Ceará-Mirim

Municipality in Northeast, Brazil

Ceará-Mirim

Municipality

Flag

Coat of arms

Location in Rio Grande do Norte state

Ceará-Mirim

Location in Brazil

Coordinates: 5°38′S 35°26′W﻿ / ﻿5.633°S 35.433°W﻿ / -5.633; -35.433
Country| Brazil
Region| Northeast
State| Rio Grande do Norte
Area

• Total

| 724.838 km2 (279.862 sq mi)
Population

(2022)

• Total

| 79,115
Time zone| UTC−3 (BRT)

Ceará-Mirim is a city in the state of Rio Grande do Norte in the Northeast region of Brazil. With an area of 724.838 square kilometers (279.862 sq mi), of which 28.5233 square kilometres (11.0129 sq mi) is urban, it is located 30 km from Natal, the state capital, and 1,771 km from Brasília, the federal capital. Its population in the 2022 demographic census was 79,115 inhabitants, according to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), ranking as the sixth most populous municipality in the state of Rio Grande do Norte.

## Etymology

[edit]

The origin of the city name is unknown. Câmara Cascudo, one of the most important historians in Brazil, gives some alternatives from other authors, with all the alternatives leading to the Tupi language.[1] José de Alencar suggests us that Ceará comes from the Tupi expression cê-ará, meaning "the parrot speaks" or "the parrot sings". Teodoro Sampaio gives us ceará or cemo-ará, which is "the parrot leaves" or "the parrot's departure". There are also the versions of Paulino Nogueira and João Brigido, who suggest, respectively, çoô-ará and ciri-ará, that mean "truly hunting time" and "white crab", respectively.[2]

## History

[edit]

The origins of the settlement of Ceará-Mirim are linked to the Potiguara Indigenous people, who lived along the banks of the Rio Pequeno, which was later renamed the Ceará-Mirim River. The Potiguara engaged in clandestine trade of brazilwood with French and Spanish merchants, and eventually with the Portuguese colonizers, exchanging the valuable timber for various goods. The brazilwood, which was abundant in the region, was transported via a rudimentary navigation system using the waters of the Gramoré River.[3]

The Portuguese, in collaboration with Filipe Camarão, undertook efforts to organize a settlement in the area. A convent was established in the village of Guajiru, and on lands granted to the Jesuit priests of the Society of Jesus, they constructed a church, a jail, and a town hall. Through their work in organizing the community, the Jesuits earned the trust and admiration of the local Indigenous population.[3]

While the Indigenous people supported the presence of the Jesuits, the Portuguese colonists did not, as they were primarily interested in the fertile lands of the valley. They sought to remove the Jesuits, whose moral authority and influence posed a challenge to colonial ambitions. A Royal Charter issued by the Marquis of Pombal eventually banned Jesuits from participating in the administration and education of the settlement, without providing a clear reason. Following the expulsion of the Jesuits, the Portuguese colonists assumed control, free from religious oversight.[3]

Under pressure from the colonists, the Indigenous population began selling their lands to outsiders. Around this period, enslaved Africans were brought to the region, marking the beginning of forced labor and the establishment of sugarcane plantations (engenhos), which would go on to dominate the local economy and shape the historical trajectory of the Ceará-Mirim Valley. A distinct local society emerged, centered around the powerful sugar plantation owners who were aware of their economic dominance and lived in a manner marked by aristocratic refinement and elegance.[3] By the end of the 19th century, the valley prospered through sugarcane production. A culture of wealth and opulence took hold, with aristocratic balls, silk-lined carriages, and lavish festivities reflecting the patriarchal and slave-based phase of the sugar economy.[3]

The municipality was officially created on 3 September 1759 by royal charter and formally established on 3 May 1760 in the former village of Guajiru, with its administrative seat in the town of Extremoz. On 18 August 1885, the seat was transferred to the settlement of Boca da Mata, which was renamed the town of Ceará-Mirim. However, the transfer was suspended by Law No. 345 on 4 September 1856 and later reinstated by Law No. 370 on 30 July 1858. On 9 June 1882, through Law No. 837, Ceará-Mirim was granted city status.[3] In the letters of the Ouvidor Domingos Monteiro da Rocha, in July 1757, he included the Ceará-Mirim Village, where he says "with many residents". The first school emerged only in 1858, installed at Bôca da Mata, Extremoz county. The first meeting of the city council occurred on 14 October 1858, in Ceará-Mirim Village.[4]

