parish that includes 1,736 inhabitants, and considered the most actively growing residential community in the municipality; Nossa Senhora do Rosário – along with Santa Cruz, this parish constitutes the urbanized core of Lagoa, with a population of 5,501 inhabitants in 2001, encompassing the areas known as Athalhada, São Pedro and Porto dos Carneiros along the southerly part of the Atlantic coast; Ribeira Chã – the community, with 366 residents, straddles the river-valleys at the foot of the Serra de Água de Pau and was once part of the neighboring parish of Água de Alto (in the municipality of Vila Franca do Campo) Santa Cruz – with 3,501 residents, the parish comprises the areas of Remédios and Santa Cruz, representing the place where the first settlers disembarked and established the community that would be known as Lagoa. International Relations Lagoa is twinned with: Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States of America Economy The 2001 Portuguese census identified a population of 5575 residents active in the workforce; 42.7% are employed: 85.5% as workers and 5% owners/proprietors, while the remainder pertain to unclassified classes, homemakers or active members of the local cooperative. The census further concludes that 848 companies (private or public) have headquarters in the municipality, equivalent to 4.8% of the Azores, and showing a 26.4% increase between 2001 and 2004. These companies are primarily construction firms, but also include gross and domestic retail, repair (automobile, motorcycle or domestic goods), although agriculture is the primary economic beneficiary. Between 2001 and 2004, activities in agricultural production, livestock, hunting and forestry have seen a 48.4% growth. The tertiary sector is the primary employer in the municipality; 58.5% of the population identify themselves as public servants, accounting for a 17.8% growth (2001–2004), while hotelier and restaurants show a 44.2% growth during the same period. Recently, Lagoa has developed a tourist infrastructure associated in character with its historic past, but primarily its resort centers (for example, Caloura, in Água de Pau), bays, coves and beaches (such as Baixa d´Areia), traditional farms and older buildings (like the old monastery of Vale de Cabaços, commonly known as the Convento da Caloura) have attracted new visitors. Hotels and associated bed & breakfast-type residencias are common, with the 4-star Caloura Hotel Resort the primary tourist destination. Tourism The municipality of Lagoa has many recognized natural environments and areas popular with tourists to the island of São Miguel. Its tourist ex-libris is