Ceres, Goiás

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Ceres is a municipality in Goiás state, Brazil, located in the Central-West region. It sits in the Brazilian Highlands, about 187 km from Goiânia, the state capital, and lies in the fertile São Patrício valley along the Rio das Almas, which runs north and joins the Maranhão River.

History and development
Ceres began in 1941 as Colônia Agrícola Nacional de Goiás – CANG, an agricultural colony created by the Getúlio Vargas government. Settlers received land, seeds, and tools, along with free medical care and a house. Landowners had to keep 25% of their land as forest. The colony attracted migrants from across the country, and by 1947 the population was about 10,000. In 1953 Ceres became a municipality, separating from the city of Goiás.

Geography and population
The area covers about 456.6 square kilometers, and the elevation is around 571 meters. The population has fluctuated: it fell from about 31,400 in 1980 to around 18,600 in 2007, and by 2020 it was about 22,000 people, with most residents living in the urban area.

Economy
Ceres has shifted from a farming town to a regional service center. There are small industries in furniture, wood products, flour, bricks, coffee roasting, cereals, and dairy. In 2007 there were four banks. In 2006 there were 273 farms totaling about 17,627 hectares, with roughly 4,700 hectares in cropland and around 24,000 cattle. The main crops were rice, corn, sugarcane, and tomatoes.

Education and health
In 2007, eight hospitals with 302 beds and 23 public clinics served the city. The literacy rate was about 89% in 2000. There were 23 schools with about 7,084 students in 2006. Ceres hosts three higher-education campuses, including units of UEG and local faculties.

Climate
The average temperature is around 26°C, with about 1,800 mm of rainfall each year. Winters range from about 12°C to 32°C, spring from 19°C to 36°C, summer from 21°C to 29°C, and autumn from 15°C to 29°C.

Notable fact
Adib Shishakli, former president of Syria, was assassinated in exile in Ceres by Nawaf Ghazaleh.