## Geography

[edit]

The territory of Ceará-Mirim covers 724.838 square kilometers (279.862 sq mi),[5] of which 28.5233 square kilometres (11.0129 sq mi) constitutes the urban area.[6] It sits at an average altitude of 33 meters above sea level.[7] Ceará-Mirim borders these municipalities: to the north, Maxaranguape; to the south, São Gonçalo do Amarante, Extremoz, and Ielmo Marinho; to the east, Extremoz and Maxaranguape; and to the west, Taipu.[3] The city is located 30 km from the state capital Natal,[8] and 1,771 km from the federal capital Brasília.[9]

Under the territorial division established in 2017 by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), the municipality belongs to the immediate geographical region of Natal, within the intermediate region of Natal.[10] Previously, under the microregion and mesoregion divisions, it was part of the microregion of Macaíba in the mesoregion of Leste Potiguar.[11][12]

Climate data for Ceará-Mirim (1981–2010)

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)  | 31.5
(88.7)  | 31.7
(89.1)  | 31.4
(88.5)  | 30.7
(87.3)  | 30.3
(86.5)  | 29.3
(84.7)  | 29.0
(84.2)  | 29.3
(84.7)  | 30.1
(86.2)  | 30.9
(87.6)  | 31.4
(88.5)  | 31.7
(89.1)  | 30.6
(87.1)
Daily mean °C (°F)  | 27.0
(80.6)  | 27.0
(80.6)  | 26.9
(80.4)  | 26.4
(79.5)  | 26.0
(78.8)  | 25.0
(77.0)  | 24.5
(76.1)  | 24.5
(76.1)  | 25.2
(77.4)  | 26.0
(78.8)  | 26.4
(79.5)  | 26.9
(80.4)  | 26.0
(78.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)  | 22.8
(73.0)  | 22.8
(73.0)  | 23.0
(73.4)  | 22.8
(73.0)  | 22.3
(72.1)  | 21.5
(70.7)  | 20.8
(69.4)  | 20.6
(69.1)  | 20.9
(69.6)  | 21.5
(70.7)  | 22.0
(71.6)  | 22.5
(72.5)  | 22.0
(71.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches)  | 89.2
(3.51)  | 88.9
(3.50)  | 185.5
(7.30)  | 200.5
(7.89)  | 182.2
(7.17)  | 229.3
(9.03)  | 169.6
(6.68)  | 83.9
(3.30)  | 32.5
(1.28)  | 13.7
(0.54)  | 19.5
(0.77)  | 19.8
(0.78)  | 1,314.6
(51.76)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 7  | 7  | 13  | 15  | 13  | 14  | 13  | 9  | 6  | 3  | 3  | 4  | 107
Average relative humidity (%)  | 76.8  | 77.7  | 79.2  | 82.3  | 82.9  | 84.0  | 82.7  | 80.8  | 77.5  | 74.4  | 74.3  | 74.9  | 79.0
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 238.3  | 216.1  | 215.4  | 190.6  | 208.7  | 180.2  | 201.3  | 234.2  | 255.2  | 277.0  | 273.5  | 279.4  | 2,769.9
Source: Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia[13]

## Demographics

[edit]

In the 2022 census, the municipality had a population of 79,115 inhabitants and ranked sixth in the state that year (out of 167 municipalities),[14] with 50.36% female and 49.64% male,[15] resulting in a sex ratio of 98.56 (9,856 men for every 10,000 women),[16] compared to 68,141 inhabitants in the 2010 census (52.09% living in the urban area),[17] when it held the sixth state position.[18] Between the 2010 and 2022 censuses, the population of Ceará-Mirim changed at an annual geometric growth rate of 1.25%.[19] Regarding age group in the 2022 census, 68.59% of the inhabitants were between 15 and 64 years old, 22.53% were under fifteen, and 8.89% were 65 or older.[20] The population density in 2022 was 109.15 inhabitants per square kilometer.[21] There were 24,896 housing units with an average of 3.13 inhabitants per household.[22]

