of buildings reveal the timeline of Olimpia's history and were declared historical landmarks, such as the old railway station, and the first hospital of the city ''Beneficiência Portuguesa''.^[8]

The city was separated from Barretos on December 7, 1917.^[9]

In July 2014, it was approved by the São Paulo State Legislative Assembly, a bill that turned Olímpia into a Touristic Municipality.^[10]

Toponym

The name of the city comes from ''Maria Olímpia Rodrigues Vieira'', daughter of one of the men who founded the city.

Economy

The service sector is the largest employer. Trade and Services accounted 65.5%, followed by the Industry representing 26% and the primary sector accounting 8.2% of the GDP.^[11]

Thermas dos Laranjais

Olimpia is home to Thermas dos Laranjais water park, one of the most visited water parks in the world. The park was opened in 1987 and is home to the largest complex of thrilling waterslides in Brazil occupying an area of 358.797 sq. yd. (300 km²).^[12]

It boasts more than 55 attractions. These include waterslides, surfing facilities, pools, rivers, and family-friendly offerings.^[13]

According to Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), by 2019 the park received 1.8 million visitors.^[14]

Culture

Olímpia is known as ''The capital of Folklore'' promoting every year the National Folklore Festival of Olimpia, when Brazilian folklore groups meet themselves to perform on stage their local dances ranging from Gaucho tradition groups to Amazonian dances.^[15]

Sports

The city is home to Olímpia Futebol Clube.

Transportation

• SP-322 - Rodovia Armando de Salles Oliveira
• SP-425 - Rodovia Assis Chateaubriand

References

External links

• (in Portuguese) Official Site of Olímpia's Prefecture
• (in Portuguese) citybrazil.com.br