Guanabara State
Encyclopedia
The State of Guanabara was a former Brazil
ian state that existed from 1960 to 1975. It comprised the city of Rio de Janeiro
, after the national capital was moved to Brasília
in 1960. It was named after Guanabara Bay
, which bordered its Eastern coast.
In 1834, the city of Rio de Janeiro became a municipality
and was elevated to Imperial capital, but it was not part of any province (as Brazilian states were then called), having special status as the so-called "Neutral Municipality" (Portuguese: Município Neutro). When Brazil became a republic in 1889, the city of Rio de Janeiro remained the national capital and became the Federal District (Distrito Federal), while the surrounding province of Rio de Janeiro became a state, with Niterói
as the state capital. So, for a long time there was an odd and confusing situation whereby the city of Rio de Janeiro was not located in the homonymous neighboring state. (An analogous situation exists today in Argentina
with the Federal Capital
of Buenos Aires and the separate Province of Buenos Aires, as well as in Mexico
, with the Mexican Federal District containing the capital Mexico City
that is not located in the neighbouring State of Mexico.)
With the moving of the national capital to Brasília
in 1960, a new Federal District
was carved out of the state of Goiás
to contain it, while the old Federal District became the State of Guanabara.
Throughout its 15-year existence, Guanabara was a peculiar, even anomalous state in many ways. Comprising only one city (albeit a large one), Guanabara was the smallest Brazilian state. It also had the peculiarity of being the only state that had no municipalities. Although for some practical purposes it was sometimes counted as having one single municipality, and Rio de Janeiro was officially named its capital, there was no mayor, municipal legislature or any other municipal government institutions there: the city of Rio de Janeiro was directly administered by the state government. On the other hand, this also meant that the Guanabara state government had some functions that were normally assigned to municipalities elsewhere, such as regulating urban zoning
, inspecting the safety of buildings or issuing licenses for commercial venues, for example.
All these anomalies disappeared in 1975, when the states of Guanabara and Rio de Janeiro merged, retaining the name of Rio de Janeiro
. The city of Rio de Janeiro became a new municipality and the capital of the new combined state.
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...
ian state that existed from 1960 to 1975. It comprised the city of Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, after the national capital was moved to Brasília
Brasília
Brasília is the capital city of Brazil. The name is commonly spelled Brasilia in English. The city and its District are located in the Central-West region of the country, along a plateau known as Planalto Central. It has a population of about 2,557,000 as of the 2008 IBGE estimate, making it the...
in 1960. It was named after Guanabara Bay
Guanabara Bay
Guanabara Bay is an oceanic bay located in southeastern Brazil in the state of Rio de Janeiro. On its western shore lies the city of Rio de Janeiro, and on its eastern shore the cities of Niterói and São Gonçalo. Four other municipalities surround the bay's shores...
, which bordered its Eastern coast.
In 1834, the city of Rio de Janeiro became a municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
and was elevated to Imperial capital, but it was not part of any province (as Brazilian states were then called), having special status as the so-called "Neutral Municipality" (Portuguese: Município Neutro). When Brazil became a republic in 1889, the city of Rio de Janeiro remained the national capital and became the Federal District (Distrito Federal), while the surrounding province of Rio de Janeiro became a state, with Niterói
Niterói
Niterói is a municipality in the state of Rio de Janeiro, southeast region of Brazil. It has an estimated population of 487,327 inhabitants and an area of ², being the sixth most populous city in the state and the highest Human Development Index. Integrates the Metropolitan Region of Rio de...
as the state capital. So, for a long time there was an odd and confusing situation whereby the city of Rio de Janeiro was not located in the homonymous neighboring state. (An analogous situation exists today in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
with the Federal Capital
Federal capital
A federal capital is a political entity that is or surrounds the capital city of a federal state. In countries with federal constitutions, power is divided between that of subnational states and a federal government...
of Buenos Aires and the separate Province of Buenos Aires, as well as in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, with the Mexican Federal District containing the capital Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
that is not located in the neighbouring State of Mexico.)
With the moving of the national capital to Brasília
Brasília
Brasília is the capital city of Brazil. The name is commonly spelled Brasilia in English. The city and its District are located in the Central-West region of the country, along a plateau known as Planalto Central. It has a population of about 2,557,000 as of the 2008 IBGE estimate, making it the...
in 1960, a new Federal District
Brazilian Federal District
The Federal District is set apart for Brasília, the capital of Brazil. Located in a region called Planalto Central, or Central Plateau, the Federal District is divided in 29 administrative regions. Brasilia - place where the three branches of the Federal Government are located - is the main...
was carved out of the state of Goiás
Goiás
Goiás is a state of Brazil, located in the central part of the country. The name Goiás comes from the name of an indigenous community...
to contain it, while the old Federal District became the State of Guanabara.
Throughout its 15-year existence, Guanabara was a peculiar, even anomalous state in many ways. Comprising only one city (albeit a large one), Guanabara was the smallest Brazilian state. It also had the peculiarity of being the only state that had no municipalities. Although for some practical purposes it was sometimes counted as having one single municipality, and Rio de Janeiro was officially named its capital, there was no mayor, municipal legislature or any other municipal government institutions there: the city of Rio de Janeiro was directly administered by the state government. On the other hand, this also meant that the Guanabara state government had some functions that were normally assigned to municipalities elsewhere, such as regulating urban zoning
Zoning
Zoning is a device of land use planning used by local governments in most developed countries. The word is derived from the practice of designating permitted uses of land based on mapped zones which separate one set of land uses from another...
, inspecting the safety of buildings or issuing licenses for commercial venues, for example.
All these anomalies disappeared in 1975, when the states of Guanabara and Rio de Janeiro merged, retaining the name of Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro (state)
Rio de Janeiro is one of the 27 states of Brazil.Rio de Janeiro has the second largest economy of Brazil behind only São Paulo state.The state of Rio de Janeiro is located within the Brazilian geopolitical region classified as the Southeast...
. The city of Rio de Janeiro became a new municipality and the capital of the new combined state.