Itu, São Paulo

Itu
Municipality
Flag Coat of arms
Location in São Paulo state
Itu Location in Brazil
Coordinates: 23°15′51″S 47°17′57″W / 23.26417°S 47.29917°WCoordinates: 23°15′51″S 47°17′57″W / 23.26417°S 47.29917°W
Country	Brazil
Region	Southeast Region
State	São Paulo
Metrop. region	Sorocaba
Area
• Total	640.72 km^2 (247.38 sq mi)
Elevation	583 m (1,913 ft)
Population (2015)
• Total	167,095
• Density	260/km^2 (680/sq mi)
Time zone	BRT/BRST (UTC-3/-2)
Postal code	13300
Area code	+55 11
Website	www.itu.sp.gov.br

Itu is an old and historic municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. It is part of the Metropolitan Region of Sorocaba.^[1] The population is 167,095 (2015 est.) in an area of 640.72 km².^[2] The elevation is 583 m. This place name comes from the Tupi language, meaning big waterfall. Two rivers flow through Itu: Tietê and Jundiaí. Itu has five hospitals, eleven bank agencies and one shopping center, the Plaza Shopping Itu.

Itu was founded by the Portuguese in 1610 by Domingos Fernandes. It became a parish in 1653. In 1657, it was elevated to a town and municipality. It became a part of Brazil in 1822. It became a city in 1843.

Itu was the birthplace of the Brazilian Republic and has a renowned museum.

Itu became a famous town after "Simplicio" a well known Brazilian comedian, born in Itu, was made Tourism Secretary and to increase tourism promoted it as the "capital of large things". For example, the town square holds a giant 4mt high yellow phone-booth "orelhão". The Itu popsicle is about 30 cm (1 foot) tall. And a giant Christmas tree.

With the increase in domestic tourism the infrastructure soon developed to attract foreign visitors as well as international meetings, seminars and congress events. In 1999 and 2003 the Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement held their international delegation session in Itu bringing people from over 80 countries to the city at each event.

Geography

Its climate is subtropical, temperatures varies from 16° and 22°. The summer is warm and dry, and the winters are moderately cold and dry.

It is located between the crystalline plateau and sedimentary areas.

Population history

Year	Population
2001	135,366
2004	149,758
2009	157,384
2015	167,095

Demographics

According to the 2000 IBGE Census, the population was 136,366, of which 123,942 are urban and 11,424 are rural. The average life expectancy was 71.53 years. The literacy rate was at 92.53%.

Transportation

The main roads passing through the municipality are:

• SP-75
• SP-79
• SP-300
• SP-308
• SP-312

Sister cities - twin towns

Itu is twinned with:

Salto, Brazil

Chambéry, France

Images

• 
  Itu's main parochial church.
• 
  Giant traffic signal. Itu is known as the capital of "large things"
• 
  Energy Museum
• 
  Giant public pay phone. Itu is known as the capital of "large things"
• 
  Itu celebrated its 400th birthday in 2010.
• 
  Igreja de Cristo (Church of Christ)

See also

• Primo Schincariol

References

1. Governo do Estado de São Paulo, Lei Complementar nº 1.241, de 8 de maio de 2014 at the Wayback Machine (archived 18 October 2014)
2. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística

External links

• English translated Site
• (Portuguese) Itu´s Portal
• (Portuguese) Government Site
• (Portuguese) Itu on citybrazil.com.br