HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Itumbiara () is a
municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality' ...
in
Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
, located in the southern part of the state of
Goiás Goiás () is a Brazilian States of Brazil, state located in the Central-West Region, Brazil, Central-West region. Goiás borders the Federal District (Brazil), Federal District and the states of (from north clockwise) Tocantins, Bahia, Minas Ge ...
, on the border with
Minas Gerais Minas Gerais () is one of the 27 federative units of Brazil, being the fourth largest state by area and the second largest in number of inhabitants with a population of 20,539,989 according to the 2022 Brazilian census, 2022 census. Located in ...
. It is a "sister city" to the Minas Gerais municipality of
Araporã Araporã (Brazilian Portuguese: Help:IPA/Portuguese, /aɾapoˈɾɐ̃/) is a Brazil, Brazilian Municipalities of Brazil, municipality located in the west of the Federative units of Brazil, state of Minas Gerais. Its population was 6,931 people l ...
. The city lies south of the
state capital Below is an index of pages containing lists of capital city, capital cities. National capitals *List of national capitals *List of national capitals by latitude *List of national capitals by population *List of national capitals by area *List of ...
,
Goiânia Goiânia ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Brazilian federative units of Brazil, state of Goiás. With a population of 1,536,097, it is the second-largest city in the Central-West Region, Brazil, Central-West Region and the 10th-larges ...
, approximately 204 kilometers away, and 411 kilometers from the federal capital,
Brasília Brasília ( ; ) is the capital city, capital of Brazil and Federal District (Brazil), Federal District. Located in the Brazilian highlands in the country's Central-West Region, Brazil, Central-West region, it was founded by President Juscelino ...
. Covering an area of , Itumbiara is the thirteenth most populous municipality in Goiás, with a population of inhabitants according to the 2022 census by the
Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (; IBGE) is the agency responsible for official collection of statistical, geographic, cartographic, geodetic and environmental information in Brazil. IBGE performs a decennial national cen ...
(IBGE). The history of Itumbiara dates back to the early 1820s, when a road was constructed across the
Paranaíba River The Paranaíba River is a Brazilian river whose source lies in the state of Minas Gerais in the Mata da Corda mountains, municipality of Rio Paranaíba, at an altitude of 1,148 meters; on the other face of this mountain chain are the sources of t ...
to connect
Uberaba Uberaba () is a municipality in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. It is located in the Brazilian Highlands at an elevation of 823 metres (2,700 ft) above sea level on the Uberaba River, and is situated 418 kilometres (260 mi) from the state c ...
with central Goiás. The influx of settlers, drawn primarily by the road's construction, led to the establishment of a district named Santa Rita do Paranaíba in 1852. Following the Proclamation of the Republic, the municipality was officially established in 1909, still under the name Santa Rita do Paranaíba. The name "Itumbiara," derived from the
Tupi language Old Tupi, Ancient Tupi or Classical Tupi () is a classical Tupian language which was spoken by the indigenous Tupi people of Brazil, mostly those who inhabited coastal regions in South and Southeast Brazil. In the words of Brazilian tupinol ...
, was proposed by engineer Inácio Pais Leme, who oversaw the road's construction. Itumbiara is regarded as the gateway to Goiás. It is also one of the state's largest
exporters An export in international trade is a good produced in one country that is sold into another country or a service provided in one country for a national or resident of another country. The seller of such goods or the service provider is an ' ...
, owing to its proximity to Minas Gerais and
São Paulo São Paulo (; ; Portuguese for 'Paul the Apostle, Saint Paul') is the capital of the São Paulo (state), state of São Paulo, as well as the List of cities in Brazil by population, most populous city in Brazil, the List of largest cities in the ...
, which facilitates the distribution of agricultural products from southwestern Goiás to the
South South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both west and east. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþa ...
and
Southeast The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, Radius, radially arrayed compass directions (or Azimuth#In navigation, azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A ''compass rose'' is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, ...
regions. Key tourist attractions include the
Paranaíba River The Paranaíba River is a Brazilian river whose source lies in the state of Minas Gerais in the Mata da Corda mountains, municipality of Rio Paranaíba, at an altitude of 1,148 meters; on the other face of this mountain chain are the sources of t ...
, the Salitre Waterfall, the Beira Rio Lighthouse, and the Affonso Penna Bridge, which connects Goiás and Minas Gerais. Water sports are also popular in the city. The ''Ranking Connected Smart Cities'', which identifies Brazil's most intelligent and high-potential cities, ranked Itumbiara as the 8th most intelligent and high-potential city in the Central-West Region and the 3rd in Goiás in 2021.


Etymology

In the
Tupi language Old Tupi, Ancient Tupi or Classical Tupi () is a classical Tupian language which was spoken by the indigenous Tupi people of Brazil, mostly those who inhabited coastal regions in South and Southeast Brazil. In the words of Brazilian tupinol ...
, the toponym Itumbiara translates to "Path to the Waterfall," derived from the combination of ''ytu'' ("waterfall") and ''piara'' ("path to"). Inácio Pais Leme, an explorer of the region, named a tax post along the road he built connecting the village of Santa Rita do Paranaíba (now a district of the municipality) to Cachoeira Dourada.


