Historical Background

The founding of Limeira took place on cleared land situated along the path known as the "Picadão de Cuiabá", an important historical route that played a crucial role in trade and the provision of resources to mines in Mato Grosso.^[6]

During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, landowners and farmers from "Cidade da Constituição" (Piracicaba), Itu, Porto Feliz, and Atibaia identified the region as having fertile land for agriculture. They acquired allotments from the provincial government between 1799 and 1820.

The village of Limeira began to develop with the installation of mills and the arrival of slaveholders and slaves. Squatters who had settled in the area were subsequently expelled. According to the 1822 census, the population of the Town of Piracicaba, including the regions of Morro Azul and Tatuibi (both part of Limeira), consisted of 951 free people and 546 slaves.^[7]

The road infrastructure connecting Limeira to the capital was inadequate, prompting Nicolau Pereira de Campos Vergueiro to lead a group of farmers, including Manuel Bento de Barros and José Ferraz de Campos, in requesting the construction of a new road. Their aim was to facilitate the transportation of goods from the mills in the region of Piracicaba and Limeira.

Upon the completion of the new road in 1826 and the subsequent formalization of the settlement project known as the Freguesia de Nossa Senhora das Dores do Tatuibi in 1830, the municipality of Limeira took shape.^[8] The bustling trade and flourishing development along this road were instrumental in laying the foundations of the city.

In 1842, Limeira was elevated to the status of a village. Two years later, in 1844, the city council was established with Manuel José de Carvalho serving as its first president. In 1842, the village of Limeira was elevated to the status of a town and eventually achieved city status on April 18, 1863. The city's official anniversary is celebrated on September 15, and it is considered to have been founded in 1826.^[9]

Limeira holds historical significance as one of the earliest cities in Brazil to embrace privately sponsored European immigration. In 1840, Nicolau Pereira de Campos Vergueiro, owner of Ibicaba Mill, introduced a partnership system by bringing eighty Portuguese individuals to work on his lands. This initiative aimed to replace slave labor with free European workers who would receive certain benefits. German immigrants also joined the workforce at Ibicaba in 1846, further contributing to the transition away from slave labor.

The Ibicaba farm, which became one of Brazil's largest coffee producers during its peak, entered the realm of literary art. In her historical novel, Swiss writer Eveline Hasler accompanies Swiss settlers on their journey and colonization in Ibicaba. In 1996, the property embarked on tourism activities and has since welcomed a considerable number of domestic and international visitors. However, the majority of its revenue is derived from sugarcane farming, as its lands are leased to Usina Iracema.^[6]

Today, the Ibicaba farm is renowned for its historical significance and architectural features. It encompasses structures such as the main house, slave quarters, terraces, and dams, which contribute to the city's collection of historic farms.^[10]

Climate

Limeira experiences a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cwa), with distinctive wet and dry seasons lasting from October to March and from April to September, respectively, and warm to hot temperatures year-round. The average temperature is 19.8 °C (67.6 °F) and yearly precipitation stands at 1300.5 mm (51.2 in).^[11] On 17 October 2014, temperatures in the city reached a record high of 38.6 °C (101.4 °F) and its coldest day was 9 July 2011, with a low of 0.1 °C (32.1 °F).

Industry

Limeira's industrial legacy dates back to 1850 when it first ventured into the manufacturing of agricultural equipment. During the Paraguayan War, Limeira played a pivotal role by producing instruments for soldiers. Between 1907 and 1922, Limeira witnessed the emergence of significant industries, including Chapéus Prada (1907), Café Kühl (1920), and Indústria de Papel Santa Cruz (1922).^[12] However, it was after the 1940s that Limeira gained recognition for its industrial sector.

Former Chapéus Prada industrial building, now Limeira City Hall.

Between the 1940s and 1970s, Limeira witnessed the rise of several citrus companies engaged in orange cultivation and orange juice production. These companies catered to both domestic and international markets, including the United States and Europe, contributing to Limeira's reputation as "The City of Orange". Among the prominent players were Citrobrasil (1940) and Citrosuco (1966), which dominated the orange production sector in Limeira. However, the orange industry in Limeira faced a significant setback when the United States implemented protective measures to support its own orange industry in California. This led to a decline in orange production in Limeira. Additionally, the automotive sector gained prominence in Limeira after World War II, with the establishment of companies like 'Freios Varga' (now TRW) in 1945 and 'Rodas Fumagalli' in 1946.

