Camaragibe

Camaragibe
Municipality of Camaragibe
Município de Camaragibe
Motto(s): 

Fé e Esperança
"Faith and Hope"
Location in the state of Pernambuco and Brazil
Camaragibe
Location in Brazil
Camaragibe
Camaragibe (South America)
Coordinates: 8°01′19″S 34°58′51″W / 8.02194°S 34.98083°W / -8.02194; -34.98083
Country Brazil
RegionNortheast
StatePernambuco
Founded13 March 1982 (1982-03-13)
Named afterLantana camara (plant)
Government
  TypeMayor–council government
  MayorNadegi Queiroz, 2021– 2024 (Republicanos)
Area
  Total
51.321 km2 (19.815 sq mi)
Elevation
55 m (180 ft)
Population
 (2022)
  Total
147,771
  Estimate 
(2024)
155,771
  Density2,900/km2 (7,500/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−3 (Brasília Time)
Area code+55 81
Websitewww.camaragibe.pe.gov.br (in Portuguese)

Camaragibe is a city in the Northeast region of Brazil, in the state of Pernambuco. It lies within the Greater Recife — Brazil's 5th-largest metropolitan area.

Currently, Camaragibe is run by Nadegi Queiroz (from the political party Republicanos) and Délio Junior (The Vice-mayor).

The lands now belonging to the city were used as a reserve of wood, and then for sugar planting. It was populated by natives, until the arrival of Portuguese with Duarte Coelho Pereira, around 1500. After the Portuguese arrival, however, the natives were not completely driven from the area.

In the 16th century, the city (then just an engenho) was considered one of the richest in the region until the Dutch invasion in 1645. At that time, the farm was burned to the ground by the natives.

On 13 May 1982, Camaragibe, which was then part of the bigger city São Lourenço da Mata, was elevated to the category of city.

The small city is considered among the most densely populated urban areas in the world because of the very accelerated growth that the city experienced from the emancipation until now.