The municipality's Human Development Index (HDI-M) was considered medium, according to data from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). According to the 2010 report published in 2013, its value was 0.616, ranking 132th in the state and 4,540th nationally (out of 5,565 municipalities),[23] and the Gini coefficient rose from 0.42 in 2003[24] to 0.52 in 2010.[25] Considering only the longevity index, its value is 0.774, the income index is 0.599, and the education index is 0.505.[23]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Cascudo, Luiz da Câmara (1968). Nomes da terra: Luís da Câmara Cascudo (in Portuguese). Fundação José Augusto – via the Internet Archive.
2. ^ Melo, Protásio Pinheiro de (1971). Contribuição Indígena À Fala Norte-rio-grandense (in Brazilian Portuguese). Imprensa Universitária. p. 19.
3. ^ a b c d e f g Institute of Economic Development and Environment of Rio Grande do Norte (IDEMA-RN) (2013). "Perfil do seu município: Ceará-Mirim" (PDF). Retrieved 10 February 2022.
4. ^ Cascudo, Luiz da Câmara (1968). Nomes da terra: Luís da Câmara Cascudo (in Portuguese). Fundação José Augusto – via the Internet Archive.
5. ^ IBGE (2022). "Brasil / Rio Grande do Norte / Ceará-Mirim". Retrieved 18 June 2025.
6. ^ IBGE (2019). "Tabela 8418 - Áreas urbanizadas, Loteamento vazio, Área total mapeada e Subcategorias". Retrieved 16 December 2024.
7. ^ "Rio Grande do Norte". Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation. Archived from the original on 12 June 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
8. ^ "Distância entre Natal - RN, Brazil e Ceará-Mirim - RN, Brazil". Distância Entre as Cidades. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
9. ^ "Distância entre Brasilia - DF, Brazil e Ceará-Mirim - Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil". Distância Entre as Cidades. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
10. ^ IBGE (2024). "DTB_2024.zip" (Zip file) (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 29 April 2025. RELATORIO_DTB_BRASIL_2024_MUNICIPIOS.ods within zip file.
11. ^ "Divisão regional do Brasil em mesorregiões e microrregiões geográficas" (PDF). Biblioteca IBGE. 1. IBGE: 44–45. 1990. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 September 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
12. ^ "Divisão Territorial do Brasil". Divisão Territorial do Brasil e Limites Territoriais. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). 1 July 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2008.
13. ^ "Normais Climatológicas Do Brasil 1981–2010" (in Portuguese). Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
14. ^ IBGE (2022). "Sinopse / População residente ( Unidade: pessoas ) / 2022". Retrieved 6 September 2024.
15. ^ IBGE (2022). "Tabela 9514 - População residente, por sexo, idade e forma de declaração da idade". Retrieved 16 December 2024.
16. ^ IBGE (2022). "População residente / Sexo / Razão de sexo". Retrieved 6 September 2024.
17. ^ IBGE (2010). "Tabela 608 - População residente, por situação do domicílio e sexo". Retrieved 22 December 2024.
18. ^ IBGE (2010). "Sinopse / População residente ( Unidade: pessoas ) / 2010". Retrieved 6 September 2024.
19. ^ IBGE (2022). "População residente / Taxa de crescimento geométrico ( Unidade: % )". Retrieved 6 September 2024.
20. ^ IBGE (2022). "Tabela 9514 - População residente, por sexo, idade e forma de declaração da idade". Retrieved 22 December 2024.
21. ^ IBGE (2022). "Território / Densidade demográfica ( Unidade: habitantes por quilômetro quadrado )". Retrieved 6 September 2024.
22. ^ IBGE (2022). "Tabela 4712 - Domicílios particulares permanentes ocupados, Moradores em domicílios particulares permanentes ocupados e Média de moradores em domicílios particulares permanentes ocupados". Retrieved 6 January 2024.
23. ^ a b "Ranking decrescente do IDH-M dos municípios do Brasil". Atlas do Desenvolvimento Humano. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 2010. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2010.
24. ^ IBGE (2003). "Mapa de pobreza e desigualdade". Retrieved 21 December 2024.
25. ^ IBGE (2010). "Índice de Gini da renda domiciliar per capita segundo Município". DataSUS. Retrieved 17 June 2025.

