Santo André

The city of Santo André (Portuguese for Saint Andrew), on the Tamanduateí River, is in São Paulo State, 10 km (6 miles) away from the São Paulo city, in the most industrialized region of Brazil. It is known as a core part of the ABC region (A = Santo André, B = São Bernardo do Campo, C = São Caetano do Sul).

Population: 659,294 (2003)
Area: 175 km²
Density: 3,767.39/km²
2000 estimate population: 650,000

The settlement, which became a town in 1553, experienced rapid growth beginning in the 1930s. Industries include chemical engineering, foodstuffs, furniture, textiles, oil, metal products, metallurgy, porcelain, and printed materials. It is an industrial city, but more than 60% of Santo André's total area are protected by water law.

In 1910 it became accessed with a railway named the São Paulo Railway Co. or the Estrada de Ferro Santos Jundiaí.

Santo André is booming with modern buildings, recreation centers, parks, shopping malls, trendy bars and restaurants with international cuisine, and vibrant night life. Santo André also has the Museu Municipal at Rua Senador Fláquer.

It is accessed by line D of the Companhia Paulista de Trens Metropolitanos.