city, in the highlands of east-central São Paulo estado (state), southeastern Brazil. It lies at 1,772 feet (540 metres) above sea level on the Tietê River. Formerly called Santo Antônio de Piracicaba and Vila Nova da Constituição, the settlement was given town status in 1821 and made the seat of a municipality in 1856. The city is in the centre of the state's main sugarcane-producing area; cotton, rice, coffee, and other crops are also cultivated. In addition to sugar refineries, the city has distilleries and food-processing factories as well as metallurgical plants. One of the state's chief agricultural colleges is nearby, and it has a sizable football (soccer) stadium. Piracicaba is linked by road, rail, and air to São Paulo, the state capital, 85 miles (137 km) southeast. Neighbouring cities include Americana, Limeira, and Rio Claro. Pop. (2005 est.) 347,800.