Wow Campo Grande what a history. Did you know this sprawling neighborhood is the largest in Rio’s West Zone? It’s a giant. Think 46 square miles packed with over 300000 people. That’s more than many cities.
Campo Grande’s story begins way back in 1603. Jesuit missionaries were busy working in the area. They were instrumental in the early settlement of this land. It’s amazing to consider that so much has happened since then. The land was originally inhabited by the Picinguabas indigenous people. They were here long before the Europeans arrived. Then Barcelos Domingos got involved. He received a land grant from the Portuguese Crown. He built the Chapel of Our Lady of the Exile. This humble chapel is now the heart of Campo Grande’s parish church. A well stood nearby. It provided vital water to the early settlers.
The real growth spurt happened in 1878. A new railway station opened. It connected Campo Grande to the Brazilian Central Railway. Suddenly reaching downtown Rio was much easier. People started moving in. The area rapidly developed. By 1915 electric trams replaced horse-drawn ones. They improved transport further. Campo Grande flourished.
In the 1940s Campo Grande was famous for its oranges. It was nicknamed “Empire of the Orange”. The area shipped tons of oranges every year. It was a major exporter. Eventually it became an important industrial area too. Companies like Michelin set up shop there. The area’s commercial sector also took off. It has shopping malls like West Shopping and ParkShopping Campo Grande. The latter aims to be South America’s largest.
Campo Grande became officially a city in 1968. This is a fascinating fact. It still remains a part of Rio de Janeiro. It is a large populous and growing area. In Campo Grande itself there is so much going on. It really is a city within a city. Take a moment to absorb the history surrounding you here. Today Campo Grande has residential areas industrial parks and major commercial hubs. It’s a testament to its long and varied history.