São Gonçalo, Rio de Janeiro

São Gonçalo () is a city in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Its population (as of 2009) is 1,010,212 inhabitants, and it is the second most populous city in the state after the capital, Rio de Janeiro.

 Statistics 
Its population was 1,010,212 in 2009. The total area of the city is .IBGE – efault.php
It is the second most populous city in the state after Rio de Janeiro, the capital of the state.

 Geography 
 Climate 
São Gonçalo has a tropical Atlantic climate, with rainy summers and relatively dry winters. The city has different temperatures at different times of the year. They can be up to  in summer and  during winter. Generally, the temperature is between the maximum of  and minimum .
But for most part of the year, i.e. from May to October, the temperature is milder because the climate is drier and less hot.

 Demographics 
According to the 2022 census, São Gonçalo has a population of 896,744 inhabitants, making it the second most populous municipality in the state and the 18th most populous in the country.

In 2022, the municipality was 35,59% Protestant, 35,21% Catholic, 18,33% with no religion, 2,34% Spirist, among other religions and faiths. In 2022, 45.9% of the population was multiethnic, 36.9% was white, 17.0% was black, 0.1% was East Asian and 0.1% was indigenous.

 Education 
The Rio de Janeiro State Teachers' Training College (FFP-UERJ) stands out in the city. It is the largest teachers' college in Rio de Janeiro state. Its students are mostly residents from Sao Goncalo, but many come from Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Itaboraí, and cities of the Baixada Fluminense region, among others. For many years, students from this campus have asked for a bus route to the Saint Mary UERJ Maracanã.

 Health 
São Gonçalo has the following hospitals: Hospital Estadual Alberto Torres; Eye Hospital Niteroi; Hospital Luiz Palmier; Hospital Adam Pereira Nunes; Barone Hospital de Medeiros; Silveira Hospital Infantil Darcy Vargas, Hospital Pads, Hospital Santa Maria.

 Garbage collection crisis 
São Gonçalo has poor garbage collection services. Garbage sometimes collects on the streets for this reason. In December 2008, waste collectors went on strike, which made the problem even worse. In January 2011, garbage collection stopped for more than a week in some parts of the city.

 Notable residents 
Zélio Fernandino de Moraes, founder of the Umbanda Branca religious sect, was born in São Gonçalo.

 References 

 Other websites