Itu, São Paulo

Itu
Municipality of Itu
Location in São Paulo state
Itu
Location in Brazil
Coordinates: 23°15′51″S 47°17′57″W / 23.26417°S 47.29917°W / -23.26417; -47.29917
Country Brazil
RegionSoutheast
State São Paulo
Metrop. regionSorocaba
Area
  Total
640.72 km2 (247.38 sq mi)
Elevation
583 m (1,913 ft)
Population
 (2020)
  Total
175,568
  Density270/km2 (710/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-03:00 (BRT)
  Summer (DST)UTC-02:00 (BRST)
Postal code
13300
Area code+55 11
HDI (2010)0.773 – high
Websitewww.itu.sp.gov.br

Itu is a historic city and municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. It is part of the Metropolitan Region of Sorocaba. The population was 175,568 as of 2020, in an area of 640.72 km2. The elevation is 583 m. This place name comes from the Tupi language, meaning big waterfall. Two rivers flow through Itu: Tietê and Jundiaí. Itu has five hospitals, eleven bank agencies and one shopping center, the Plaza Shopping Itu.

Itu was founded in 1610 by bandeirante Domingos Fernandes. It became a parish in 1653. In 1657, it was elevated to a town and municipality. It became a part of Brazil in 1822. It became a city in 1843.

It is the 46th most populous municipality in the state of São Paulo and the 174th in Brazil, in addition to being the second largest city in the Sorocaba Metropolitan Region, behind only Sorocaba.