Realengo -- West Zone -- District
Description
Realengo is a neighborhood in the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The lower and middle-class neighborhood is between the Mendanha and Pedra Branca mountains. It is located between the mountains of Pedra Branca (White Rock) and Mendanha in the northern part of what is called the West Zone of the city. Realengo usually has the highest temperatures in the city, even though the winter nights are often cold because of the proximity to the mountains. The district was created on November 20th in the year of our lord 1815; every year on this day the city's birthday is celebrated with the Week of Realengo celebration. According to a survey by the Instituto Pereira Passos (Pereira Passos Institute) and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, in 2000 Realengo reached the 89th position in the rank of HDI.
Etymology
According to popular tradition, its name would have been short for the Real Engenho (Royal Mill) which was Real Eng°, posted on the board on top of the tramway and, over time, became popularly Realengo. However, another source comes from the phrase "Terras Realengas" (Land Realengas) because they were far from the court, as they were called the land of the region. Pedro I of Brazil used to go to the farm of Santa Cruz (Saint Cross) by the Estrada Real de Santa Cruz (Royal Road to Santa Cruz), passing by the Real Engenho, where he often stayed.
History
The so-called Terras originated, according to some historians, with the Carta Régia (Royal Charter) of June 27, 1814, by which John VI of Portugal, also a prince, gave land grants in the Senate of Rio de Janeiro land situated in Campo Grande (Big Field). These were called realengos, or royal lands, arising because of territorial conquest by the discovery of the country; they were not ordinary real estate. The land grant in what is now the Realengo neighborhood, center and periphery, was intended to serve only for grazing cattle, supplying meat to butchers in the city. These lands were banned from any sale by the disposition requiring that the Senate survey and prepare them to serve the purpose for which they were donated by that charter.
The village of Realengo was limited by the Senate of Rio de Janeiro, by the provision of July 18, 1814, taking over the Court of the lands tested on the Estrada da Santa Cruz (Road of Saint Cross) and depths of more than twenty fathoms. Despite the express prohibition of lease, sale or other disposition, the Senate, after a certain time, taking advantage of the charter of June 27 has all land granted for such reasons that in addition to the ordinance November 20, 1815 the Prince Regent known as royal notice, on December 20, 1815 that allowed only the tenure of the party which was tested on the Estrada de Santa Cruz (and depths of 20 fathoms the maximum, not at all Realengo).
The neighborhood had its first settlers, slaves and immigrants from the Portuguese island of the Azores, by order of the Prince Regent Dom João, later Dom João VI. When they devoted themselves to agriculture for grazing leading products such as sugar, molasses, alcohol and rum, the port of Guaratiba. Research shows that there was only one mill in Realengo as everything was taken to undergo transformation into other properties.
Clubs
Hospitals
State Hospital Albert Schweitzer serves a population of around 700 thousand inhabitants. The Realcordis Hospital is affiliated to Rede D'Or. São Miguel Hospital replaced the former Serv Baby Maternity and Hospital. There is also a unit of UPA 24H (Unidade de Pronto Atendimento 24 Horas - Emergency Service Unit).
Parks
Realengo still has remnants of rainforest that are home to endangered animals such as the Golden lion tamarin, armadillo, macaw, crowned kinglet, monkey frog, and plants like orchids, bromelias and other flora and fauna. The subsede Parque da Pedra Branca (White Rock Park), the door to the Maciço da Pedra Branca (Massif of White Rock) is found in sub-district Barata. Inaugurated on October 17, 2009 by Governor Sérgio Cabral Filho, the government spent R$ 786,000.00 (seven hundred eighty-six reais) in equipment such as water tanks and springs, it also runs a post of Firemen to maintain order in the reserve.
Schools
Municipal School Tasso da Silveira is located in Realengo. As of 2011 the public school has about 800 students. On April 7, 2011, 23-year-old gunman Wellington Menezes Oliveira killed at least 12 students in his former school. The crime occurred in the Tasso da Silveira elementary public school, located in this neighborhood.
Websites
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Realengo,_Rio_de_Janeiro
