Rio de Contas is a

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...

in the

Bahia Bahia ( , , ; meaning "bay") is one of the 26 Federative units of Brazil, states of Brazil, located in the Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeast Region of the country. It is the fourth-largest Brazilian state by population (after São Paulo (sta ...

state, in the eastern part of

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

. Its estimated population was 12,932.IBGE 2020
/ref> Rio de Contas has its origins in the 18th century. In 1718 the town of Santo Antônio de Mato Grosso was founded. It was later elevated to the status of municipality in 1773, with the designation of Vila Nova de Nossa Senhora do Livramento das Minas do Rio de Contas. Its named was shortened in 1840 to Minas do Rio de Contas, and in 1931 to Rio de Contas. For many arriving from the south, it is the gateway to Chapada Diamantina. It stands at above sea level.

Historic structures

Rio de Contas is home to numerous colonial-period historic structures, many designated as Brazilian national monuments. The

historic center of Rio de Contas History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...

(''Conjunto Arquitetônico da Cidade de Rio de Contas'') was designated a national monument by the

National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage The National Historic and Artistic Heritage Institute (, IPHAN) is a heritage register of the federal government of Brazil. It is responsible for the preservation of buildings, monuments, structures, objects and sites, as well as the register and ...

(IPHAN). * Town Hall and Prison of Rio de Contas (''Antiga Casa de Câmara e Cadeia de Rio de Contas'') * House at Rua Barão de Macaúbas, 11 (''Casa à Rua Barão de Macaúbas, 11'') * Birthplace of Abílio César Borges at Rua Barão de Macaúbas, 19 (''Casa Natal de Abílio César Borges, à rua Barão de Macaúbas, 19'') * Parish Church of the Blessed Sacrament (''Igreja Matriz do Santíssimo Sacramento'') * Church of Our Lady of Santana (''Ruínas da Igreja de Santana'')

References

Municipalities in Bahia {{Bahia-geo-stub