Curuçá was founded in 1775, but only became a city in 1895.
Some of the municipality was split off into separate municipalities in 1939, 1955 and 1991.
The Curuçá River flows from south to north through the municipality, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean.
The municipality contains the 37,062 hectares (91,580 acres) Mãe Grande de Curuçá Extractive Reserve, created in 2002, which protects the waters and banks of the estuary.[6]
^"Divisão Territorial do Brasil" (in Portuguese). Divisão Territorial do Brasil e Limites Territoriais, Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). July 1, 2008. Retrieved December 17, 2009.