Rio de Contas is a municipality in the Bahia state, in the eastern part of Brazil. Its estimated population as of 2020 was 12,932.[3]

Rio de Contas
Municipality of Rio de Contas
Flag of Rio de Contas
Official seal of Rio de Contas
Location in Bahia
Location in Bahia
Country Brazil
State Bahia
RegionNortheast
Founded27 November 1723
Government
 • MayorCristiano Cardoso de Azevedo (PSB)
Area
 • Total1,115.252 km2 (430.601 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total12,878
 • Density12/km2 (30/sq mi)
Demonymrio-contense
Time zoneUTC−3 (BRT)
HDI (2010)0.605 – medium[2]
Websiteriodecontas.ba.gov.br

Rio de Contas has its origins in the 18th century. In 1718 the town of Santo Antônio de Mato Grosso was founded. It was later elevated to the status of municipality in 1773, with the designation of Vila Nova de Nossa Senhora do Livramento das Minas do Rio de Contas. Its named was shortened in 1840 to Minas do Rio de Contas, and in 1931 to Rio de Contas.[4]

For many arriving from the south, it is the gateway to Chapada Diamantina. It stands at 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) above sea level.

Historic structures edit

Rio de Contas is home to numerous colonial-period historic structures, many designated as Brazilian national monuments. The historic center of Rio de Contas (Conjunto Arquitetônico da Cidade de Rio de Contas) was designated a national monument by the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN).[5]

References edit

  1. ^ "IBGE Rio de Contas". IBGE. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  2. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 8, 2014. Retrieved August 1, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ IBGE 2020
  4. ^ a b Azevedo, Paulo Ormindo de (2013). "Rio de Contas". Lisbon, Portugal: Heritage of Portuguese Influence/Património de Influência Portuguesa. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
  5. ^ "Ruínas da Igreja de Santana". Salvador, Brazil: IPAC. 2020. Retrieved 2020-08-05.

13°34′44″S 41°48′39″W / 13.57889°S 41.81083°W / -13.57889; -41.81083