Arapiraca, Brazil

Arapiraca is a city with more than 210.000, is the second largest city in the state of Alagoas, northeast Brazil. Arapiraca is know as the tobacco capital.

Geography
Altitude : 248 meters, 813 feet

Average temperature : 20 °C or 68 °F

History
The city began to be populated in the first half of the nineteenth century. As a district, Arapiraca was subject successively to Penedo, Porto Real do Colégio, São Brás and Limoeiro (other cities). Was elevated to the status of municipality in October 30, 1924, being dismembered territories of the Palmeira dos Índios, Porto Real, São Brás, Traipu e Limoeiro.. From the 1970s, due to the large area planted with tobacco, which generated a surplus of product in small industries from tobacco which had in the region, and the consequent decrease in price, followed by a cycle of decay in tobacco farming. Since the 1980s experienced economic growth with your business (with emphasis on the traditional street market) and services. Moreover, the industrial sector of the city has shown for growth in recent years.