SERRA DA SAUDADE - A MENOR CIDADE DO BRASIL

Serra da Saudade is a Brazilian municipality in the interior of the state of Minas Gerais, in the Southeast Region of the country. Its estimated population as of July 1, 2021, was 771 inhabitants, making it the least populous municipality in Brazil.[3] The city is crossed by the Indaiá River, one of the main tributaries of the São Francisco River, and has cultural heritage sites such as the Old Barra do Funchal Station located near the Indaiá River, the Tunnels, 4 km from the city, and the Old Melo Viana Station located in the city center, both long deactivated, listed as heritage sites and part of the municipality's history. Serra da Saudade has two neighborhoods: São Geraldo and Centro. The municipality also has a Municipal School, a health center, an exhibition park for fairs and events, a daycare center, a gym, a sports square, a multi-sports gymnasium, and provides free Wi-Fi internet in leisure squares for the population. The city was emancipated in 1963 from the municipality of Dores do Indaiá and, since then, has maintained its rural atmosphere. The Festa do Peão (Cowboy Festival) and the Festa de Nossa Senhora do Rosário (Our Lady of the Rosary Festival) are the most traditional events in the city and the region.[6] In the 2014 elections, Serra da Saudade registered 697 valid votes, for a total of 822 inhabitants.[7] In the same elections, Borá – the second least populous municipality in Brazil – registered 806 valid votes, for a total of 835 inhabitants.[8] History At the foot of the Serra da Saudade in the 18th century, among the small properties there were also two large farms: the Rancho farm and the Serra da Saudade farm. The first, whose name was given because there was a ranch there that sheltered travelers and drovers for overnight stays, was owned by Pedro Félix. The Serra da Saudade farm was owned by Miguel de Furtado Mendonça. The farm's name was a tribute to the large mountain range that surrounded the region and which, even then, was called Serra da Saudade (Mountain Range of Longing). The property had 1,925 hectares. In 1882 it was divided among several heirs. The largest part of the farm remained with José Lopes Rodrigues Júnior, who later sold it for seventy contos de réis to two partners, José Calixto Assunção and Joaquim Elias Pereira, with all the improvements. Later, José Calixto bought his partner's share. After his death, the property went to his only daughter, Maria Praxedes Assunção.[9] The Paracatu Railway, which would connect Dores do Indaiá to Paracatu, passing through the Serra da Saudade farm, began construction on December 28, 1922. The railway transported coffee, wood, cattle and diamonds, but it never managed to reach its final destination, stopping only at Serra da Saudade.[10] At that time, the Rancho farm belonged to José Zacarias Machado, who donated two alqueires (approximately 4.8 hectares) of land for the construction of the railway station. In exchange, the station was to be named Melo Viana Station. It was inaugurated on July 22, 1925, and the first houses for railway employees and some squatters began to appear around it. Around that same year, Maria Praxedes also donated an alqueire for the construction of the Nossa Senhora do Carmo Church, and other houses were built with the sale of more lots belonging to her farm. Small industries also emerged, such as a cornmeal producer and a rice processing machine factory, with more streets around the main square where the railway station was located. Decades later, a highway, the Belo Horizonte-Uberaba road, a section of the future BR-262 federal highway, would also pass through the then village of Melo Viana. With the economic development of the region, the settlement expanded with the establishment of more commercial points. During the 1930s, the railway that crossed the region was absorbed by the Rede Mineira de Viação (Minas Gerais Railway Network), becoming known as the Paracatu Branch Line. However, with World War II, which caused an economic crisis and oil rationing, the railway works were paralyzed, and the railway continued to be the option for those who needed to travel, especially the muleteers. Years later, highways began to replace railways, and the railway tracks that passed through Serra da Saudade were removed in 1969. On December 27, 1948, the district of Comendador Viana was created, formerly the village of Estação Melo Viana. It was subordinate to the municipality of Dores do Indaiá. On December 30, 1962, the district was elevated to the category of municipality, becoming known as Serra Saudade, and was separated from Dores do Indaiá. The municipal headquarters were established on March 1, 1963, when the municipal government was founded.[9] #minasgerais #vstrom650 #djimini3pro