History

Around 1824, General Cunha Matos initiated the construction of a road linking the Goiás locality of Anhanguera to the Minas Gerais city of
Uberaba Uberaba () is a municipality in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. It is located in the Brazilian Highlands at an elevation of 823 metres (2,700 ft) above sea level on the Uberaba River, and is situated 418 kilometres (260 mi) from the state c ...
. The beginning and end of the road required the crossing of the
Paranaíba River The Paranaíba River is a Brazilian river whose source lies in the state of Minas Gerais in the Mata da Corda mountains, municipality of Rio Paranaíba, at an altitude of 1,148 meters; on the other face of this mountain chain are the sources of t ...
, which forms the border between
Goiás Goiás () is a Brazilian States of Brazil, state located in the Central-West Region, Brazil, Central-West region. Goiás borders the Federal District (Brazil), Federal District and the states of (from north clockwise) Tocantins, Bahia, Minas Ge ...
and
Minas Gerais Minas Gerais () is one of the 27 federative units of Brazil, being the fourth largest state by area and the second largest in number of inhabitants with a population of 20,539,989 according to the 2022 Brazilian census, 2022 census. Located in ...
. This crossing was established at a port, where the state government set up a revenue collection post. As an interstate crossing, the post aimed to regulate traffic at that point. The fertile lands in the region, ideal for agriculture and cattle raising, coupled with this development, led to the gradual formation of a small settlement. The residents of this nascent urban center built a chapel and dedicated it to
Saint Rita Rita of Cascia, OSA (born Margherita Ferri Lotti; 1381 – 22 May 1457), was an Italians, Italian widow and Augustinian nuns, Augustinian nun. After Rita's husband died, she joined a small community of nuns, who later became Augustinians, where ...
. In homage to their patron saint, the settlement was named Porto de Santa Rita. On August 21, 1852, provincial resolution No. 18 elevated the area to the status of a district named Santa Rita do Paranaíba. It was established as a municipality by State Law No. 349 on July 16, 1909, under Governor Urbano Coelho de Gouveia. The municipality was officially established on October 12, 1909, and was elevated to city status by State Law No. 518 on July 27, 1915, and to a ''
comarca A ''comarca'' (, , , ) is a traditional region or local administrative division found in Portugal, Spain, and some of their former colonies, like Brazil, Nicaragua, and Panama. The term is derived from the term ''marca'', meaning a "march, mark ...
'' by Law No. 621 on July 29, 1918. Despite the abundance of water surrounding the city,
electricity Electricity is the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and motion of matter possessing an electric charge. Electricity is related to magnetism, both being part of the phenomenon of electromagnetism, as described by Maxwel ...
was not introduced until 1933. Itumbiara was the scene of two revolutions in the 1930s. The first significant conflict was part of the 1930 Revolution, pitting forces loyal to President
Washington Luís Washington Luís Pereira de Sousa (; 26 October 1869 – 4 August 1957) was a Brazilian politician who served as the 13th president of Brazil. Elected governor of São Paulo state in 1920 and president of Brazil in 1926, Washington Luís belonge ...
against supporters of the reformist ideas of future President Getúlio Vargas. Approximately one hundred Itumbiara residents participated in this episode. Washington Luís Avenue, located in the city center, marks the site of the conflict. The second violent confrontation in the city occurred during the 1932 Constitutionalist Revolution, between the
Army An army, ground force or land force is an armed force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or country. It may also include aviation assets by ...
and rebel forces from
São Paulo São Paulo (; ; Portuguese for 'Paul the Apostle, Saint Paul') is the capital of the São Paulo (state), state of São Paulo, as well as the List of cities in Brazil by population, most populous city in Brazil, the List of largest cities in the ...
. This revolutionary movement, primarily composed of lawyers, teachers, merchants, and university students, aimed to demand immediate general elections for the President of the Republic, Deputies, and Senators, and the drafting of a new Brazilian Constitution. Although President
Getúlio Vargas Getúlio Dornelles Vargas (; ; 19 April 1882 – 24 August 1954) was a Brazilian lawyer and politician who served as the 14th and 17th president of Brazil, from 1930 to 1945 and from 1951 until his suicide in 1954. Due to his long and contr ...
suppressed the São Paulo revolutionaries, elections were held in 1933, and Brazil transitioned to a state of law with the promulgation of the 1934 Constitution. The Affonso Penna Bridge still bears bullet marks from this episode in Brazilian history. Engineer Inácio Pais Leme, who built the "Itumbiara" road from Santa Rita do Paranaíba to Cachoeira Dourada, forty kilometers from the city, proposed naming the municipality after the road, which in Tupi means "Path to the Waterfall." The Goiás government approved this suggestion. Itumbiara's first municipal administrator was Mr. Antônio Joaquim da Silva, appointed shortly after its emancipation. Other pioneering figures who held significant roles during the municipality's establishment included Major Rogério Prates Cotrim, the first municipal judge; José Olimpio Xavier de Barros, Public Prosecutor; Pedro Gomes de Oliveira, Notary Public; and Major Militão Pereira de Almeida, the first police chief. In the
Legislative Branch A legislature (, ) is a deliberative assembly with the authority, legal authority to make laws for a Polity, political entity such as a Sovereign state, country, nation or city on behalf of the people therein. They are often contrasted with th ...
, pioneers included Jacinto Brandão as President and Colonel Sidney Pereira de Almeida as secretary. Itumbiara's strategic geographic location has made it one of the most developed cities in Brazil's Central-West Region. The municipality has grown steadily and become one of Goiás's leading exporters, alongside the capital,
Goiânia Goiânia ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Brazilian federative units of Brazil, state of Goiás. With a population of 1,536,097, it is the second-largest city in the Central-West Region, Brazil, Central-West Region and the 10th-larges ...
, and other cities such as
Anápolis Anápolis ( , ) is a Brazilian city in the state of Goiás. It is located between two capitals, the federal capital Brasília and state capital Goiânia. It is the third most populous city in the state, with 398,869 inhabitants according to the ...
and Rio Verde. The municipality lost parts of its geographic area with the emancipation of the districts of Panamá in 1952, Cachoeira Dourada in 1982—a major tourist attraction at the time of its emancipation—and
Inaciolândia Inaciolândia is a Municipalities of Brazil, municipality in south Goiás state, Brazil. The population was 6,235 inhabitants (2020 IBGE) in a total area of 688.3 km2. Inaciolândia is a large producer of cotton and soybeans. Geographical I ...
in 1993. It has hosted visits from eight Brazilian Presidents: Afonso Pena,
Juscelino Kubitschek Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira (; 12 September 1902 – 22 August 1976), also known by his initials JK, was a Brazilian politician who served as the 21st president of Brazil from 1956 to 1961. Kubitschek's government plan, dubbed "50 years i ...
,
Emílio Garrastazu Médici Emílio Garrastazu Médici (; 4 December 1905 – 9 October 1985) was a Brazilian military leader and politician who was the 28th president of Brazil from 1969 to 1974. His authoritarian rule marked the apex of the Brazilian military regime. ...
,
Ernesto Geisel Ernesto Beckmann Geisel (, ; 3 August 1907 – 12 September 1996) was a Brazilian Army officer and politician, who served as the 29th president of Brazil from 1974 to 1979, during the Brazilian military dictatorship. Born to German Lutheran ...
, João Batista de Oliveira Figueiredo,
Fernando Collor de Mello Fernando Affonso Collor de Mello (; born 12 August 1949) is a Brazilian politician who served as the 32nd president of Brazil from 1990 to 1992, when he resigned in a failed attempt to stop his impeachment trial by the Brazilian Senate. Collor ...
,
Fernando Henrique Cardoso Fernando Henrique Cardoso (; born 18 June 1931), also known by his initials FHC (), is a Brazilian sociologist, professor, and politician who served as the 34th president of Brazil from 1 January 1995 to 1 January 2003. He was the first Brazi ...
, and
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (; born Luiz Inácio da Silva; 27 October 1945), known Mononym, mononymously as Lula, is a Brazilian politician, trade unionist and former metalworker who has served as the 39th president of Brazil since 2023. A mem ...
.


