São Caetano do Sul, Industrial municipality in São Paulo state, Brazil
São Caetano do Sul is an industrial city within the Greater São Paulo area, covering roughly 15 square kilometers (6 square miles) between the Tamanduateí River and several neighboring municipalities. The streets follow a regular grid lined with factory buildings, residential blocks, and small shopping centers.
Benedictine monks founded a small rural estate in this area in 1631 and dedicated a chapel to Saint Cajetan in 1717, laying the foundation for the future settlement. Italian immigrants developed the area into a major industrial center from the late 19th century onward.
The city takes its name from Saint Cajetan, patron of workers and craftsmen, whose chapel stood here in the early 18th century. Italian and Japanese immigrant heritage remains visible in the restaurants and small shops along the main avenues, where families gather on weekends.
The city sits directly on the São Paulo metro network, allowing visitors to reach several stations within the municipality. Most sights and shops line the main avenues, which are easy to walk or reach by local buses.
Among all Brazilian municipalities, this city reached the highest per capita income in 2010, around 31,000 US dollars (approximately 31,000 euros). The growth owes much to the presence of major automobile plants established during the 20th century.
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