The town began as the Agricultural Colony of Água Limpa, belonging to the city of Goiás. In 1950 the name was changed to Jussara in tribute to Jussara Amorim, the first woman from Goiás to be elected Miss Brasil. In 1958 it was dismembered from Goiás and elevated to a municipality.
The climate is typically tropical with high temperatures, between 35 and 38 degrees. The city forms part of the Amazon basin, being made up of the Samambaia, Água Limpa, Araguaia, Molha Biscoito and Palmeira rivers. Its vegetation is characterized by forest and cerrado. The tourist area takes in the area of the Araguaia River, with its natural environment, beaches, flora and fauna.[citation needed]
Political data
Mayor: Joaquim Alves de Castro Neto (January 2005)
Vice-mayor: Ismael Caetano Martins
Number of councilmembers: 9
Demographic data
Population density: 4.60 inhabitants/km2 (2007)
Population in 1980: 22,520
Population in 1991: 20,917
Population in 2007: 18,814 (14,995 urban and 3,819 rural)
Population growth rate 1991/1996: -0.65.%
Population growth rate 1991/2000: -0.48.%
Population growth rate 2000/2007: -0.89.%
Economy
The economy is based on modest commerce, public employment, small transformation industries, cattle raising, and agriculture. There is an industrial district and a dairy.
The soil is very fertile and lends itself to agriculture with emphasis on the planting of rice, beans, corn, manioc, sweet potato, cotton, and soybeans, among others. The subsoil is rich in minerals like cassiterite, nickel, and chromium. Cattle raising is also practiced with one of the largest herds in the state (388,000). Cheese and milk products are manufactured locally. There are also brick factories producing both floor tiles, bricks and roof tiles.
Economic data
Number of Industrial Establishments: 42 (06/2007)
Industrial District: Distrito Agroindustrial - DAIJU (June/2006)
Dairies: Laticínios Morrinhos Indústria e Comércio Ltda (05/2006)
Banking Establishments: - Banco do Brasil S.A. - BRADESCO S.A. - Banco Itaú S.A. - CEF.
Number of Retail Commercial Establishments: 287 (August/2007)
Main crops in planted area (2006)
Cotton: 1,600 hectares
Beans: 3,200 hectares
Soybeans: 4,650 hectares
Modest production of manioc, sesame, oranges, sugarcane, and rubber
Education (2006)
Schools in activity: 27 with 5,470 students (a decline in enrollment of around 1,500 students since 2000)
Higher education: UEG - Faculdade de Educação, Ciências e Letras de Jussara, Faculdade de Jussara
Literacy Rate: 84.9%
Health (2007)
Hospitals: 1 with 92 beds
Infant mortality rate: 26.34 (in 1,000 live births)
MHDI: 0.740
State ranking: 104 (out of 242 municipalities in 2000)
National ranking: 2,145 (out of 5,507 municipalities in 2000)
