>Americana >formerly (1868-1938) VILA AMERICANA, city, in the highlands of east-central >São Paulo estado ("state"), Brazil. Americana lies near the Piracicaba >River at 1,732 feet (528 m) above sea level. It was settled in 1868 by >immigrants from the former Confederate States of America. The settlement >was made a seat of a municipality in 1924. Agriculture is the main local >source of income, and foodstuffs are processed in the city. Highways and >railroads link Americana to São Paulo, the state capital, 68 miles (109 km) >to the southeast. Pop. (1991 prelim.) 153,592. > _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com