Castelo, Espírito Santo

Castelo
Municipality
Municipality of Castelo
Flag of Castelo
Flag
Coat of arms of Castelo
Coat of arms
Location in Espírito Santo
Location in Espírito Santo
Coordinates: 20°36′14″S 41°11′6″W / 20.60389°S 41.18500°W / -20.60389; -41.18500
Country Brazil
RegionSoutheast
State Espírito Santo
Established25 December 1928
Government
 • MayorJoão Paulo Silva Nali (PTB)
Area
 • Total
664 km2 (256 sq mi)
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total
37,747
 • Density57/km2 (150/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−3 (BRT)
HDI (2010)0.726 – high[2]
Websitecastelo.es.gov.br/site

Castelo is a municipality in the southwest of the state of Espírito Santo in Brazil. Its population was 37,747 (2020) and its area is 664 km².[3]

History

There is information on two Amerindian tribes inhabiting the area before the colonial era. The main tribe was called Puris, and the secondary, with less presence, were the Botocudos. The first non-native immigration into the region was of gold prospectors who moved into the area, but this was a short-lived adventure which by 1830 had been abandoned. After 1830, local interest turned towards the land. Medium-sized properties were established using slave labour until 1888, when it was abolished. Soon after, Italian immigrants from the neighbouring municipality of Alfredo Chaves began to settle in Castelo. In 1891 Castelo became a district of Cachoeiro de Itapemirim and remained part of Cachoeiro de Itapemirim until 1928, when it separated.

Geography

Highest point in the municipality is the Forno Grande Peak (2039 m), which is also the highest point in the state after Bandeira Peak, shared with Minas Gerais.

Castelo is 145 km from the state capital Vitória, and stands at 100 meters above sea level. Castelo's borders are: Alfredo Chaves and Domingos Martins (E), Venda Nova do Imigrante and Conceição do Castelo (N), Muniz Freire and Alegre (W) and Cachoeiro de Itapemirim (S).

The municipality contains the 730 hectares (1,800 acres) Forno Grande State Park, which protects the second highest peak in the state.[4] It also contains the 800 hectares (2,000 acres) Mata das Flores State Park, created in 1992.[5]

Population

Castelo is strongly influenced by Italian immigrants, who make up the great majority of the municipality's population. This influences today's traditional commemorations, very much Catholic-based in traditions like Corpus Christi. This influence is also felt in the traditional Italian Folklore dance group, which still practices traditional Piedmontese dances.

Notable people

References

  1. ^ IBGE 2020
  2. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 8, 2014. Retrieved August 1, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ IBGE - [1]
  4. ^ Parque Estadual do Forno Grande (in Portuguese), Castelo, archived from the original on 2016-10-25, retrieved 2016-10-25
  5. ^ Parque Estadual de Mata das Flores (in Portuguese), IEMA: Instituto Estadual de Meio Ambiente e Recursos Hídricos, archived from the original on 2016-10-27, retrieved 2016-10-26
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