city, northwestern Paraná estado (state), southern Brazil. It lies on the Paraná Plateau, at an elevation of 169 feet (52 metres) above sea level. Maringá grew rapidly after its founding in 1947. Many of its residents are of Japanese ancestry. Much of the local economic activity is based on coffee growing. Other important crops include wheat, corn (maize), feijão (beans), rice, and sugarcane. Estadual de Maringá University is located there, as is a sizable football (soccer) stadium. The city is accessible by air, road, and rail from Curitiba, the state capital, and from São Paulo. The larger regional centre of Londrina lies to the east of Maringá. Pop. (2005 est.) 313,800.