São José is a civil parish in the municipality of Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. It is one of the constituent parts of the city of Ponta Delgada, and location of many of the island's more significant cultural and historical, commercial and residential buildings. Extending a short distance along the coast it, nevertheless includes a large mixed urban-rural constituency from the shore north to the main freeway, the Via-Rápida. The population in 2011 was 5,934, in an area of 1.66 km2. History Historically, the region of the parish of São José was the dropping-off point for the settlers to the western part of the island. Its past is naturally confused with the history of Ponta Delgada, or Ponta de Santa Clara, in the writings of Gaspar Frutuoso, which was transformed into town by King Manuel I of Portugal in 1499. Later it was elevated to the status of city in 1546, under the decrees of John III of Portugal. In July 2002, owing to the population and administrative issues, the civil parish of Santa Clara separated from São José. On 20 March 2009, the local government authority inaugurated symbolically, during the celebrations of the feast day of the local patron saint, its parish seat on the Rua da Lisboa. This event which included representatives of the regional authority, former politicians (such as João Bosco Mota Amaral) and municipal council (such as the President Berta Cabral), was celebrated with blessings from deacon José Garcia, speeches, plaque unveiling and presentation of a photographic gallery of former notable figures from the parishes history and past parish presidents. Geography Its urban extent, which extends into the new parish of Santa Clara, is one of the most built-up regions, preserving a patrimonial identity that is multi-secular, that includes administrative, political, military and religious buildings. Its territory of approximately 1.6 km2 is wedged between Santa Clara, Arrifes, São Sebastião and the ocean. Architecture One of the historical centres of the island of São Miguel, São José was one of the early settlement destinations. As a result, the streets of the parish are occupied by several buildings of significant historical and/or cultural significance: Civic Customshouse of Ponta Delgada () District Courthouse of Ponta Delgada () Manorhouse of Nossa Senhora do Parto () Manorhouse of Santa Catarina () Manorhouse of the Count () Palace of Conceição () Palace