Franca

Infobox City
official_name = Franca


imagesize =
image_caption =
nickname = "Capital do calçado", "Cidade das três colinas" (Footwear capital, Three hills city)
motto = "Gentile Meae Paulistae Fidelis"spaces|2(Latin) "Faithful to my herd of São Paulo"

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image_shield = Franca-brasao.jpg

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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in São Paulo state.
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = Region
subdivision_type2 = State
subdivision_name = flagicon|BRA Brazil
subdivision_name1 = Northeast
subdivision_name2 = São Paulo
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Sidnei Franco da Rocha (PSDB)
area_note =
area_magnitude = 1 E9
area_total_km2 = 607.333
population_as_of = 2008
population_metro = 471,383
area_metro_km2 = 3439.78
population_total = 327.176
population_density_km2 = 538.70
population_density_metro_km2 = 137.03
timezone = UTC-3
utc_offset = -3
timezone_DST = UTC-2
utc_offset_DST = -2
latd=20 |latm=32 |lats=19 |latNS=S
longd=47 |longm=24 |longs=3 |longEW=W
elevation_m = 1040
elevation_ft =
blank_name = HDI (2006)
blank_info = 0.820 – high
website = [http://www.franca.sp.gov.br/]
footnotes =

Franca is a Brazilian city in São Paulo state, located at 20º32'19"S; 47º24'03'W at 1040 m altitude. Estimated population in 2008 was 327,176 inhabitants. Franca is the municipal seat of Franca municipality.

History

The history of the region of Franca begins at the time of the Bandeirantes explorers. The "bandeira" or "entrada" of Anhangüera (the son) in 1722 established the “way of Goiás,” a trail from São Paulo to the gold mines in Goiás. Along this and other trails settlements were made, becoming the so-called "landings" or way-stations for the gold seekers. Franca was known at the time of the Bandeirantes as the “catfish landing.”

At the end of the 18th century, settlers had dispersed into the region in several of these landings. In 1779, around 1000 people lived in the area around Franca . To better organize the settlement, a Decree Company was created and the Portuguese Captain Manoel de Almeida was put in charge. At the beginning of the 19th century, the sons of Manoel de Almeida (Antonio Antunes de Almeida and Vicente Ferreira de Almeida) donated lands for the construction of a chapel, which in turn was blessed by the priest Joaquin Martins Rodrigues. With the decline of mining activity in Minas Gerais and Goiás, more settlers migrated to the "Belo Sertão do Rio Pardo" (beautiful valley of the Pardo River), under the sponsorship of the governador of São Paulo, Antônio José de Franca e Horta, after whom the city and municipality are named.

In 1816 the "village of Franca" was officially founded by King João VI. In 1821, Minas Gerais attempted to annex the region, but due to local resistance, the attempt failed. The city motto stems from this time. The city's name was changed to "Vila Franca do Imperador", but it was shortened afterwards to "Franca".

With the expansion of coffee plantations throughout northeastern São Paulo state, many immigrants, mainly Italian, arrived in Franca. From the knowledge and hard work of these immigrants, the city's first industry, shoe manufacturing, was developed in the 1920s.

Franca took part in the Constitutional Revolution of 1932, in which six of her citizens died for São Paulo.

The city is now distinguished as an important center for the Brazilian footwear industry, although coffee continues today as one of the main sources of the city's revenues.

Geography

Franca is located in the northeastern region of the state of São Paulo. It is the center of the state's 14th administrative region. The municipality of Franca borders Batatais, Cristais Paulista, and Patrocínio Paulista in São Paulo state, and Ibiraci and Claraval in Minas Gerais. The climate of the city is subtropical, with dry winters and wet summers, with rains from October to March. In hydrography, Franca is in the Canoas River basin, and this river provides the water supply of the city.

Franca has a considerably high terrain, with an altitude of about 1,040 m above sea level. Local soils are sandy, and the vegetation is dominated by grasslands. Forests are restricted to hilly slopes.

Demography

*Total: 328.473 inhabitants in July 1st, 2006.
** Urban: 324.138
** Rural: 6.999
*Demographical Density (hab./km²): 473,80
*Child Mortality until 1 year (in 1000): 12,66
*Life Expectancy (years): 73,03
*Fertility (children per women): 2,26
*Literacy: 96,37%
*HDI : 0,820
** HDI-M Income: 0,755
** HDI-M Longevity: 0,800
** HDI-M Education: 0,906(Source: IPEA DATA)

Hidrography

* Rio das Canoas
* Rio Pouso Alegre
* Rio São João
* Ribeirão Salgado

Roads

* SP-334 - Candido Portinari, (Franca to Ribeirão Preto)
* SP-345 - Engenheiro Ronan Rocha, (Franca to Minas Gerais)
* SP-345 - Prefeito Fábio Talarico, (Franca to Barretos)

Minor highways

* - Felipe Calixto (north quarter to Ribeirão Corrente)
* - João Traficante (east quarter to Ibiraci/MG)
* - Engenho Queimado (west quarter to Ribeirão Corrente)
* - Nestor Ferreira (west quarter to Restinga)
* - Rio Negro e Solimões (south quarter to Batatais)
* - Tancredo Neves (east quarter to Claraval/MG)

Government

Mayor Sidnei Rocha (of the PSDB party) was elected in October 2004 and took office on January 1, 2005. His term is four years, and he is in office for the second time. The City Council is composed of 15 aldermen.

Notable Francano

One of most notable Francanos is Brazilian television actress Regina Duarte, who was born on February 4, 1947.

External links

* [http://www.francasite.com Francasite - town portal - official website - virtual guide]
* [http://www.francaview.com.br Franca View - Guide digital of Franca]
* [http://www.franca.sp.gov.br Municipal Government website]
* [http://www.camarafranca.sp.gov.br/ City Council website]
* [http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=233 Local time and date]
* [http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/local/BRXX0095?from=search_city Local weather] .