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities of Rio Grande do Norte

Capital: Natal

Mesoregion
Agreste Potiguar|

| Agreste Potiguar|

* Bom Jesus
* Brejinho
* Ielmo Marinho
* Boa Saúde
* Lagoa d'Anta
* Lagoa de Pedras
* Lagoa Salgada
* Monte Alegre
* Nova Cruz
* Passa e Fica
* Passagem
* Presidente Juscelino
* Riachuelo
* Santa Maria
* Santo Antônio
* São Paulo do Potengi
* São Pedro
* Senador Elói de Souza
* Serrinha
* Jundiá
* Várzea
* Vera Cruz

|

Baixa Verde|

* Bento Fernandes
* Jandaíra
* João Câmara
* Parazinho
* Poço Branco

Borborema Potiguar|

* Barcelona
* Campo Redondo
* Coronel Ezequiel
* Jaçanã
* Japi
* Lagoa de Velhos
* Lajes Pintadas
* Monte das Gameleiras
* Ruy Barbosa
* Santa Cruz
* São Bento do Trairi
* São José do Campestre
* São Tomé
* Serra de São Bento
* Sítio Novo
* Tangará

Mesoregion
Central Potiguar|

| Angicos|

* Afonso Bezerra
* Angicos
* Caiçara do Rio do Vento
* Fernando Pedroza
* Jardim de Angicos
* Lajes
* Pedra Preta
* Pedro Avelino

|

Macau|

* São Bento do Norte
* Galinhos
* Guamaré
* Macau
* Caiçara do Norte

Seridó Ocidental|

* Caicó
* Ipueira
* Jardim de Piranhas
* São Fernando
* São João do Sabugi
* Serra Negra do Norte
* Timbaúba dos Batistas

Seridó Oriental|

* Acari
* Carnaúba dos Dantas
* Cruzeta
* Currais Novos
* Equador
* Jardim do Seridó
* Ouro Branco
* Parelhas
* Santana do Seridó
* São José do Seridó

Serra de Santana|

* Bodó
* Cerro Corá
* Florânia
* Lagoa Nova
* Santana do Matos
* São Vicente
* Tenente Laurentino Cruz

Mesoregion
Leste Potiguar|

| Litoral Nordeste|

* Maxaranguape
* Pedra Grande
* Pureza
* Rio do Fogo
* São Miguel do Gostoso
* Taipu
* Touros

|

Litoral Sul|

* Arês
* Baía Formosa
* Canguaretama
* Espírito Santo
* Goianinha
* Montanhas
* Pedro Velho
* Senador Georgino Avelino
* Tibau do Sul
* Vila Flor

Macaíba|

* Ceará-Mirim
* Macaíba
* Nísia Floresta
* São Gonçalo do Amarante
* São José de Mipibu

Natal|

* Extremoz
* Natal
* Parnamirim

Mesoregion
Oeste Potiguar|

| Chapada do Apodi|

* Apodi
* Caraúbas
* Felipe Guerra
* Governador Dix-Sept Rosado

|

Medio Oeste|

* Campo Grande
* Janduís
* Messias Targino
* Paraú
* Triunfo Potiguar
* Upanema

Mossoró|

* Areia Branca
* Baraúna
* Grossos
* Mossoró
* Serra do Mel
* Tibau

Pau dos Ferros|

* Alexandria
* Francisco Dantas
* Itaú
* José da Penha
* Marcelino Vieira
* Paraná
* Pau dos Ferros
* Pilões
* Portalegre
* Rafael Fernandes
* Riacho da Cruz
* Rodolfo Fernandes
* São Francisco do Oeste
* Severiano Melo
* Taboleiro Grande
* Tenente Ananias
* Viçosa

Serra de São Miguel|

* Água Nova
* Coronel João Pessoa
* Doutor Severiano
* Encanto
* Luís Gomes
* Major Sales
* Riacho de Santana
* São Miguel
* Venha-Ver

Umarizal|

* Almino Afonso
* Antônio Martins
* Frutuoso Gomes
* João Dias
* Lucrécia
* Martins
* Olho-d'Água do Borges
* Patu
* Rafael Godeiro
* Serrinha dos Pintos
* Umarizal

Vale do Açu|

* Assu
* Alto do Rodrigues
* Carnaubais
* Ipanguaçu
* Itajá
* Jucurutu
* Pendências
* Porto do Mangue
* São Rafael

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