in the state opened its doors here. In 1922 a military base was built. In 1938 the main Catholic church, the Igreja Matriz do Divino Espírito Santo, was inaugurated. After the middle of the twentieth century the city began a period of decline, caused by the decadence of the national railroad system and the distance of the main national highways. Ipameri became known as the city that "already had", or "already was". The city began to prosper again the 1980s with rural electrification, mechanization of agriculture and paved highways leading to other centers. Agroindustries began to arrive together with institutes of higher education. Today Ipameri is considered one of the more prosperous small cities in the state. Political data Eligible voters: 18,339 (December 2007) Mayor: Daniela Vaz Carneiro (November 2018) Vice-mayor: Zé Roberto Marot Councilmembers: 11 Religion Its Catedral Divino Espírito Santo, dedicated to the Holy Ghost in 1845, is the episcopal see of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ipameri. Demographics Population growth rate 2000–2007: 0.30.% Urban population in 2007: 19,548 Rural population in 2007: 3,566 The economy Lying in rolling uplands between the Veríssimo and Corumbá rivers, tributaries of the Paranaíba, Ipameri is primarily a cattle-shipping centre that also houses meat-processing and rice-hulling plants. Ipameri has a modern and mechanized agriculture. The municipality is the largest producer of cereals in the Southeast region of Goiás and one of the biggest in the state. The most important crops are cotton and soy, but there is also cultivation of corn, rice, potato, tomato, coffee, manioc, and garlic. Main agricultural products in total planted area (2006) coffee: 565 ha. cotton: 5,800 ha. sugarcane: 2,700 ha. corn: 14,000 ha. soybeans: 66,000 ha. Cattle raising is also very important. There was a herd of approximately 180,000 head, divided between beef and dairy cattle. Main industries are in cotton processing, soybean oil production, dairy products, and bricks and tiles. Economic data Industrial units: 49 (06/2007) Retail units: 255 (August/2007) Lodging and restaurants: 36 Banking institutions: - Banco do Brasil S.A. - Banco Itaú S.A. - CEF (Aug/2007) Dairies: - Laticínios Carvalho Ltda.; - Cooperativa Agropecuária do Vale do Corumbá Ltda (07/06/2005) Meat-packing plants: FRI-SOL - Frigorífico Sol Nascente Ltda.; - GAASA e Alimentos Ltda.; - Carvalho e Pinheiro Ltda. (07/06/2005) Distilleries: LASA - Lago Azul S/A (Jul/2007) Industrial zone: Distrito Agroindustrial - DIAIPA (Jun/2006) Agricultural data 2006 Farms: 1,246 Total area: 284,247 ha. Area of