In the state of Sao Paulo the Germans form to-day an urban rather than a rural population. They are very strongly represented in Sao Paulo (the capital), Campinas and Santos. The following towns and their vicinities are also important centers of German population: Riberao Pires, Sao Bernardo, Rocinha, Vallinhos, Helvetia, Nova Friburgo, Salto de Ytu, Sorocaba, Botucatu, Riberao Preto, Sao Joao da Boa Vista, Villa Americana, Pires, Araras, Leme, Rio Claro, Sao Carlos do Pinhal, Santa Rita do Passo Quatro, Santa Cruz das Palmeiras, Brotas, Dous Corregos, Jahu, Villa Raffard, Piracicaba, and Jacarehy.[17] Excepting the older colonies first mentioned, the German element in Sao Paulo is largely made up as the result of indirect immigration; in the early years from the Petropolis district, and later from the more southern states and from Argentine. PARANA. The state colony of =Rio Negro= was founded in 1829[18] while this section of Brazil was still within the limits of Sao Paulo.[19] Shortly after its founding the colony was increased by the location of members of the mustered-out German legion of the Imperial army.[20] Subsequently many settlers from the Sao Bento district in Santa Catharina moved over to this colony. The following provincial colonies are settled largely by Germans or German-speaking Austrians: =Jesuino Marcondes, Ivahy, Iraty,= all founded in 1907; =Itapara= and =Tayo=, both founded in 1908; and =Vera Guarany=, founded in 1909.[21] By far the most important center for Germans in the state is the capital, Curityba. There are some 12,000 German-speaking residents in this city. In addition, a large number are located in the important cities of Lapa, Ponta Grossa, Porto da Uniao and Castro.[22] A large part of the German element in Parana is due to indirect immigration from Santa Catharina. SANTA CATHARINA. =Sao Pedro de Alcantara=, a state colony, was founded in 1828.[23] Its first settlers came mainly from the Rhine district. =Itajahy=[24] and =Santa Izabel=, two other state colonies were founded in 1835 and 1846 respectively. =Blumenau=, a private colony (originally), was founded in 1850 by Dr. Hermann Blumenau.[25] The first settlers were mainly natives of Pomerania and Mecklenburg. Blumenau is the most widely known (largely because of its German name) and one of the most important German colonies in Brazil to-day. According to Carvalho "Blumenau constitue dans l'Amerique du Sud le type le plus parfait de la colonisation europeenne."[26] The area of the "municipio"[27] covers 10,725 square kilometers and is populated by about 60,000 inhabitants, the great majority of whom are of German descent.[28] The "Stadtplatz"[29] is composed mainly of one street 5-1/2 kilometers in length (including Altona) and is most beautifully situated on the right bank of the river Itajahy-Assu. It contains about 3,000 inhabitants, nearly all of whom are Germans.