Distribuição da população no estado do Espírito Santo, em 1940

Abstract

            In commenting the map of the distribution of the population of the State of Espírito Santo, the author makes a series of considerations on the various factors which contributed to the demographic pattern presented. She describes the principal natural regions: the coast, low "Rio Doce", the slope of the "Planalto" (plateau), the hilly lands of the South, the middle "Rio Doce", and the North of the same river, and, finally arrives to conclusions on the settlement phenomenon, based on the factors already cited.

            The author emphasizes the instability of the population of the State, there existing accentuated demographic dislocation. The largest demographic concentration is found on the southern part of the State due to the fertility of the soil, to the better ways of communication and to the proximity of markets.

            Here, the human occupation began with agriculture, chiefly coffee and, nowadays, there exists a trend to cattle raising.

            The valleys of the tributaries of the middle "Rio Doce" form nuclei of population and at the same time constitute ways of penetration to the colonization of the North of the State, through the valley of the Rio Pancas. The low Rio Doce has a rarefied settlement due to the unfavorable conditions of the marshy lowlands.

            The extreme North, still not populated, constitutes an attractive because of the forests which contain valuable timber. The center-east zone has a large economic importance. In this zone the city of Vitória stands out due to its portuary function as a drain for the production of almost all the interior of the State.

            As a conclusion, the author declares that the State of Espírito Santo is likely to a development because of its natural resources not yet explored.