Geography

Itumbiara spans an area of 2,461 km², accounting for 0.7237% of Goiás's territory, 0.1538% of the Central-West Region, and 0.029% of Brazil's total surface area. The urbanized area of the municipality covers 19.3424 km², making it one of the largest urbanized areas among Goiás municipalities. The city is situated at an elevation ranging from 320 to 448 meters, depending on the location, with the highest points not exceeding 800 meters. Itumbiara borders the following municipalities: Goiatuba, Panamá, and Buriti Alegre to the north; the state of
Minas Gerais Minas Gerais () is one of the 27 federative units of Brazil, being the fourth largest state by area and the second largest in number of inhabitants with a population of 20,539,989 according to the 2022 Brazilian census, 2022 census. Located in ...
to the south; Buriti Alegre to the east; and Bom Jesus de Goiás and Cachoeira Dourada to the west. The municipality features predominantly mountainous terrain with undulating sections, though most of the landscape is flat, ideal for agriculture and pasture. The Santa Rita Range, along the
Paranaíba River The Paranaíba River is a Brazilian river whose source lies in the state of Minas Gerais in the Mata da Corda mountains, municipality of Rio Paranaíba, at an altitude of 1,148 meters; on the other face of this mountain chain are the sources of t ...
, extends its foothills inland, separating water masses. Besides this range, there are several hills, none of which are particularly prominent. The region’s altitude varies from 320 to 448 meters. The vegetation cover of Itumbiara is typically formed by fields and ''
cerrado The Cerrado () is a vast ecoregion of Tropics, tropical savanna in central Brazil, being present in the states of Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Tocantins, Maranhão, Piauí, Bahia, Minas Gerais, São Paulo (state), São Paulo, Paraná ...
'', with common species including angico,
aroeira ''Schinus terebinthifolia'' is a species of flowering plant in the cashew family, Anacardiaceae, that is native to subtropical and tropical South America. Common names include Brazilian peppertree, aroeira, rose pepper, broadleaved pepper tree, ...
,
grasses Poaceae ( ), also called Gramineae ( ), is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos, the grasses of natural grassland and species cultivated in ...
, courbaril, nance,
pequi ''Caryocar brasiliense'', known as () or souari nut, is an edible fruit popular in some areas of Brazil, especially in Central-West Region, Brazil, Centerwestern Brazil. Taxonomy The pequi tree grows up to 10 m (30 ft) tall. It is ...
, and
sea hibiscus ''Hibiscus tiliaceus'', commonly known as the sea hibiscus or coast cottonwood, is a species of flowering tree in the mallow family, Malvaceae, with a pantropical distribution along coastlines. It has also been introduced to Florida and New Zeal ...
. Itumbiara has no administrative regions and is divided into 58 neighborhoods. Among the most populous are Afonso Pena, Novo Horizonte, Vila Vitória, Nossa Senhora da Saúde, and Cidade Jardim.


Hydrography

Itumbiara is located within the Paraná River Basin, in the Paraná hydrographic region. The municipal seat is bathed by the
Paranaíba River The Paranaíba River is a Brazilian river whose source lies in the state of Minas Gerais in the Mata da Corda mountains, municipality of Rio Paranaíba, at an altitude of 1,148 meters; on the other face of this mountain chain are the sources of t ...
, Trindade Stream, and the Água Suja, Pombas, and Buriti creeks. The territory is also crossed by the Rio dos Bois and
Meia Ponte River The Meia Ponte River ( Portuguese, ''Rio Meia Ponte'') is one of the most important rivers in the state of Goiás, Brazil. Its source lies 60 km north of the city of Goiânia and it flows through that city in a southern direction joining the ...
, along with notable streams such as Santa Maria, Campanha, Bom Sucesso, Boa Vereda, Medes, and Posses. Hundreds of smaller creeks are also present. The Paranaíba River originates in
Minas Gerais Minas Gerais () is one of the 27 federative units of Brazil, being the fourth largest state by area and the second largest in number of inhabitants with a population of 20,539,989 according to the 2022 Brazilian census, 2022 census. Located in ...
, in the Mata da Corda region, in the municipality of Rio Paranaíba, which shares the river’s name. It is one of the tributaries forming the
Paraná River The Paraná River ( ; ; ) is a river in south-central South America, running through Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina for some ."Parana River". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. ...
, alongside the
Rio Grande The Rio Grande ( or ) in the United States or the Río Bravo (del Norte) in Mexico (), also known as Tó Ba'áadi in Navajo language, Navajo, is one of the principal rivers (along with the Colorado River) in the Southwestern United States a ...
. The Rio dos Bois originates in the Congumé Range, in Americano do Brasil, and flows into the
Paranaíba River The Paranaíba River is a Brazilian river whose source lies in the state of Minas Gerais in the Mata da Corda mountains, municipality of Rio Paranaíba, at an altitude of 1,148 meters; on the other face of this mountain chain are the sources of t ...
. The Meia Ponte River has its source in the Brandões Range, in Itauçu. Due to the significant energy potential of the Paranaíba River, large hydroelectric plants have been built in Itumbiara’s territory, including the Itumbiara Hydroelectric Plant, the largest hydroelectric facility operated by Furnas Centrais Elétricas S.A., which forms an artificial lake.


Climate

The climate of Itumbiara is
tropical The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the equator, where the sun may shine directly overhead. This contrasts with the temperate or polar regions of Earth, where the Sun can never be directly overhead. This is because of Earth's ax ...
(type ''Aw'' according to the
Köppen classification Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Bernd Köppen (1951–2014), German pianist and composer * Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan * Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author ...
), with a
wet season The wet season (sometimes called the rainy season or monsoon season) is the time of year when most of a region's average annual rainfall occurs. Generally, the season lasts at least one month. The term ''green season'' is also sometimes used a ...
from October to April, characterized by moderately high temperatures, and a
dry season The dry season is a yearly period of low rainfall, especially in the tropics. The weather in the tropics is dominated by the tropical rain belt, which moves from the northern to the southern tropics and back over the course of the year. The t ...
from May to September, with milder temperatures. Autumn and spring serve as transitional seasons. Sudden temperature changes are common in the region. The most significant climatic variations occur from mid-August to January, when the weather becomes substantially hot, with apparent temperatures approaching or exceeding . According to data from the
National Institute of Meteorology The National Institute of Meteorology () is the national meteorological organization of Brazil, responsible for weather forecasting, collecting climate data, and alerting the public of extreme weather. It is part of the Ministry of Agriculture, L ...
(INMET), since June 1989, the lowest temperature recorded in Itumbiara was on July 18, 2000, and the highest reached on October 7, 2020. The highest 24-hour
precipitation In meteorology, precipitation is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls from clouds due to gravitational pull. The main forms of precipitation include drizzle, rain, rain and snow mixed ("sleet" in Commonwe ...
accumulation was on December 12, 2005. Accumulations of or more were also recorded on December 27, 1996 (), March 16, 2019 (), December 8, 2003 (), and January 16, 1991 ().


Demography

According to the 2022 census by the
Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (; IBGE) is the agency responsible for official collection of statistical, geographic, cartographic, geodetic and environmental information in Brazil. IBGE performs a decennial national cen ...
(IBGE), Itumbiara’s population was inhabitants, making it the 12th most populous municipality in Goiás, with a
population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...
of 44.1 inhabitants per km². The 2010 census reported that 50.7% of the population were women ( inhabitants), 49.3% were men ( inhabitants), 95.8% ( inhabitants) lived in the
urban area An urban area is a human settlement with a high population density and an infrastructure of built environment. Urban areas originate through urbanization, and researchers categorize them as cities, towns, conurbations or suburbs. In urbani ...
, and 4.2% ( inhabitants) resided in the
rural area In general, a rural area or a countryside is a geographic area that is located outside towns and cities. Typical rural areas have a low population density and small settlements. Agricultural areas and areas with forestry are typically desc ...
. Itumbiara’s population grew by 14.14% over the last decade. Between 1991 and 2000, the municipality recorded an average annual population growth rate of 2.97%, increasing from inhabitants in 1991 to in 2000. However, the urbanization rate grew by only 2.66%, rising from 63% in 1991 to 64.67% in 2000. In 2000, the municipality’s population accounted for 1.82% of Goiás’s population and 0.04% of Brazil’s population.


