Contagem
Encyclopedia
Contagem is a city in the center of the state of Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...
, in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. It is located only 21 kilometers from the capital, Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte is the capital of and largest city in the state of Minas Gerais, located in the southeastern region of Brazil. It is the third largest metropolitan area in the country...
and forms part of a metropolitan area with a population of 4.8 million.
The city belongs to the mesoregion Metropolitana de Belo Horizonte and to the microregion of Belo Horizonte and has a territorial extension of 195.2 km² and borders the municipalities of Ribeirão das Neves
Ribeirão das Neves
Ribeirão das Neves is a Brazilian municipality located in the state of Minas Gerais. The city belongs to the mesoregion Metropolitana de Belo Horizonte and to the microregion of Belo Horizonte.-See also:...
, Esmeraldas
Esmeraldas, Minas Gerais
Esmeraldas is a Brazilian municipality located in the state of Minas Gerais. The city belongs to the mesoregion Metropolitana de Belo Horizonte and to the microregion of Belo Horizonte. In 2004 its population was estimated to be 58,784 inhabitants.-See also:...
, Betim
Betim
Betim is a city in Minas Gerais, Brazil. It is located at around . The city belongs to the mesoregion Metropolitan of Belo Horizonte and to the microregion of Belo Horizonte....
, Ibirité
Ibirité
Ibirité is a Brazilian municipality located in the state of Minas Gerais. The city belongs to the mesoregion Metropolitana de Belo Horizonte and to the microregion of Belo Horizonte. Its population is 152,000 inhabitants .-History:...
and Belo Horizonte. The elevation of the city hall is 939 meters.
According to estimates from 2008 the municipal population was 617,741 making it the secont most populous city in the state of Minas Gerais, after Belo Horizonte.
The population is very young with 86% of the population being less than 50 years old.
Educational indicators:
- adults with up to 10 years of education: 23.67%
- young people between 10 and 14 years old attending school: 96.8%
- adults with no formal schooling: 5.21%
- young people aged between 15 and 17 enrolled in secondary education: 83,7%.
- adults who have studied some university: 23%
- illiteracy rate for adults over 25: 7%
Contagem is primarily a city of heavy industry with a diversified industrial complex; even though minerals processing and chemicals still have a large importance. The municipality is responsible for 4.2% of the state GDP, occupying second place after Belo Horizonte.
Serious problems with both water and air pollution exist and the Pampulha Lake (Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte is the capital of and largest city in the state of Minas Gerais, located in the southeastern region of Brazil. It is the third largest metropolitan area in the country...
) receives large quantities of heavy metals from the city.
Contagem was the first industrial district built in Minas. Inaugurated in 1946, by 1950 it was the largest in the state. The Gafanhoto power plant (on the Pará River) was built by the State government in 1952 to provide for the implementation and development of the district, which is still the largest industrial region in Minas Gerais.
Ceasa Minas Greater BH (regional wholesale supply center) is located in Contagem. It has a built area of 605,000 sq. mts., with 535 companies installed, and a public on busy days of 65,000 people. It is the largest in vegetables in all of Brazil.