Feira de Santana
Feira de Santana | |
|---|---|
City | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
 Location in the state of Bahia | |
| Country | Brazil |
| State | Bahia |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,304 km2 (503 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 250 m (820 ft) |
| Population (2025) | |
| • Total | 660,806 |
| • Density | 510/km2 (1,300/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-3 (BRT) |
| Website | www |
Feira de Santana is a city in the state of Bahia, Brazil. It is the second-largest city in the state by population, after the capital city of Salvador. According to the 2022 Census by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), it has a population of 616,272 people.[1]
The city is a very important hub for transport and business in northeastern Brazil.
History
[change | change source]The city started in the 18th century. It began as a small market on a farm called Sant'Anna dos Olhos d'Água. Cattle drivers used to stop there when traveling from the dry interior regions (the sertão) to the coast.[2]
The market grew bigger over time. People from many places came to buy and sell goods and animals. The name "Feira de Santana" means "Fair of Saint Anne" in the Portuguese language. It officially became a city on September 18, 1873.[2]
Geography
[change | change source]Feira de Santana is located about 100 kilometers (62 miles) northwest of Salvador. It sits at about 250 meters (820 feet) above sea level.
The city is often called the "Gateway to the Sertão" (Portuguese: Portal do Sertão). This is because it sits right where the wet coastal region changes into the dry interior region. Many important federal highways cross through the city, making it a natural meeting place.
Economy
[change | change source]Today, Feira de Santana is a major center for trade. It has large outdoor markets, shopping malls, and businesses.
It also has an industrial zone called the Subaé Industrial Centre. Factories in the city make things like:
- Clothing and textiles
- Food products
- Chemicals
- Tires and auto parts
Culture
[change | change source]The city is famous for its Micareta. This is a large festival like Carnival, but it happens in April instead of February. It attracts thousands of visitors who dance in the streets to music playing from large sound trucks called trios elétricos.
Feira de Santana is also home to the State University of Feira de Santana (UEFS), which is a major university in the region.
Related pages
[change | change source]
References
[change | change source]- ↑ "Feira de Santana (BA)". cidades.ibge.gov.br. IBGE. Retrieved May 2026.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help) - 1 2 "História de Feira de Santana". cidades.ibge.gov.br. IBGE. Retrieved May 2026.
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