Ethnic composition

The cultural, political, and economic influences inherited from the Portuguese are prominent and defining in Itumbiara. However, looking further back in history, the contributions of Indigenous peoples to the ethnic composition cannot be overlooked. Indigenous groups were the first to inhabit
Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
. Itumbiara’s demographic history reflects the intermingling of the three primary ethnic groups that form the Brazilian population:
Indigenous Indigenous may refer to: *Indigenous peoples *Indigenous (ecology) In biogeography, a native species is indigenous to a given region or ecosystem if its presence in that region is the result of only local natural evolution (though often populari ...
, European, and African, resulting in the region’s ''
mestiço ''Mestiço'' is a Portuguese term that referred to persons of mixed European and Indigenous non-European ancestry in the former Portuguese Empire. Mestiço community in Brazil In Colonial Brazil, it was initially used to refer to , persons b ...
'' population. Later, with the arrival of immigrants, a unique cultural blend emerged, characterizing both the city and the
state State most commonly refers to: * State (polity), a centralized political organization that regulates law and society within a territory **Sovereign state, a sovereign polity in international law, commonly referred to as a country **Nation state, a ...
, along with their values and way of life. There is a notable community of
Japanese Brazilians are Brazilians, Brazilian citizens who are nationals or naturals of Japanese people, Japanese ancestry or Japanese immigrants living in Brazil or Japanese people of Brazilian ancestry. Japanese immigration to Brazil peaked between 1908 and 1960 ...
, stemming from Japanese immigration in the 1930s, primarily farmers. Additionally, Itumbiara stands out nationally not only for attracting migrants but also for sending emigrants abroad, particularly to
North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...
. It ranks among Brazilian cities with the highest number of natives living overseas, alongside
Governador Valadares Governador Valadares is a Brazilian municipality in the countryside of Minas Gerais. In 2020, its population was 281,046 inhabitants, thus being the ninth most populated city in the state. It is an economical axis of the middle valley of the Doce ...
( MG) and Piracanjuba ( GO). According to the 2000 census by the
IBGE The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (; IBGE) is the agency responsible for official collection of statistical, geographic, cartographic, geodetic and environmental information in Brazil. IBGE performs a decennial national cen ...
, Itumbiara’s population comprises: Whites (65.35% or inhabitants), '' Pardos'' (28.49% or inhabitants), Blacks (5.37% or inhabitants), Indigenous (0.29% or inhabitants), and Asians (0.26% or inhabitants). Additionally, individuals did not declare their ethnicity, representing 0.25% of the total population.


Religion

Reflecting Itumbiara’s cultural diversity, the city hosts a variety of religious practices. Although it developed within a predominantly Catholic social framework due to colonization and immigration, today the city is home to numerous Protestant denominations, as well as practices such as
Candomblé Candomblé () is an African diaspora religions, African diasporic religion that developed in Brazil during the 19th century. It arose through a process of syncretism between several of the traditional religions of West and Central Africa, especi ...
, Eastern religions, Christian restorationist faiths,
Spiritism Spiritism may refer to: Religion * Espiritismo, a Latin American and Caribbean belief that evolved and less evolved spirits can affect health, luck and other aspects of human life * Kardecist spiritism, a new religious movement established in ...
, and others. In recent years, Protestant denominations and Spiritism have seen significant growth in the city. According to 2000 data from the
IBGE The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (; IBGE) is the agency responsible for official collection of statistical, geographic, cartographic, geodetic and environmental information in Brazil. IBGE performs a decennial national cen ...
, Itumbiara’s population is composed of:
Catholics The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...
(44.74%);
Evangelicals Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide, interdenominational movement within Protestant Christianity that emphasizes evangelism, or the preaching and spreading of the Christian g ...
(39.25%); people without religion (7.56%); Spiritists (7.55%); and Eastern religions (0.10%). Among Protestant churches, notable ones include the Assembleia de Deus (2.69%),
Universal Church of the Kingdom of God The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG; ; , IURD) is an international Evangelical Neo-charismatic movement, Neo-charismatic Christian denomination with its headquarters at the Temple of Solomon (UCKG), Temple of Solomon in São Paulo, B ...
(0.86%), and
Presbyterian Church Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Christianity, Reformed Protestantism, Protestant tradition named for its form of ecclesiastical polity, church government by representative assemblies of Presbyterian polity#Elder, elders, known as ...
(0.44%). Among Christian restorationist denominations,
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Restorationism, restorationist Christianity, Christian Christian denomination, denomination and the ...
(0.34%) and
Jehovah's Witnesses Jehovah's Witnesses is a Christian denomination that is an outgrowth of the Bible Student movement founded by Charles Taze Russell in the nineteenth century. The denomination is nontrinitarian, millenarian, and restorationist. Russell co-fou ...
(0.03%) stand out.
Umbanda Umbanda () is a religion that emerged in Brazil during the 1920s. Deriving largely from Kardecist spiritism, Spiritism, it also combines elements from African diasporic religions, Afro-Brazilian traditions like Candomblé as well as Roman Catho ...
and
Candomblé Candomblé () is an African diaspora religions, African diasporic religion that developed in Brazil during the 19th century. It arose through a process of syncretism between several of the traditional religions of West and Central Africa, especi ...
together account for 0.15% of the religious population. Esoteric traditions are practiced by 0.11% of the population, and 0.04% did not declare any religion.


