Taubate is a city in the State of Sao Paulo, in southeastern Brazil. Its strategic geographical location, between the two most important Brazilian cities: Sao Paulo (123 km) and Rio de Janeiro (280 km), and between high, cold mountains and the Atlantic Ocean has helped the development of the city. The city has over 250,000 inhabitants and has become an industrial center, seating branches of several companies, including Volkswagen, Ford, LG, among many others.

History:

Taubate was part of the ancient Tupinamba Territory, along the Parahyba do Sul River. The Tupinamba Territory in the 16th Century, stretched from the Juqueriquere River on the shores of Caraguatatuba to the Cape of Saint Thomas (Cabo de Sao Tome) in the State of Rio de Janeiro. The first village was created in 1640 being proclaimed as an autonomous locality on December 5, 1645, by a pioneer named Jacques Felix. It was the first location in the Vale do Paraiba region to obtain autonomy. The locality got its current city status in 1842. By that time, it was one of the most important coffee production centers in the country.

Education and Literature:

Taubate is also a university city, which attracts young people from all over the country who come to study in one of its many colleges, such as Medical School, Law, Dentistry, Engineering, Business Management, at the Universidade de Taubate.

Monteiro Lobato, the most important Portuguese-language writer of books for children was born in Taubate. His books have been translated into many other languages. Another very important man in Taubatean and Brazilian history was Amacio Mazzaropi who was one of the pioneers on the movie industry, creating many classics that show a rural Brazil in the first half of the 20th Century.

Quality of life:

Taubate has been ranked by the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) the 21st out of 645 cities in the State in terms of quality of life (safety, schooling, medical and dental care, transportation facilities, low pollution levels, piped sewage and piped water reaching all houses, etc.).