The state capital, the city of Rio de Janeiro, contains some of the country’s most well-known postcard views, including Copacabana Beach, Sugarloaf, Corcovado, and the Maracanã soccer stadium. Some federal government agencies still have their headquarters in the state, a legacy of the period when Rio was the nation’s capital. This is true of the State petroleum company, Petrobrás, and sports federations such as the Brazilian Soccer Federation (CBF). The economy is based on industry (metallurgy, steel-making, chemicals, mineral extraction, food products, mechanical goods, publishing and printing, and paper and cellulose), and tourism. The state is located in the eastern part of the Southeastern Region and occupies an area of 43,909.7 sq. kms.

History

Rio de Janeiro was formed from parts of the captaincies of São Tomé and São Vicente. Between 1555 and 1567 the territory was taken over by the French. The city of Rio de Janeiro was founded in 1565.

In the 17th century cattle and sugar cane generated progress, which was definitely assured when the port began to export the riches of Minas Gerais in the 18th century. The city became the capital of the viceroyalty in 1763. The region benefited greatly from the transfer of the Portuguese royal family to Brazil in 1808. In 1834 the city of Rio de Janeiro was transformed into a municipality, remaining the Imperial capital, while the captaincy was made into a province, with its seat in Niterói. In 1889 the city became the capital of the Republic, and the province became a state. When the capital was moved to Brasília in 1960, the municipality of Rio de Janeiro was turned into the state of Guanabara.

In 1975 the states of Guanabara and Rio de Janeiro were merged to form the state of Rio de Janeiro, with the city of Rio de Janeiro as its capital.