Politics

The
executive branch The executive branch is the part of government which executes or enforces the law. Function The scope of executive power varies greatly depending on the political context in which it emerges, and it can change over time in a given country. In ...
of Itumbiara’s municipal government is led by the
mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilitie ...
, supported by a cabinet of
secretaries A secretary, administrative assistant, executive assistant, Personal assistant, personal secretary, or other similar titles is an individual whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project manageme ...
and equivalent directors, elected through direct voting for a four-year term, with the possibility of re-election for a second consecutive term. The current head of the municipal executive is Francisco Domingues de Faria, affiliated with the Brazilian Labor Party (PTB), elected in the 2012 municipal elections with of valid votes. The
legislative branch A legislature (, ) is a deliberative assembly with the authority, legal authority to make laws for a Polity, political entity such as a Sovereign state, country, nation or city on behalf of the people therein. They are often contrasted with th ...
is exercised by the
municipal chamber A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the gov ...
, composed of thirteen councilors elected for four-year terms. In the current legislature, which began in 2013, the chamber consists of three seats from the Brazilian Labor Party (PTB), two from the
Brazilian Democratic Movement Party The Brazilian Democratic Movement (, MDB) is a Brazilian political party. It is considered a " big tent party" and it is one of the parties with the greatest representation throughout the national territory, with the most numbers of senators, ...
(PMDB), one from the
Workers' Party Workers' Party is a name used by several political parties throughout the world. The name has been used by both organisations on the left and right of the political spectrum. It is currently used by followers of Marxism, Marxism–Leninism, Maoism ...
(PT), one from the
Brazilian Social Democracy Party The Brazilian Social Democracy Party (, PSDB), also known as the Brazilian Social Democratic Party or the Party of Brazilian Social Democracy,. is a Centre-right politics, centre-right political party in Brazil. As the formerly third largest p ...
(PSDB), one from the
Social Democratic Party The name Social Democratic Party or Social Democrats has been used by many political parties in various countries around the world. Such parties are most commonly aligned to social democracy as their political ideology. Active parties Form ...
(PSD), one from the Social Christian Party (PSC), one from the
Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. For example, while the political systems ...
(PR), one from the
Communist Party of Brazil The Communist Party of Brazil (, PCdoB) is a List of political parties in Brazil, political party in Brazil. The PCdoB officially adheres to Marxist–Leninist theory. It has national reach and deep penetration in the trade union and Student ...
(PCdoB), one from the Popular Socialist Party (PPS), and one from the Democrats (DEM). The chamber is responsible for drafting and voting on fundamental laws for the administration and the executive, particularly the participatory budget (Budget Guidelines Law). Itumbiara is the seat of a third-tier ''
comarca A ''comarca'' (, , , ) is a traditional region or local administrative division found in Portugal, Spain, and some of their former colonies, like Brazil, Nicaragua, and Panama. The term is derived from the term ''marca'', meaning a "march, mark ...
'' with four courts: two civil, one criminal, and one special court. According to the
Superior Electoral Court The Superior Electoral Court (, TSE) is the highest body of the Brazilian Election Justice, Brazilian Electoral Justice, which also comprises one Regional Electoral Court (Brazil), Regional Electoral Court (, TRE) in each of the 26 states and th ...
(TSE), as of December 2013, the municipality had voters, representing of Goiás’s total. The first political party in Itumbiara was the Democrata Santaritense, founded by Major Militão Pereira de Almeida and Colonel Sidney Pereira de Almeida. Regarding political representation, 32 of Brazil’s 35 political parties are represented in the municipality. According to data from the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) as of April 2016, the political party with the most members in Itumbiara is the
Brazilian Democratic Movement Party The Brazilian Democratic Movement (, MDB) is a Brazilian political party. It is considered a " big tent party" and it is one of the parties with the greatest representation throughout the national territory, with the most numbers of senators, ...
(PMDB), with members, followed by the Progressive Party (PP) with members, and the
Brazilian Social Democracy Party The Brazilian Social Democracy Party (, PSDB), also known as the Brazilian Social Democratic Party or the Party of Brazilian Social Democracy,. is a Centre-right politics, centre-right political party in Brazil. As the formerly third largest p ...
(PSDB) with members. Rounding out the top five parties by membership are the
Workers' Party Workers' Party is a name used by several political parties throughout the world. The name has been used by both organisations on the left and right of the political spectrum. It is currently used by followers of Marxism, Marxism–Leninism, Maoism ...
(PT) with members and the
Brazilian Socialist Party The Brazilian Socialist Party (, PSB) is a political party in Brazil. It was founded in 1947, before being abolished by the military regime in 1965 and re-organised in 1989 after the re-democratisation of Brazil. It elected six Governors in 201 ...
(PSB) with members. The Free Fatherland Party (PPL) and the
Brazilian Communist Party The Brazilian Communist Party (), originally the Communist Party of Brazil (), is a communist party in Brazil, founded on 25 March 1922. Arguably the oldest active political party in Brazil, it played an important role in the country's 20th- ...
(PCB) have the least representation, with one member each. Three parties have no representation in Itumbiara:
Workers' Cause Party Workers' Cause Party (, PCO) is a political party in Brazil. Its origins can be traced back to 1978, when several Trotskyist activists who were not satisfied with the socialist international united under the name ''Tendência Trotskista do Bras ...
(PCO), New Party (NOVO), and the
Brazilian Woman's Party The Brazilian Woman's Party (, PMB) is a Right-wing politics, right-wing political party in Brazil which uses the number 35. Known for its non-feminist and anti-abortion stance, the party is not represented in the National Congress of Brazil, Na ...
(PMB).


Economy

Itumbiara’s
gross domestic product Gross domestic product (GDP) is a monetary measure of the total market value of all the final goods and services produced and rendered in a specific time period by a country or countries. GDP is often used to measure the economic performanc ...
(GDP) is the seventh largest in
Goiás Goiás () is a Brazilian States of Brazil, state located in the Central-West Region, Brazil, Central-West region. Goiás borders the Federal District (Brazil), Federal District and the states of (from north clockwise) Tocantins, Bahia, Minas Ge ...
. It excels particularly in the
service sector The tertiary sector of the economy, generally known as the service sector, is the third of the three economic sectors in the three-sector model (also known as the economic cycle). The others are the primary sector (raw materials) and the ...
. According to 2018 data from the
Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (; IBGE) is the agency responsible for official collection of statistical, geographic, cartographic, geodetic and environmental information in Brazil. IBGE performs a decennial national cen ...
(IBGE), the municipality’s GDP was R$ , with a per capita GDP of R$ , placing it 16th among municipalities in the Central-West and 261st among Brazilian municipalities in terms of
GDP Gross domestic product (GDP) is a monetary measure of the total market value of all the final goods and services produced and rendered in a specific time period by a country or countries. GDP is often used to measure the economic performance o ...
. Of the city’s total GDP, R$ comes from the gross value added by agriculture (primary sector), R$ from industry (secondary sector), R$ from taxes on products net of subsidies, and R$ from service provision (tertiary sector). The service sector is currently the primary contributor to Itumbiara’s GDP. Itumbiara is also one of Goiás’s most competitive municipalities. Its easy access to the
South South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both west and east. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþa ...
and
Southeast The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, Radius, radially arrayed compass directions (or Azimuth#In navigation, azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A ''compass rose'' is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, ...
of Brazil facilitates product distribution. This is a key factor in the production, expansion, and establishment of new agro-industries in the Diagri – Itumbiara Agroindustrial District, fostering local economic growth and development. Itumbiara is Goiás’s largest exporter.


Primary sector

; Agriculture Located in the fertile valley of the
Paranaíba River The Paranaíba River is a Brazilian river whose source lies in the state of Minas Gerais in the Mata da Corda mountains, municipality of Rio Paranaíba, at an altitude of 1,148 meters; on the other face of this mountain chain are the sources of t ...
, Itumbiara relies on agriculture as a primary source of income. Although it remains a significant part of the local economy, agriculture is gradually losing ground to industry. According to the 1996 Agricultural Census, Itumbiara’s cultivated area included hectares of temporary crops, hectares of permanent crops, hectares of natural pastures, hectares of artificial (planted) pastures, hectares of natural and artificial forests, and hectares of irrigated crops. The total area is hectares, of which are suitable for agriculture and pasture formation. In 1996, the municipality had rural properties, tractors, mechanically powered plows, animal-drawn plows, harvesters, and planting machines. Itumbiara has 39 dry storage and warehousing facilities, sufficient to handle the municipality’s production and that of neighboring municipalities. In 1997, it had a storage capacity of tons or 60-kilogram sacks, distributed as follows: m³ of conventional warehouses (equivalent to tons), tons in bulk warehouses, and tons in silo warehouses. In 2006, the agricultural sector generated direct jobs, with positions filled by men and by women. Of these, jobs were held by individuals over 14 years old. ; Livestock According to the 1996 Agricultural Census, Itumbiara had a bovine herd density of 66.09 heads per km², with a total of cattle. By 2006, the number of cattle had decreased to , alongside horses, buffalo, and donkeys. Other notable animals in 1996 included buffalo, pigs, sheep, goats, and poultry (chickens, hens, roosters), producing dozen eggs annually. Other birds (ducks, geese, turkeys) totaled units.


