Socorro, São Paulo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Socorro
municipality
Municipality of the Hydromineral Spa of Socorro
A street in downtown Socorro
Flag Seal
Location in the state of São Paulo
Socorro Location in Brazil
Country	Brazil
Region	Southeast
State	São Paulo
Founded	August 9, 1829
Incorporated	March 17, 1883
Area
• Total	448.074 km2 (173.002 sq mi)
Elevation	752 m (2,467 ft)
Population  (2020)
• Total	41,352
• Density	92.2883/km2 (239.0257/sq mi)
• Demonym	Socorrense
Time zone	UTC−3 (BRT)
Postal Code	13960-000
Area code(s)	19
HDI (2000)	0.812 –high
Website	Socorro City Hall

Socorro is a city in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. It sits by the "do Peixe" River, surrounded by the Mantiqueira Mountains. The city is close to the state of Minas Gerais. Today, Socorro is known for making clothes, especially knitted items. It's also famous for ecotourism and exciting adventure sports.

History of Socorro

How Socorro Began

Socorro was first settled in 1738 by Simão Toledo Pizza. Before that, the local Carajás people had left the area. This happened because of groups called Bandeirantes who explored the region. At first, the place was known as Campanha de Toledo. It was part of a larger area called Sertão de Bragança. About 922 people lived there at that time.

In 1839, a small church was built to honor Our Lady of Perpetual Help. This church stands where the city's main church is today. The first religious service was held on August 9. This date is now celebrated as the city's birthday. However, Socorro officially became a municipality in 1883. In 1889, it became a comarca, which is a legal district. Later, in 1945, the governor of São Paulo, Fernando Costa, named it an "Estância Sanitária." This means it was recognized as a health resort.

Coffee, Immigrants, and Growth

Since the 1800s, Socorro has been an important place for growing coffee. When slavery ended and the Old Republic began, many Italian immigrants came to São Paulo. They worked on coffee farms, taking the place of the newly freed slaves.

Farmers in São Paulo wanted a better way to send their coffee to ports. So, they started building railways connecting the coast to the countryside. The Companhia Mogyana de Estradas de Ferro was created. Its first train station opened in 1872 in Campinas.

On April 21, 1909, the railway line reached Socorro. This helped the city grow much faster. But in 1929, the Great Crash happened, leading to a worldwide economic downturn. Many coffee farmers faced big problems and went bankrupt. This gave Italian immigrants a chance to buy land at a low price.

The "Pracinhas" arrive in Socorro on August 14, 1945.

In 1945, a special group of soldiers visited the city. They were called the "Pracinhas." These soldiers were part of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force. They had fought in Italy during World War II.

In 1978, Socorro was given the title of "Estância Turística." This means it became a tourist resort city. This also gave its people the right to elect their own mayors again.

Making Tourism Accessible

In 2004, Socorro started a project called "Socorro Acessível." This project aimed to make the city's buildings more accessible for people with disabilities. Restaurants, hotels, and theaters had four years to make changes. These changes included adding ramps, making bathrooms easier to use, and providing wheelchairs.

Since 2005, Socorro has been part of the Adventure Sport Fair. In 2005, Brazil's Ministry of Tourism even talked about accessibility at this fair. Making adventure sports accessible was a big challenge. It needed special equipment, not just ramps. The city hall, local non-profit groups, and companies worked together. They studied how to make these sports safe and fun for everyone.

Socorro's Geography and Climate

Land and Rivers

Socorro is a city with many mountains. It also has several rivers flowing through it. The most important rivers are the Do Peixe, Camanducaia, and das Antas rivers.

Weather in Socorro

Socorro has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has warm, humid summers and mild winters.

Socorro's Economy

The city's economy mostly depends on services like tourism and shops, which make up 45%. Industry accounts for 35%, and agriculture makes up 20%.

Fun Adventure Sports in Socorro

Socorro is a popular place for tourists. People come here especially for the exciting adventure sports. These sports are often found in parks just outside the city. Here are some of the activities you can try:

• Haka Race: This is a competition with many sports. It includes Rafting, long hiking trips, bike riding, zipline, and more.
• Acqua-ride and Boia Cross: You can ride down river rapids in an inflatable tube.
• Canoeing: Paddle a canoe on the water.
• Rafting: Go down river rapids in a raft.
• Rappelling: Climb down cliffs using ropes.
• Zipline: Slide down a cable high above the ground.
• Climbing: Climb up rock faces.
• Quadcycling: Ride a four-wheeled ATV.
• Free flight and paragliding: Soar through the air using a hang glider or paraglider.

A view of Socorro city from the Christ's Hill viewpoint.

Communication in Socorro

In the past, the city's phone services were provided by Companhia Telefônica Brasileira until 1973. Then, Telecomunicações de São Paulo took over. In 1998, a company called Telefónica bought this service. By 2012, it started using the name Vivo.

Today, Vivo offers many services in Socorro. These include cell phones, landlines, internet (using fiber optics or 4G), and television (satellite and cable).

See also

In Spanish: Socorro (São Paulo) para niños