Guanabara (state)

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State of Guanabara
Former State
Flag of State of Guanabara
Flag
Coat of arms of State of Guanabara
Coat of arms
Location of the state of Rio de Janeiro (light yellow) and the now-defunct state of Guanabara (red) in Brazil.
Location of the state of Rio de Janeiro (light yellow) and the now-defunct state of Guanabara (red) in Brazil.
Coordinates: 22°54′S 43°11′W / 22.900°S 43.183°W / -22.900; -43.183Coordinates: 22°54′S 43°11′W / 22.900°S 43.183°W / -22.900; -43.183
Country Brazil
Established1960
Dissolved1975
Government
 • GovernorAntônio de Pádua Chagas Freitas (last governor, 1971–75)
Area
 • Total1,356 km2 (524 sq mi)
Population
 • Estimate 
(1975)
4,858,000
Time zoneUTC-3 (BRT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-2 (BRST)
ISO 3166 codeBR-GB

The State of Guanabara (Portuguese: Estado da Guanabara, IPA: [ɡwɐnaˈbaɾɐ]) was a State of Brazil from 1960 to 1975, that existed in the territory corresponding to the current location of the municipality of Rio de Janeiro. The old Federal District was located in its area.

Etymology[]

The State of Guanabara shares its name with Guanabara Bay, which lies to the east of the state. There are many theories as to the name's origins, including hidden water,[1] lagoon of the sea,[2] and bosom of the sea.[3]

History[]

In 1834, the city of Rio de Janeiro was elevated to Imperial capital of the Empire of Brazil, and was included in the Neutral Municipality (Portuguese: Município Neutro). The surrounding Province of Rio de Janeiro (which did not include the city) had its capital city in Niterói. When Brazil became a republic in 1889, the city of Rio de Janeiro remained the national capital, and the territory of the Neutral Municipality became the Federal District (Portuguese: Distrito Federal), while the surrounding homonymous province became a state, still with Niterói as its capital.

When the national capital was moved to Brasília in 1960, and a new Federal District was created for it, the old Federal District became the state of Guanabara.[1]

Throughout its 15-year existence, Guanabara was a unique state in many ways. Comprising only one city (albeit a large one), Guanabara was the smallest Brazilian state by land. It also had the peculiarity of being the only Brazilian state that was not divided into municipalities. There was no mayor, municipal legislature or any other municipal government institution there, as the city of Rio de Janeiro was directly administered by the state government of Guanabara. On the other hand, that also meant that the Guanabara state government had some functions that were normally assigned to municipalities elsewhere, such as regulating urban zoning, inspecting the safety of buildings, or issuing licenses for commercial venues, for example.

All the characteristics disappeared in 1975, when the state of Guanabara merged into the state of Rio de Janeiro. With the merge, the capital of the state of Rio de Janeiro was transferred back from the city of Niterói to the city of Rio de Janeiro, as it was until 1834 when the empire created the Neutral Municipality.

Electoral history[]

In gubernatorial elections held on 3 October 1965,  [pt], a candidate supported by a coalition formed by PTB and PSD and a close associate of former President Juscelino Kubitschek, won the race to be the state's governor, garnering 52% of the votes cast.[4]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Franco, Paulo (2014). Diversity – The Brazilian Essence: Knowing Brazil By the Culture of Their People. pp. 47–49. ISBN 9781483412559. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  2. ^ Travel, D. K. (12 January 2016). DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Brazil (First American Edition, 2007 ed.). p. 92. ISBN 9781465452016. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  3. ^ Museum of Tomorrow (PDF). p. 47. Retrieved 3 January 2018. Of the indigenous tribes that lived along its banks, there are now only reports, a few middens and the original Tupi-Guarani names that continue to identify the geographical features and places along its shores, starting with its own name, Guanabara, or "bosom of the sea"...
  4. ^ Alves, Maria Helena Moreira (1985). State and Opposition in Military Brazil. The University of Texas Press. ISBN 9780292761391. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
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