Secondary sector

Itumbiara is a significant industrial hub at the state level. Industry plays a major role in the local economy and has been expanding in recent years. It is particularly noted for products derived from
maize Maize (; ''Zea mays''), also known as corn in North American English, is a tall stout grass that produces cereal grain. It was domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 9,000 years ago from wild teosinte. Native American ...
,
soybean The soybean, soy bean, or soya bean (''Glycine max'') is a species of legume native to East Asia, widely grown for its edible bean. Soy is a staple crop, the world's most grown legume, and an important animal feed. Soy is a key source o ...
,
cotton Cotton (), first recorded in ancient India, is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus '' Gossypium'' in the mallow family Malvaceae. The fiber is almost pure ...
, and
milk Milk is a white liquid food produced by the mammary glands of lactating mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals (including breastfeeding, breastfed human infants) before they are able to digestion, digest solid food. ...
. However, the primary industrial economic drivers are metallurgy, footwear, textiles, mechanics, and food processing. The municipality has an industrial district along the BR-452, with access to the
BR-153 BR-153 is a major federal highway of Brazil, officially named the Transbrasiliana Highway. It also serves as part of the Belém–Brasília Highway in the stretch located between the cities of Wanderlândia, in the state of Tocantins, and A ...
, which connects
Goiás Goiás () is a Brazilian States of Brazil, state located in the Central-West Region, Brazil, Central-West region. Goiás borders the Federal District (Brazil), Federal District and the states of (from north clockwise) Tocantins, Bahia, Minas Ge ...
,
Minas Gerais Minas Gerais () is one of the 27 federative units of Brazil, being the fourth largest state by area and the second largest in number of inhabitants with a population of 20,539,989 according to the 2022 Brazilian census, 2022 census. Located in ...
,
São Paulo São Paulo (; ; Portuguese for 'Paul the Apostle, Saint Paul') is the capital of the São Paulo (state), state of São Paulo, as well as the List of cities in Brazil by population, most populous city in Brazil, the List of largest cities in the ...
, and
Brasília Brasília ( ; ) is the capital city, capital of Brazil and Federal District (Brazil), Federal District. Located in the Brazilian highlands in the country's Central-West Region, Brazil, Central-West region, it was founded by President Juscelino ...
. The industrial district has stable infrastructure, including electricity, water, sewage, telephone, and asphalt. Covering approximately , it is divided into blocks and streets and is located 8 kilometers from the city center. Industries benefit from the FOMENTAR program, which finances up to 70% of ICMS for 15 years at 2.6% annual interest, along with municipal incentives such as land cleanup assistance. Currently, industries operate in the district. Itumbiara hosts several national exporting companies, including Caramuru Alimentos (soybean exporter), Louis Dreyfus Commodities (cotton derivative exporter), JBS (leather exporter), and Stemac (energy generator manufacturer).


Tertiary sector

Itumbiara is a commercial distribution hub, standing out in the
Meia Ponte Microregion The Meia Ponte Microregion is a statistical region of Goiás state, Brazil created by the IBGE (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística). It is located south of the state capital, Goiânia, and includes 21 municipalities with a total popu ...
. All 18 neighboring municipalities rely on Itumbiara’s commerce, which accounts for approximately 36% of the ICMS revenue. Companies such as
Peugeot Peugeot (, , ) is a French automobile brand owned by Stellantis. The family business that preceded the current Peugeot companies was established in 1810, making it the oldest car company in the world. On 20 November 1858, Émile Peugeot applie ...
,
Renault Renault S.A., commonly referred to as Groupe Renault ( , , , also known as the Renault Group in English), is a French Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automobile manufacturer established in 1899. The company curr ...
, Ford,
Volkswagen Volkswagen (VW; )English: , . is a German automotive industry, automobile manufacturer based in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. Established in 1937 by German Labour Front, The German Labour Front, it was revitalized into the global brand it ...
,
FIAT Fiat Automobiles S.p.A., commonly known as simply Fiat ( , ; ), is an Italian automobile manufacturer. It became a part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in 2014 and, in 2021, became a subsidiary of Stellantis through its Italian division, Stellant ...
,
Toyota is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on August 28, 1937. Toyota is the List of manuf ...
,
Hyundai Hyundai is a former South Korean industrial conglomerate ("''chaebol''"), which was restructured into the following groups: * Hyundai Group, parts of the former conglomerate which have not been divested ** Hyundai Asan, a real estate construction ...
,
Nissan is a Japanese multinational Automotive industry, automobile manufacturer headquartered in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. The company sells its vehicles under the ''Nissan'' and ''Infiniti'' brands, and formerly the ''Datsun'' brand, with in-house ...
,
Chery Chery Automobile Co. Ltd., Doing business as, trading as Chery (), is a Chinese automobile manufacturer owned by Chery Holding Group Co., Ltd. Founded in 1997, it is currently the fourth largest automobile manufacturer group in China, with 2,6 ...
,
Mitsubishi The is a group of autonomous Japanese multinational companies in a variety of industries. Founded by Yatarō Iwasaki in 1870, the Mitsubishi Group traces its origins to the Mitsubishi zaibatsu, a unified company that existed from 1870 to 194 ...
,
Chevrolet Chevrolet ( ) is an American automobile division of the manufacturer General Motors (GM). In North America, Chevrolet produces and sells a wide range of vehicles, from subcompact automobiles to medium-duty commercial trucks. Due to the promi ...
, and
Jeep Jeep is an American automobile brand, now owned by multi-national corporation Stellantis. Jeep has been part of Chrysler since 1987, when Chrysler acquired the Jeep brand, along with other assets, from its previous owner, American Motors Co ...
serve the entire region. The city also hosts retail chains such as
Lojas Americanas Lojas Americanas is a Brazilian retail chain founded in 1929 in the city of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, by the Austrian-Brazilian Max Landesmann and Americans John Lee, Glen Matson, James Marshall and Batson Borger. Currently, the company has 1, ...
, Ricardo Eletro, Magazine Luiza, Casas Bahia, Pernambucanas, Drogasil, Pague Menos, and the Bretas supermarket chain. According to the Itumbiara Tax Office in 1997, the municipality had active commercial establishments, suspended commercial establishments, service providers, road transport companies for cargo and passengers, dry storage and warehousing facilities for grains, banking institutions, and hotels with over beds. In 2018, it hosts one of the largest beverage companies, the Polish multinational CanPack, which operates 11 plants worldwide. Its Itumbiara facility produces over 3 million aluminum cans daily.


