Bauru (Portuguese pronunciation: [bawˈɾu]) is a Brazilian municipality located in the interior of São Paulo state, recognized as the most populous city in the Central-West region of São Paulo. It is one of the 19 municipalities comprising the Bauru Immediate Geographic Region, which is one of four immediate regions within the Bauru Intermediate Geographic Region, encompassing a total of 48 municipalities.

Situated northwest of the state capital, Bauru is approximately 326 km away and covers an area of 667.684 km². According to the IBGE's Census of 2022, the city had an estimated population of 379,146 inhabitants, making it the 18th most populous municipality in São Paulo.

Founded in 1896, Bauru experienced significant population growth due to the March to the West, a government initiative under Getúlio Vargas to promote development and settlement in Brazil's central region. In the early 20th century, the city's infrastructure expanded with the arrival of the railway and, later, highways. Coffee cultivation became prominent in the early 1900s, but Bauru transitioned into an industrialized city, aligning with Brazil's national industrialization starting in the 1930s. Industry, alongside the service sector, is the primary source of municipal revenue, contributing to Bauru's 68th highest GDP in Brazil. Since the 1950s, sugarcane production has gained prominence in agriculture.

Several highways, including Marechal Rondon, Comandante João Ribeiro de Barros, Cesário José de Carvalho, and Engenheiro João Batista Cabral Renno, connect Bauru to various municipalities in São Paulo. The city is a critical hub for air, road, and rail transport. Beyond its economic significance, Bauru is a key cultural center in its region. The Bauru Municipal Botanical Garden and the Bauru Forest Garden are vital environmental preservation areas, while the Celina Lourdes Alves Neves Municipal Theater, the Bauru Cultural Center, and the Bauru Automobile Club are notable urban landmarks. The Municipal Culture Secretariat oversees cultural projects and events, enriching Bauru's cultural life.

One widely accepted theory regarding the origin of Bauru's name suggests it derives from mbai-yurú, meaning "waterfall" or "steep river" in the Tupi language. Alternatively, it may come from ybá-uru, translating to "basket of fruits," or "bauruz," the name given to the indigenous people living along the Batalha River. Teodoro Sampaio proposed that Bauru is a corruption of "upaú-r-u" or "upaú-r-y," referring to a "river of the lagoon," from Tupi terms "Upá" or "Upaú" (lagoon or dammed water) and "U" or "I" (flowing water or river).

The area now occupied by Bauru was historically contested by two indigenous groups: the Kaingang and the Guarani. In the 18th century, bandeirantes attempted to settle in the region, a key crossing point for the fluvial expeditions heading to Mato Grosso and Goiás, but were repelled by attacks from local indigenous groups. Non-Indians only managed to settle in the region in the 19th century, with settlers arriving from São Paulo’s coast, Minas Gerais, and Rio de Janeiro. After 1850, pioneers from São Paulo and Minas Gerais began exploring the vast region between the Botucatu Ridge, the Tietê River, the Paranapanema River, and the Paraná River, previously inhabited by Kaingang groups.

In 1856, Felicíssimo Antônio Pereira, originally from Minas Gerais, acquired land and established the Fazenda das Flores near present-day central Bauru. In 1884, part of this estate (also known as Campos Novos de Bauru) was subdivided to form the São Sebastião do Bauru settlement. Despite Kaingang attacks and relative isolation, the district progressed and became a district of Agudos in 1888. The influx of migrants from eastern São Paulo and Minas Gerais led to Bauru's emancipation as a municipality on August 1, 1896.

Bauru was officially established as a municipality in 1896. The exploration of this region of São Paulo state occurred extensively in the last decade of the 19th century and the first decade of the 20th century. The lands west of the Botucatu Ridge, beyond the Agudos Ridge, never supported the slavery system that prevailed in much of Brazil until 1888. The municipality of Lençóis Paulista marked the geographical limit of slavery in that region of São Paulo. This factor influenced the demographic and ethnic composition of the region. Consequently, the proportion of Black and mixed-race individuals in Bauru is relatively lower than in other parts of São Paulo, while the population of Asian descent, particularly Japanese, is higher than the national average.