Distribuição da população do Estado de São Paulo em 1940

Resumo

            In the present paper the author presents a map of the distribution of the population in the state of São Paulo. This map uses elements obtained from the 1940 census and the author comments the various factors which influenced the distribution found.

            He emphasizes the importance of urban population, with 44% of the total, an appreciable proportion compared to the other states.

            The author, furthermore, points out two distinct aspects of population in the state: in the eastern and southern parts - in the crystalline zone - the penetration was made accompanying the valleys and both urban and rural population are there concentrated, preferably.

            Within the sedimentary region, to the west and north of the state, where topography is rather gentle, the divides oriented the peopling. Various factors determine this demographic pattern: greater facility of circulation, over water divides, greater salubrity and qualities of the soils in relation to the ones found in valley bottoms.

            The author points out, then, that these two distinct zones are separated by a lesser populated area which corresponds to the permo - carboniferous depression; in this area soils are weak and sandy, covered by "campos cerrados" (savanna - like formation); this zone goes from Mococa and Casa Branca in the northeast, to Capão Bonito and Itararé in the southwest.             The author then studies the demographic aspect of the population along the littoral due to adverse natural conditions: the proximity of the "Serra do Mar" (Sea range) and the difficulty of communications with the hinterland through the slopes of the range. The escarpment itself is almost depopulated due to its steepness and to the dense forest which covers i ts slopes.

            A study of the distribution of the population in the plateau is then made, distinguishing the Paraíba valley and the slopes of the Mantiqueira range. The author analyses the permian depression where a thin. peopling is notable and the eastern plateau, a zone of recent settlement and where a fairly large density is found.

            The author ends his paper by commenting the importance of the city of São Paulo, a large administrative, economic and cultural center, explaining its extraordinary demographic development. In his conclusion the author emphasizes the demographic growth in the state of São Paulo and the factors which influenced the distribution of this population: relief, the quality of soils, vegetation and the pattern of communications.