Infrastructure

In 2000, Itumbiara had
household A household consists of one or more persons who live in the same dwelling. It may be of a single family or another type of person group. The household is the basic unit of analysis in many social, microeconomic and government models, and is im ...
s, including
apartment An apartment (American English, Canadian English), flat (British English, Indian English, South African English), tenement (Scots English), or unit (Australian English) is a self-contained housing unit (a type of residential real estate) that ...
s,
house A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air c ...
s, and rooms. Of these, were owned properties, with fully paid (57.16%), under acquisition (5.80%), and rented (22.66%). Additionally, properties were provided, with supplied by employers (4.64%), provided otherwise (9.43%), and in other forms (0.32%). The
water supply Water supply is the provision of water by public utilities, commercial organisations, community endeavors or by individuals, usually via a system of pumps and pipes. Public water supply systems are crucial to properly functioning societies. Th ...
is managed by the state-owned Companhia Saneamento de Goiás S/A (SANEAGO), which oversees sanitation in 223 Goiás municipalities. In the districts, water is distributed via
artesian well An artesian well is a well that brings groundwater to the surface without pumping because it is under pressure within a body of rock or sediment known as an aquifer. When trapped water in an aquifer is surrounded by layers of Permeability (ea ...
s, while the municipal seat relies primarily on a water treatment plant. Under the 1988 Brazilian Constitution, Itumbiara’s Municipal Guard, alongside the Goiás Military Police, is tasked with protecting public assets, services, and facilities. In the public interest and exercising its police powers, it works to prevent and suppress certain crimes, particularly against public property and services, and can arrest offenders ''
in flagrante delicto ''In flagrante delicto'' (Latin for "in blazing offence"), sometimes simply ''in flagrante'' ("in blazing"), is a legal term used to indicate that a criminal has been caught in the act of committing an offence (compare ). The colloquial "caught ...
'' and present them to a police chief, as stipulated by criminal procedure law.


Healthcare

Itumbiara has 51 healthcare facilities, including 27 private and 24 public municipal facilities, such as hospitals,
emergency department An emergency department (ED), also known as an accident and emergency department (A&E), emergency room (ER), emergency ward (EW) or casualty department, is a medical treatment facility specializing in emergency medicine, the Acute (medicine), ...
s, health centers, and
dentistry Dentistry, also known as dental medicine and oral medicine, is the branch of medicine focused on the Human tooth, teeth, gums, and Human mouth, mouth. It consists of the study, diagnosis, prevention, management, and treatment of diseases, dis ...
services. The city has 232 beds for
hospitalization A hospital is a healthcare institution providing patient treatment with specialized health science and auxiliary healthcare staff and medical equipment. The best-known type of hospital is the general hospital, which typically has an emergency ...
. There are three general hospitals, two public and one private. The city employs 52 surgical doctors, 108 clinical doctors, 54 obstetricians, and 54 pediatricians, totaling 268. In 2008, live births were recorded, with 7.4% premature, 47.6% via cesarean section, and 25.1% to mothers aged 10 to 19 (0.5% aged 10 to 14). The crude birth rate is 14.14.


Education

Itumbiara has schools in all regions of the municipality. In 2009, the municipality recorded approximately enrollments in primary education, in secondary education, and in early childhood education. Of the municipality’s educational institutions, 48.9% were for primary education, 34.1% for early childhood education, and 17% for secondary education. In terms of teachers, 64.8% were in primary education, 25% in secondary education and 10.2% in early childhood education. For higher education, Itumbiara hosts a campus of the Goiás State University (UEG) and the Federal Institute of Goiás, the only two public higher education institutions. Private higher education institutions include the Lutheran Institute of Higher Education of Itumbiara, part of the Lutheran University of Brazil (ULBRA), Santa Rita de Cássia Faculty (UNIFASC), North Paraná University (UNOPAR), and Uniasselvi. The municipality also has units of the
SENAI SENAI, or ' (), is a network of secondary level professional schools established and maintained by the Brazilian Confederation of Industry (a patronal syndicate). SENAI is one of the most important institutions in the country providing formal tr ...
, SENAC, and
SESI The Brazilian Industrial Social Services (, ''SESI'' in Portuguese) is a private Brazilian not-for-profit institution that operates throughout the country. It was set up on July 1, 1946 stating its aim to be "promoting education, social welfa ...
, contributing to some of the highest
literacy Literacy is the ability to read and write, while illiteracy refers to an inability to read and write. Some researchers suggest that the study of "literacy" as a concept can be divided into two periods: the period before 1950, when literacy was ...
and professional training rates in
Goiás Goiás () is a Brazilian States of Brazil, state located in the Central-West Region, Brazil, Central-West region. Goiás borders the Federal District (Brazil), Federal District and the states of (from north clockwise) Tocantins, Bahia, Minas Ge ...
. In 2013, Itumbiara scored 6.4 on the Basic Education Development Index (IDEB) for the initial years of primary education. For the final years of primary education, the score was 5.2, surpassing the previous score but falling below the state average.


Services and communications

The municipality is powered by the Itumbiara Hydroelectric Plant (UHI), operational since 1981, located on the
Paranaíba River The Paranaíba River is a Brazilian river whose source lies in the state of Minas Gerais in the Mata da Corda mountains, municipality of Rio Paranaíba, at an altitude of 1,148 meters; on the other face of this mountain chain are the sources of t ...
between Itumbiara and
Araporã Araporã (Brazilian Portuguese: Help:IPA/Portuguese, /aɾapoˈɾɐ̃/) is a Brazil, Brazilian Municipalities of Brazil, municipality located in the west of the Federative units of Brazil, state of Minas Gerais. Its population was 6,931 people l ...
. It supplies much of
Goiás Goiás () is a Brazilian States of Brazil, state located in the Central-West Region, Brazil, Central-West region. Goiás borders the Federal District (Brazil), Federal District and the states of (from north clockwise) Tocantins, Bahia, Minas Ge ...
,
Minas Gerais Minas Gerais () is one of the 27 federative units of Brazil, being the fourth largest state by area and the second largest in number of inhabitants with a population of 20,539,989 according to the 2022 Brazilian census, 2022 census. Located in ...
, and parts of
Mato Grosso do Sul Mato Grosso do Sul ( ) is one of Federative units of Brazil, Brazil's 27 federal units, located in the southern part of the Central-West Region, Brazil, Central-West Region, bordering five Brazilian states: Mato Grosso (to the north), Goiás and ...
. With six operational units and a total installed capacity of 2,082 MW, it is the largest plant in the Brazilian Furnas System. Construction began in November 1974. Itumbiara’s first newspaper, owned by José Flávio Soares in 1919, was titled ''O Comércio''. The city receives
free-to-air television Free-to-air (FTA) services are television (TV) and radio services broadcast in unencrypted form, allowing any person with the FTA receiver, appropriate receiving equipment to receive the signal and view or listen to the content without requiring ...
signals from various Brazilian broadcasters. Regional broadcasters airing local programs include Rede Anhanguera, which broadcasts TV Anhanguera, affiliated with
Rede Globo TV Globo (stylized as tvglobo; , ), formerly known as Rede Globo de Televisão (; shortened to Rede Globo) or simply known as Globo, is a Brazilian free-to-air television network, launched by media proprietor Roberto Marinho on 26 April 1965 ...
; RedeTV! Itumbiara, affiliated with
RedeTV! RedeTV! (, also Rede TV! or RTV! or TV Ômega) is a Brazilian television network owned by Amilcare Dallevo and Marcelo de Carvalho. It is the newest television network, among the five major networks in Brazil, being a relaunch of Rede Manchete ...
; TV Serra Dourada, affiliated with SBT; TV Record Goiás, affiliated with
Rede Record Record (stylized in uppercase; ), formerly known as Rede Record and RecordTV, is a Brazilian free-to-air television network. It is currently the second largest commercial TV station in Brazil, and the 28th largest in the 2012 world ranking. In ...
; and TV Brasil Central, affiliated with
TV Cultura TV Cultura, or simply Cultura, is a free Brazilian non-commercial public television network headquartered in São Paulo and a part of Father Anchieta Foundation, a non-profit foundation funded by the São Paulo State Government. It focuses on ...
.


