Santa Cruz, Rio de Janeiro
Encyclopedia
Santa Cruz is an extensive, populous, mostly low-income neighborhood in the West Side of Rio de Janeiro
, the most distant of the central area of the city, at about 60 km (37.3 mi) from downtown Rio. Traversed by the Central do Brasil
suburban railway, it has a quite diversified landscape, with rural, commercial, residential and industrial areas. Santa Cruz is over 440 years old, having originated from a farm founded in 1567.
and Sepetiba
.
The opening of nearby Itaguaí
harbor has spurred some growth. It is, however, a neighborhood of contrasts. It is one of Rio's most populous neighborhoods (191,836 inhabitants in the 2000 census), but due to its vast area (125 km2), at the same time it is one of the least densely populated. Santa Cruz has strong industry, but also many rural areas and one of lowest HDI
s of the city.
Santa Cruz is a growing neighborhood. It has large shopping areas including a large shopping mall
, several bank branches, schools, Dom Pedro II State Hospital (planned to be a reference hospital for treatment of burns), two large military facilities (Santa Cruz Air Force Base and the Engineering School Battalion), and a state-run theme park for children and teenagers. Casa da Moeda do Brasil
, the Brazilian mint
, where all Brazilian coins, banknotes, stamps, passports and other secure official documents are made, is also located in Santa Cruz.
New industrial enterprises are being built in the area, most notably Companhia Siderúrgica do Atlântico (CSA), a new steel mill
with its own private docks on Sepetiba Bay, planned to be South America's largest steel works.
Like most low-income communities, Santa Cruz has many problems regarding public transportation, sanitation and environmental degradation. The large distance to downtown Rio de Janeiro makes commutes very long and tiresome.
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...
, the most distant of the central area of the city, at about 60 km (37.3 mi) from downtown Rio. Traversed by the Central do Brasil
Estrada de Ferro Central do Brasil
The Estrada de Ferro Central do Brasil was one of the principal railways of Brazil, uniting the states of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Minas Gerais.-Origins:...
suburban railway, it has a quite diversified landscape, with rural, commercial, residential and industrial areas. Santa Cruz is over 440 years old, having originated from a farm founded in 1567.
The borough
It is the headquarters of Rio's 19th Administrative Area, which also includes the nearby neighborhoods of PaciênciaPaciência
Paciência is a suburb of the city of Rio de Janeiro, in the western part of the city.The region began to grow in 1878 with the inauguration of the Campo Grande railway station, connected to the Estrada de Ferro Central do Brasil . It became easier to reach the center of the city quickly, and the...
and Sepetiba
Sepetiba
Sepetiba is a neighborhood in the western zone of Rio de Janeiro, surrounded by Santa Cruz and Guaratiba, and by the Sepetiba Bay. It occupies an area of 1,162.13 ha, and has a population of 35,892 .The origin of the name Sepetiba is the Tupi, which has the word "Sipitiba" as an alternative and...
.
The opening of nearby Itaguaí
Itaguaí
Itaguaí is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro. Its population was 93,662 and its area is 272 km². The city was founded in 1688....
harbor has spurred some growth. It is, however, a neighborhood of contrasts. It is one of Rio's most populous neighborhoods (191,836 inhabitants in the 2000 census), but due to its vast area (125 km2), at the same time it is one of the least densely populated. Santa Cruz has strong industry, but also many rural areas and one of lowest HDI
Human Development Index
The Human Development Index is a composite statistic used to rank countries by level of "human development" and separate "very high human development", "high human development", "medium human development", and "low human development" countries...
s of the city.
Santa Cruz is a growing neighborhood. It has large shopping areas including a large shopping mall
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
, several bank branches, schools, Dom Pedro II State Hospital (planned to be a reference hospital for treatment of burns), two large military facilities (Santa Cruz Air Force Base and the Engineering School Battalion), and a state-run theme park for children and teenagers. Casa da Moeda do Brasil
Casa da Moeda do Brasil
The Casa da Moeda do Brasil is the Brazilian mint, owned by the Brazilian government and administratively subordinated to the Ministry of Finances. It was established in 1694...
, the Brazilian mint
Mint (coin)
A mint is an industrial facility which manufactures coins for currency.The history of mints correlates closely with the history of coins. One difference is that the history of the mint is usually closely tied to the political situation of an era...
, where all Brazilian coins, banknotes, stamps, passports and other secure official documents are made, is also located in Santa Cruz.
New industrial enterprises are being built in the area, most notably Companhia Siderúrgica do Atlântico (CSA), a new steel mill
Steel mill
A steel mill or steelworks is an industrial plant for the manufacture of steel.Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon. It is produced in a two-stage process. First, iron ore is reduced or smelted with coke and limestone in a blast furnace, producing molten iron which is either cast into pig iron or...
with its own private docks on Sepetiba Bay, planned to be South America's largest steel works.
Like most low-income communities, Santa Cruz has many problems regarding public transportation, sanitation and environmental degradation. The large distance to downtown Rio de Janeiro makes commutes very long and tiresome.
See also
- Duke of Santa CruzDuke of Santa CruzDuke of Santa Cruz was a title of nobility of the Empire of Brazil created by Emperor Pedro I of Brazil, dated from 5 November 1829, for his brother-in-law, Prince Auguste de Beauharnais, brother of Pedro's second wife Empress Amélie....