Goiás (also known as Goiás Velho, Old Goiás) is a municipality in the state of Goiás in Brazil. Its population was 22,381 (2020 est.) and its area is 3,108 km2. It is the former capital of the state and preserves much of its colonial heritage. In 2002, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. World Heritage Site It used to be the old state capital of Goiás up until 1937 when the government seat was transferred to the then-recently built Goiânia. It was founded by the famed Bandeirante explorer Bartolomeu Bueno da Silva, nicknamed the Anhangüera, and was called in colonial times Vila Boa de Goyaz ("Good Village of Goyaz" in archaic Portuguese). Given its historical importance, the historical center of Goiás was included on the UNESCO's World Heritage list in 2001. Location Municipal boundaries: North: Faina South: Mossâmedes East: Itaberaí West: Itapirapuã and Matrinchã Districts: Calcilândia, Buenolândia, Davidópolis, São João e Uvá. *Povoado (village): São João da Lajinha. Aglomerados (smaller than a village): Areias and Ferreiro Distances Goiânia : 148 km Aruanã : 178 km Brasília : 307 km Access can be made by highways GO-070 / Goianira / Inhumas / Itaberaí / BR-070.Sepin Geography The topography of the municipality is characterized by rugged terrain and several rivers. The Serra Dourada Mountains are nearby. The municipality contains part of the Serra Dourada State Park, created in 2003. Waterfalls and rapids are easily accessible from the center and several of them have beaches open to the public. The most important are: Balneário Cachoeira Grande, 6 km from the city Balneário Santo Antônio, 6 km from the city Balneário Bacalhau, at the entrance to the city Rivers that cross the municipality are: Rio Vermelho, Urú, do Peixe, Ferreira and Índio Political data Eligible voters: 17,813 (2016) Mayor: Aderson Liberato Gouvea (Workers' Party) (2021 - incumbent) Vice-mayor: Zilda Lôbo (Progressives) (2021 - incumbent) Councilmembers: 9 Demographic data Population in 1980: 42,958 Population in 2010: 24,727 Population growth rate 1980/2010: approx. -42.44% Estimated population in 2018: 22,916 Economy The economy of the region is dependent on tourism, cattle raising, and agriculture. The cattle population consisted of 241,000. The main agricultural products were bananas, oranges, hearts of palm, rice (2,600 hectares), beans, corn (3,800 hectares), soybeans and wheat. Education and health Literacy rate: 85.4% Infant mortality rate: 28.53 in 1,000 live births Schools: 52 (2006) with 7,913 students Higher education: UEG - Campus Cora