Transportation

The municipality has a strong tradition in road transportation. Located along one of Brazil's busiest corridors, Itumbiara is served by highways and roads that connect it to major urban centers such as
Goiânia Goiânia ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Brazilian federative units of Brazil, state of Goiás. With a population of 1,536,097, it is the second-largest city in the Central-West Region, Brazil, Central-West Region and the 10th-larges ...
,
Brasília Brasília ( ; ) is the capital city, capital of Brazil and Federal District (Brazil), Federal District. Located in the Brazilian highlands in the country's Central-West Region, Brazil, Central-West region, it was founded by President Juscelino ...
, Uberlândia, and São Paulo. The distance between the municipal seat and the state capital, Goiânia, is approximately 206 kilometers. The distance to the federal capital, Brasília, is 404 kilometers. The three main highways in Itumbiara are
BR-153 BR-153 is a major federal highway of Brazil, officially named the Transbrasiliana Highway. It also serves as part of the Belém–Brasília Highway in the stretch located between the cities of Wanderlândia, in the state of Tocantins, and A ...
, also known as the Transbrasiliana Highway, which provides access to the capitals Goiânia and Brasília; BR-452, which connects the city to Rio Verde; and GO-419, which links to Buriti Alegre. Itumbiara has limited tradition in river transportation, largely due to the absence of navigable rivers within its territory. However, the
Paranaíba River The Paranaíba River is a Brazilian river whose source lies in the state of Minas Gerais in the Mata da Corda mountains, municipality of Rio Paranaíba, at an altitude of 1,148 meters; on the other face of this mountain chain are the sources of t ...
is extensively used for river transport, particularly for ecotourism activities. The Itumbiara Airport—officially named Itumbiara-Francisco Vilela do Amaral Airport (International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO: SBIT)—is operated by the municipal government. It has an asphalt runway of 2,700 meters, suitable for both day and night flights, and can accommodate large aircraft.


Culture and society


Tourism

Ecotourism is the primary driver of tourism in Itumbiara, serving as a key pathway for the city's development. This is characterized by the competitive advantages of the region in this sector, with a particular emphasis on the large lake of the Itumbiara Dam, which has a depth of 521.20 meters, a flooded area of 778 km², and a total volume of 17 billion m³. This is equivalent to two Guanabara Bays. In recent years, the lake area of the Paranaíba River Dam has become a popular venue for gatherings of fishermen and fishing teams engaging in sport fishing, a phenomenon highlighted in specialized magazines that rank Itumbiara as the second-best location in Brazil for sport fishing of peacock bass. The
Paranaíba River The Paranaíba River is a Brazilian river whose source lies in the state of Minas Gerais in the Mata da Corda mountains, municipality of Rio Paranaíba, at an altitude of 1,148 meters; on the other face of this mountain chain are the sources of t ...
also hosts various water sports. The Dr. Henrique Santillo International Kartodrome, located in the west-central part of the city, hosts regional, national, and international events. It has a capacity for people. Among the municipality's main natural tourist attractions are the
Paranaíba River The Paranaíba River is a Brazilian river whose source lies in the state of Minas Gerais in the Mata da Corda mountains, municipality of Rio Paranaíba, at an altitude of 1,148 meters; on the other face of this mountain chain are the sources of t ...
, which acts as a vast mirror reflecting the well-constructed buildings along its banks on one side and the state of
Minas Gerais Minas Gerais () is one of the 27 federative units of Brazil, being the fourth largest state by area and the second largest in number of inhabitants with a population of 20,539,989 according to the 2022 Brazilian census, 2022 census. Located in ...
on the other; and the Salitre Waterfall, located in the rural area near the border with Buriti Alegre, offering trails and climbing opportunities. Historical tourist attractions include the Main Square (Praça Matriz), established by municipal decree No. 538 in April 1934, authored by Sidney Pereira de Almeida. At the time of its construction, it was the city's first public garden. The project was executed by engineer Eduardo Figueiredo Mendes and opened to the public on June 23, 1935. It is now called Republic Square (Praça da República); the Affonso Penna suspension bridge, built to meet the significant need for development in the southwest of Goiás and to improve connections with major centers such as São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro; and the Cyro Gomes de Almeida Bridge, constructed over the Paranaíba River in 1958 to replace the old Affonso Penna Bridge, during the period when Brazil's capital was transferred from Rio de Janeiro to Brasília in 1960. The bridge is named in honor of its builder, Cyro Gomes de Almeida.


Arts

Several theater groups operate in the municipality. In 1919, the first theater group was established in Itumbiara, making it one of the pioneers in this field in southern Goiás. It was founded and conceptualized by José Flávio Soares, a journalist from the region. That same year, the first theatrical play in the municipality, also authored by José Flávio Soares, was performed. The first cinema in Itumbiara, named Cine Brasil, was owned by Sidney Pereira de Almeida. The movie "The Ace of the West", a cowboy movie, was shown there. It was the first movie shown in the city.


Events

Itumbiara hosts numerous events annually, some of which are well-known among the local population. The city is home to significant religious and cultural events. Notable among them are the feast of Saint Sebastian, held on January 20; the feast of Rita of Cascia, Saint Rita of Cascia, in May; and the Christ the King Fair, held between May 1 and May 10. The fluvial procession of Our Lady of Grace, held in August, has been celebrated for over 50 years. The city's agricultural fair, held in September, is another cultural highlight. Additional events include the Ecological Week in June, the South Goiás Industry and Commerce Fair (Expossul), hosted in the city, and the municipality's anniversary, celebrated on October 12.


Football

In football, the most important club in Itumbiara is Itumbiara Esporte Clube, founded on March 9, 1970. Its headquarters are located on Goiânia Street in the Historic Center of Itumbiara. The club won its first state title in 2003, becoming the Goiás Second Division Champion. Since 2004, it has competed in the First Division of the Goiás Football Championship. In 1979, it played its first official match in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, Campeonato Brasileiro, finishing in 64th place. The club also participated in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B, Taça de Prata in 1980, 1983, and 1984; the 1981 Campeonato Brasileiro Série C, Taça de Bronze in 1981; and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C, Third Division in 1987, 1994, 1995, 1997, and 1998. It won the Campeonato Goiano, Goiás Football Championship in 2008, earning the right to compete in the 2009 Copa do Brasil, where it faced Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, Corinthians. The football club plays its matches at the Estádio JK, Juscelino Kubitschek Municipal Stadium, located in the Planalto neighborhood. The stadium has a capacity of people. It was inaugurated on October 10, 1976, against Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama. Its record attendance was in 2008, when Itumbiara faced Goiás Esporte Clube, witnessed by spectators.


Sister cities

* – Rio Verde * – Quirinópolis


Notable people

*Dante Amaral, Dante do Amaral, volleyball player *José Roberto de Oliveira, Zé Roberto, football player *Jorge e Mateus, Música sertaneja, Sertanejo singers *Ricardo Boiadeiro, football player


See also

* List of municipalities in Goiás


References


External links


City Hall of Itumbiara website
{{Authority control Municipalities in Goiás Populated places established in 1909 1909 establishments in Brazil