Poá

Poá is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. It is a place where people live and work, covering an area of 17.26 km². As of 2022, about 103,765 people call Poá their home.

One special feature of Poá is the water from the Golden Fountain, also known as Fonte Áurea. This water is extracted and sold all over Brazil, making Poá known for its natural resource. The town has become an important spot for providing clean water to many people.

General appearance

Poá is one of eleven places in São Paulo that are called spas. This special status means the town gets more money from the state to help visitors. Because of this, Poá can call itself a spa. Most people in Poá work in services because factories were not allowed there after 1970. Poá is one of the smallest towns in São Paulo, just a bit bigger than Águas de São Pedro and São Caetano do Sul. The town tries not to build tall buildings so it keeps its old, country feel with narrow streets and many old buildings.

History

Poá became an official municipality in 1948 through a state law. It is one of eleven towns in São Paulo recognized as spa towns, which means it gets extra support from the state for tourism. Because of this, Poá can call itself a "spa town." The city focuses on services and does not allow polluting industries, which helps keep its environment clean.

Poá is one of the smallest cities in São Paulo but has a high quality of life. It has good schools, parks, and health services. The city encourages a small-town feel with narrow streets and old buildings, avoiding tall buildings. Poá ranks well in safety and development compared to other cities in the area.

Geography

Climate

The climate in Poá and the surrounding São Paulo area is subtropical. Summers are warm and rainy, while winters are mild. The average temperature throughout the year is about 18 °C. July is the coolest month, with temperatures around 14 °C, and February is the warmest, with temperatures around 22 °C. The area receives about 1400 mm of rain each year.

Demographics

Poá is a place where people live. Most of the space is for buildings, and a small part is for farms. People in Poá generally live about 71 years, and many can read and write. Families usually have about 2 children.

Tourism

Poá has a lot of potential for visitors, even though it is not the main focus of the town. Not enough money has gone into making it a big spot for tourists.

One popular place to visit is the municipal spa Vicente Leporace, which is right in front of the Fonte Aúrea. It opened in 1970 and was used for 30 years before it closed. Now, it is used as a place for physiotherapy.

Because Poá has many orchids and a nice climate for growing them, the EXPOÁ event was started in 1970. This event shows off orchids and other plants and aims to bring more visitors to the city and honor nature. It is recognized by the government and happens every year in September. It is now held at the Event Square Lucilia Felippe Gomes and welcomes about 300,000 visitors each year.

Education, sport and culture

There are many schools in the city, including public, private, and those run by organizations. One special school helps students with different needs learn together with others. This school started in 2009 and offers many courses.

Poá has many places for people to enjoy sports and culture. There are gyms, sports clubs, and groups that teach many activities like gymnastics, soccer, volleyball, and more. The city also has parks, libraries, and museums. Every year, there are fun events like parades and competitions for everyone to enjoy.

Economy

In 2010, people in Poá were expected to spend about R$1.4 billion. Poá contributes about six cents to every $100 spent in Brazil, placing it 74th among cities in the state. The city had around 32,623 homes and 31,813 cars.

Poá’s economy includes several activities. Industries were once common, but strict rules now protect the city’s water. Still, Poá is home to large factories, such as Ibar for refractory items and Aunde for automotive fabrics. Shopping areas include streets like March 26 and July 9 Avenue, with around 2,000 shops. Services are very important, with lower taxes attracting many companies. There are over 20,000 service providers, including branches of Banco Safra and Banco Itau.

There is also some farming in rural areas and tourism is growing, with events like Expo attracting many visitors.

Media

In the past, the city used to have a telephone company called Companhia Telefônica da Borda do Campo. In July 1998, this company was bought by another company called Telefónica. In 2012, Telefónica started using the brand Vivo. Today, Vivo provides services for mobile phones, landlines, internet, and television.