The settlement, which became a town in
1553, with the name of Santo André da Borda do Campo, experienced rapid growth
beginning in the 1930s. It was originally named São Bernardo because the
municipality district headquarters were in São Bernardo do Campo, now a city
nearby. In 1938, the name was changed to Santo André, as the district
government was transferred to Santo André. Industries include chemical
engineering, textiles, oil, metal products, metallurgy and printed matter. It
is an industrial city, but more than 60% of Santo André's total area are
protected by environmental water laws
