Sorocaba

is a city in southern Brazil, in the southeastern portion of São Paulo State. As of 2006, its population was approximately 572.459. The title of Manchester Paulista was given to the city in the end of 19th century, due to the rapid increase of English textile industries in the city, along with the opening of one of the most important railways of São Paulo - the Estrada de Ferro Sorocabana (Sorocabana Railway). The metallurgy and steelmaking technologies inherited from the city's earlier days gives Sorocaba a leading role in mechanical engineering. Sorocaba's Industrial Park is one of the most important centers of engineering, manufacturing and assembling in South America.