São José dos Campos

São José dos Campos is an industrial metropolis in São Paulo that stretches along the Paraíba do Sul River at 660 meters (2165 feet) elevation, surrounded by mountains. The cityscape mixes manufacturing facilities, research centers, and residential neighborhoods that spread across a wide area.

A Jesuit mission founded the settlement in 1611, and it grew slowly into a regional hub before receiving municipal status in 1854. The 20th century brought industrial plants and research facilities that transformed the city into a center for aviation and technology.

Research institutions here train specialists in aviation and technology, and the metropolis merges scientific work with modern urban life. Many residents work in engineering offices and laboratories that shape the cityscape and daily routines, giving the area a technical character.

Roads and railways connect the metropolis to São Paulo and other regions, and the airport facilitates business travel and connections to other parts of the country. Most public facilities and commercial zones lie in the central and northern sections, where traffic and activity concentrate.

The manufacturing halls of Embraer here produce regional aircraft and military jets that are exported worldwide. Visitors occasionally see test flights over the metropolis when prototypes make their first rounds and the development of new models is tested.

Location: São Paulo

Inception: 1767

Elevation above the sea: 660 m

Shares border with: Monteiro Lobato, Jambeiro, Camanducaia, Sapucaí-Mirim, Jacareí, Caçapava, Joanópolis, Igaratá, Piracaia

Website: http://sjc.sp.gov.br

GPS coordinates: -23.17889,-45.88694

Latest update: December 18, 2025 02:14