São José do Rio Preto, Administrative center in northwestern São Paulo, Brazil
São José do Rio Preto is a city in northwestern São Paulo state, Brazil, spreading across gentle hills at an elevation near 489 meters (1,604 feet). The built environment stretches widely with residential neighborhoods, commercial streets and green spaces in between that follow the terrain.
João Bernardino de Seixas Ribeiro founded the settlement in 1852 on land previously inhabited by the Kaingang people. The arrival of the railway in 1912 transformed the place into a trading hub and attracted farmers and merchants from other regions.
The name joins Saint Joseph with the nearby river and reflects the religious roots of early settlers. Today people often call the city simply Rio Preto, an expression of everyday connection residents have with their place.
The terrain allows easy navigation with main roads running in a grid and connected by smaller streets. Visitors who need medical services will find several hospitals and clinics located across different parts of the city.
The economy rests almost entirely on services, which account for more than four fifths of income, while industry and other sectors play a smaller role. This pattern sets the city apart from many other inland centers that rely more heavily on agriculture or manufacturing.
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