Timóteo (municipality)

Timóteo is a Brazilian municipality located in the interior of the state of Minas Gerais, in the Southeast Region of Brazil. Situated in the Vale do Rio Doce, it is part of the Vale do Aço Metropolitan Region and lies approximately 200 kilometres (120 mi) east of the state capital, Belo Horizonte. The municipality covers an area of just over 140 square kilometres (54 sq mi), with 18 square kilometres (6.9 sq mi) classified as urban, and its population was estimated at 84,087 inhabitants in 2024.

The settlement of Timóteo began in the mid-19th century when Francisco de Paula e Silva acquired three sesmarias in the region and established himself in one, located in the present-day Alegre neighborhood near the Timóteo Stream. Francisco developed agriculture and cattle raising, fostering the formation of a village later named São Sebastião do Alegre. In 1938, the area became a district under Antônio Dias, already bearing the name Timóteo. In the following decade, it was selected as the site for the industrial hub of Acesita, now known as Aperam South America. This development was facilitated by the ease of receiving raw materials and transportation via the Vitória-Minas Railway, the availability of water from the Piracicaba River, and wood in the vast local forests. In 1948, Timóteo was annexed to the municipality of Coronel Fabriciano.

At Acesita's request, a workers' village was constructed parallel to the original urban core, but its growth spurred Timóteo's emancipation in 1964. This led to the city being divided into two distinct clusters: one comprising neighborhoods built by the company around the Centro-Norte, still referred to as "Acesita" despite the company’s name change, and the other stemming from the original settlements in the Centro-Sul, known as "Timóteo." Although the service sector has grown, industry remains the main source of municipal revenue, and its presence has contributed to the formation of the Vale do Aço Metropolitan Region, one of the main urban centers in the state's interior.

Approximately 35% of Timóteo’s area is protected by the Rio Doce State Park, the largest Atlantic Forest reserve in Minas Gerais. The city is known for traditions such as handicrafts, samba schools, and congado, as well as attractions such as the Ana Moura Peak; the São José Operário Church, built by Acesita for the religious activities of the former workers' village; and the 29 de Abril and 1º de Maio squares, key leisure and event venues in the region. Through the Aperam Acesita Foundation, Aperam South America maintains a cultural center featuring a theater, a museum, and spaces for exhibitions, courses, and theater classes, while also offering workshops in schools and public areas.