The city was founded by João Ramalho in 1553 and was known as Vila de Santo
André da Borda do Campo de Piratininga, soon transferred to another nearby
place, safer from hostile tribes. It is, however, historically perceived as the
first Brazilian settlement built away from the sea. The original settlement was
then resettled as São Bernardo, became a parish in 1812 and became a
municipality in 1890. In 1938, it became a part of the Santo André district
only to be separated again in 1945, as the aftermath of an action from a group
of entrepreneurs leaded by Wallace Cochrane Simonsen, which was eventually
appointed
