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Vitoria
Vit贸ria is the capital of the state of Esp铆rito Santo, Brazil. It is located on a small island within a bay where a few rivers meet the sea. It was founded in 1551. The city proper (area 211 km虏) has a population of 313,300 (2005) whilst the Greater Vit贸ria metropolitan area has a population of over 1,612,885 (2005), the 14th largest in Brazil. In 1998, the United Nations rated Vit贸ria as the fourth best state capital in Brazil to live in, rating cities on health, education, and social improvement projects.
Economy
Vit贸ria's economy is strongly based on trade, being an important port city, having a total of three ports. As such, it performs a very important function for the region, in exporting regional products (both agricultural and industrial).
Vit贸ria's first strong economic activity was coffee in the early 1900s, being an important coffee port and marketplace, along with Rio de Janeiro and Santos.
Since then the economy has diversified a lot, having today a large and well established iron ore processing and steel making industry park. More recently, oil is giving a major boost in the economy, since in the last few years Esp铆rito Santo state has become one of the largest oil producers in Brazil. An increasing business tourism and a burgeoning real estate are also effects of the recent oil-related activities.
The services sector is well developed and has an important role in the city economy.
History
The island was populated shortly after the arrival of Vasco Fernandes Coutinho to Vila Velha, where he first settled colonists, but soon became more popular as the mainland became increasingly dangerous. Other considerations, such as attacks from Dutch and French traders, in search of sugar cane, also contributed to the choice of this island as home to the colonists.
During the first half of the 19th century, Vit贸ria was still seen as a backward agricultural town, with narrow and disorganized lanes. The commercial capital at the time was Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, and because of that the revenues of commerce would go to Rio de Janeiro, rather than Vit贸ria. It was only after the adoption of a republican style of government in 1889 that the governors decided to modernize the state capital.
In 1892 Muniz Freire came to power for two four-year terms, and began his leadership by paving roads, planning the town's expansion, and contracting a loan of 700 million French Francs to build a rail connection to Cachoeiro de Itapemirim. Muniz Freire intended to channel exports and revenues through the capital, and thus promote its growth. By 1894 the town showed signs of growth fueled mainly by the great activity of the port of Vit贸ria, and the high price of coffee, which was the main export product for the state at the time. The money brought in by this increased economic activity spurred on the city's modernization.
In 1908, Jer么nimo Monteiro became state governor, and continued urban development. During his time in office he saw Vit贸ria surpass Cachoeiro de Itapemirim as a commercial...
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