In the aftermath of the 1970s, Limeira's industrial sector experienced a rapid expansion, attracting the interest of multinational corporations. Among the notable companies that established their presence in the city are Ajinomoto. In 1974, the American corporation Rockwell acquired Fumagalli, and in 2000, 'Freios Varga' became a part of the English-based Lucas Group. In more recent years, Limeira has become a preferred destination for Japanese and Korean automotive companies, including Yacchyio do Brasil, Stanley, Mando, DAS, and Faurecia. Furthermore, the city has witnessed the construction of a new plant by the French company Faurecia. In 2011, Samsung made a substantial investment of $300 million to establish its manufacturing facility in Limeira.^[13]

Limeira is renowned for its thriving plated jewelry and semi-jewelry industry, attracting customers from all over the world and earning the city the title of "Brazil's capital of plated jewelry."^[14]

To make the city more appealing to industries, The local government has implemented various incentive programs aimed at reducing unemployment and informal labor, which have been on the rise along with the city's population. A significant portion of the population commutes to nearby cities such as Piracicaba and Americana for work. According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), Limeira had a GDP of R$12.155 billion (approximately U$3.81 billion) in 2017, with the industrial sector accounting for roughly 50% of registered jobs in the city.^[15] Limeira's industrial park has been developed and implemented guided by its incentive program, emphasizing its industrial vocation.

Limeira benefits from several advantageous factors for its development, including the expansion of the Bandeirantes Highway (Rodovia dos Bandeirantes), the establishment of the Tietê-Paraná waterway, and the installation of the Brazil-Bolivia gas pipeline.^[16]

Commercial and Service Industries

The commerce and service sector in Limeira is vibrant and diverse. The city is home to over 4,000 retail stores and 3,000 service businesses. The introduction of a shopping complex along the Anhanguera Road in the 1980s greatly stimulated the expansion of Limeira's service industry. In line with the global trends of globalization and outsourcing, a multitude of companies have emerged in Limeira, offering support to the city's industrial sector through modernization efforts.

Although the original mall closed in the 1990s, there is still a shopping mall located in the downtown area known as Shopping Patio Limeira.

In terms of public services, Limeira is home to several regional organizations and government agencies, as well as private institutions like CIESP, SENAI, SESI, and SENAC.

One of the main challenges faced by the city is competition from neighboring cities, which offer a wider variety and more convenient shopping options. In some cases, residents may prefer to travel to Campinas or Piracicaba for their consumer needs. Number of companies in Limeira by sector (IBGE 2001):^[17]

• Agriculture and forestry: 37 companies
• Fishery: 1 company
• Extractive Industries: 10 companies
• Manufacturing Industry: 1266 companies
• Production and Distribution of electricity, Gas and Water: 3 companies
• Construction: 170 companies
• Trade, repair of motor vehicles, personal effects and household: 4,088 companies
• Accommodation and Food: 605 companies
• Transport, Storage and Communications: 238 companies
• Financial Intermediation: 73 companies
• Real Estate activities, Rentals and Business Services: 779 companies
• Public Administration, Defense and Social Security: 6 companies
• Education: 106 companies
• Health and Social Services: 114 companies
• Other Collective, Social and Personal: 405 companies

Agriculture

Rural production in Limeira is primarily focused on sugar cane (for ethanol production) and citrus fruits, which have remained relatively stable over the past two decades, with a slight decline in recent years . The city produces over 1 million tons of sugar cane and more than 1.4 billion units of citrus fruits annually . Additionally, there is smaller-scale production of avocados, corn, rice, and beans. Limeira is renowned as the leading citrus producer in São Paulo and is particularly known for its production of citrus seedlings.

Limeira has also developed into a prominent center for plant and seedling commerce, particularly in the Geada area along the Limeira-Piracicaba Road (located at kilometer 120). Notable companies in this sector include Félix Plantas,^[18] Bonin Plantas,^[19] Dierberger,^[20] and Chácara Roseira.^[21]

Notes

Bibliography

• Busch, Reynaldo (January 2007). Sociedade Pró Memória de Limeira (ed.). História de Limeira (third ed.). Paulo Masuti Levy / José Eduardo Heflinger Jr. pp. 105–270.
• Heflinger, José (2007). Unigráfica Indústria Gráfica LTDA (ed.). Ibicaba (second ed.). José Eduardo Heflinger Jr. pp. 11–54.