Ceilândia

Ceilândia is an administrative region in the Federal District in Brazil. With about 398,374 inhabitants, it is the administrative region of largest population in the Federal District.

Ceilândia
Administrative region
Região Administrativa de Ceilândia
Administrative Region of Ceilândia
Flag
Nickname(s): 
Cei
Localization of Ceilândia in Federal District
Ceilândia
Localization of Ceilândia in Brazil
Coordinates: 15°49′09″S 48°06′30″W
Country Brazil
RegionCentral-West
State Federal District
FoundedMarch 27, 1971
Government
 • Regional administratorVilson José de Oliveira[1]
Area
 • Total230.30 km2 (88.92 sq mi)
Elevation
1,000 m (3,000 ft)
Population
 (2010)[2]
 • Total398,374
 • Density1,729.8/km2 (4,480/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Ceilandense
Time zoneUTC-3 (UTC-3)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-2 (UTC-2)
Postal Code (CEP)
72200-000
Area code(s)+55 61
Websitewww.ceilandia.df.gov.br

History

Ceilândia was created by the government in the 1970s to keep people from moving into Brasília and setting up invasions. The root of the name Ceilândia is "CEI" (Portuguese: Campanha de Erradicação de Invasões: Invasions Eradication Campaign).

In 1969, after only nine years of existence, Brasília already had 79,128 people living in irregular occupations, out of a population of 500 thousand inhabitants in all the Federal District. In that year a seminar took place in Brasília concerning social problems of the Federal District. The invasions dwellers were the most serious problem. The Governor at that time, Hélio Prates da Silveira, decided to eradicate the invasions and a commission was formed.

17619 lots were laid out and in 1970 the first construction began. In nine months the transfer of the families was concluded with the streets opened In the beginning it was dramatic. The population had no water, no public lighting, no public transport and fought against the dust, the mud and the flash floods.

Today Ceilândia is the largest electoral college of the Federal District and the most populous city, with more inhabitants than the Pilot Plan. It occupies a total of 91 residential squares laid out like Brasília, intercalated by areas for local commerce, churches and schools. There are also some special areas that are set aside to provide community services.

Partial view of the Casa do Cantador, one of its symbols

An active commercial center, it has 4,500 commercial establishments and 1,600 small industries. The economically active population is more than 160,000 people.

Two important locals of Ceilandia are the Caixa d'Água (Water Tower), and the Casa do Cantador (House of the Singer), a cultural center dedicated to the artists of Northeast Brazil. The building was designed by Oscar Niemeyer and completed in 1986.

Ceilândia and its fairs

Ceilândia is considered the second largest "Northeastern city" outside the Brazilian Northeast Region (the first one is São Paulo). About 70% of the population is of Northeastern origin. The presence of the Northeast culture can be seen in the number of open-air fairs (13 in all).

The fairs (feiras-livres) are also an alternative for the workers that did not find space in the economy of the Federal District. In most of them, fruits, foods, clothes and footwear are commercialized. The Fair of the Producer (Feira do Produtor e Atacadista de Ceilândia) sells wholesale and supplies almost 50% of the Federal District.

The Central Fair (Feira Permanente de Ceilândia), is the largest of all. It occupies an area of seven thousand square meters and sells household articles, tools, electric appliances, fruits, vegetables, and poultry. It is located next to the Caixa d'Água (Water Tower) - the symbol of Ceilândia.

But the most peculiar fair, without doubt, is the Feira do Rolo, where one can find almost everything, new or used, entire or broken, and things there can be sold or exchanged.

Ceilândia is also notorious for its high-crime rate. As of January 2021, there was a travel advisory from the U.S. Department of State labeled 'Do Not Travel' for the Ceilândia district of Brazil.

See also

References
  1. "Perfil do administrador" (in Portuguese). Administração Regional de Ceilândia, DF. Retrieved 2015-01-01.
  2. "Pesquisa Distrital por Amostra de Domicílios - 2010/2011" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Codeplan. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-17. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
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