Tremedal

Tremedal is a municipality in the state of Bahia, Brazil, located in the southwest region of the state within the Sudoeste Baiano Territory of Identity. Situated at approximately 14°58′S 41°24′W, it lies about 588 km from the state capital of Salvador. Emancipated on November 5, 1953, Tremedal encompasses a territorial area of 2,017.659 km² and has an estimated population of around 16,300 inhabitants.^[1] The municipality features a predominantly rural economy centered on agriculture and livestock raising. It exhibits a low Human Development Index (IDH) of 0.528, reflecting socioeconomic challenges common in parts of the region. Tremedal is also notable for its geographical diversity, as one of only four Brazilian municipalities divided across three distinct biomes for statistical purposes according to IBGE classifications.^[2][3] Residents of Tremedal are known as tremedalenses, and the municipality remains largely focused on traditional rural activities amid its expansive territory.^[1]

History

Etymology

O nome Tremedal deriva do termo português tremedal, que designa terreno alagadiço, pantanoso ou lameiro, onde o solo treme ou cede sob o peso ao ser pisado, proveniente do latim tremere (tremer).^[4][5] A localidade foi inicialmente conhecida como Tremedal dos Ferraz, em referência à forte presença e influência econômica da família Ferraz na região.^[6][7] Em 1922, passou a ser denominada Bom Jesus do Tremedal, incorporando a invocação religiosa comum em topônimos brasileiros da época.^[7] Posteriormente, por decreto-lei estadual n° 10.724, de 30 de março de 1938, o topônimo foi simplificado para Tremedal, forma mantida na emancipação do município.

Early settlement

The early settlement of Tremedal traces its origins to 1885, when Joaquim Gonçalves established the Fazenda Brejo and settled in the area with his family and agregados. This initial occupation laid the foundation for the future municipality.^[6][8] Beginning in 1895, additional families—many from Areia (now Ubaíra)—arrived, drawn by the region's fertile soil and prospects for agriculture and livestock. This influx spurred gradual growth and consolidation of the area into a small povoado during the early 20th century.^[6] The emerging settlement was initially known as Tremedal dos Ferraz, also referred to as Bom Jesus do Tremedal.^[6]

Administrative changes

Due to the economic decline of the district of São Felipe in the municipality of Condeúba, of which the local settlement was a part, the administrative seat was transferred in 1922 to the hamlet known as Tremedal dos Ferraz.^[6][9][8] This transfer elevated Tremedal dos Ferraz to the position of district headquarters, and the locality was simultaneously renamed Bom Jesus do Tremedal.^[6][9] The change reflected the shift in regional importance away from the fading São Felipe toward the growing settlement at Tremedal dos Ferraz, establishing it as the new administrative center for the area.^[6][10]

Emancipation and modern era

Tremedal was officially emancipated as a municipality on November 5, 1953, through State Law No. 599, which dismembered its territory from the municipality of Condeúba and elevated the former district to municipal status.^[11][12] Since its emancipation, Tremedal has been integrated into the Sudoeste Baiano Territory of Identity, a regional division in southwestern Bahia that groups municipalities with shared socioeconomic and cultural characteristics.^[13] In the modern era, the municipality has maintained a predominantly rural profile, with its economy centered on agriculture and livestock.^[1] Demographic data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) show a 2022 census population of 16,296 inhabitants, reflecting a decline of approximately 9.74% from the prior census, alongside a low density of approximately 8.1 inhabitants per km² across its 2,017.659 km² area.^[14][1] The estimated population was 16,646 as of July 1, 2025, underscoring ongoing trends of slow growth or stabilization typical of rural areas in the region.^[1][15]

Geography

Location and borders

Tremedal is a municipality in the southwest region of Bahia, Brazil, belonging to the Sudoeste Baiano Territory of Identity. It lies at the geographic coordinates 14°58′33″S 41°24′39″W. ^[16] It is situated approximately 588 km from the state capital, Salvador. ^[16] The municipality borders several neighboring municipalities in the region, including Presidente Jânio Quadros, Maetinga, Caraíbas, Belo Campo, Cândido Sales, and Piripá, as depicted in official IBGE municipal mapping. ^[17] This positioning places Tremedal within the semi-arid landscape typical of southwestern Bahia.

Area and topography

Tremedal has a territorial area of 2,017.659 km² according to the most recent data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).^[1] The municipality lies in a region of moderate relief, with an average elevation of 742 meters above sea level.^[18] Elevation varies across the area, ranging from approximately 539 meters at the Açude Público de Tremedal to 847 meters at Lagoa Preta, indicating a landscape of hills and valleys.^[19] This topography supports diverse environmental conditions, as evidenced by Tremedal being one of only four Brazilian municipalities classified across three distinct biomes for statistical purposes.^[3]

Climate

Tremedal features a tropical savanna climate (Köppen-Geiger classification Aw), characterized by distinct wet and dry seasons.^[20] The dry season typically spans approximately 4.7 months from late April to mid-September, with minimal rainfall; July is the driest month, averaging about 1 mm of precipitation.^[21] The wet season extends from mid-September to late April, with the majority of annual precipitation occurring during these months, often in the form of convective showers.^[21] Annual precipitation averages around 715 mm, concentrated primarily from November to March. Temperatures remain warm year-round, with an average annual temperature of approximately 22.3°C, average maximum of 27.9°C, and average minimum of 18.3°C. A cooler period occurs from June to August, during which average daily high temperatures remain below 28°C.^[21] Monthly data indicate highs ranging from about 28°C to 30°C and lows around 19°C to 20°C in warmer months, with slightly lower values in the dry winter period.^[22]

Demographics

Population trends

Tremedal tem apresentado uma tendência de declínio populacional nas últimas décadas, conforme os dados oficiais do IBGE. No Censo Demográfico de 2000, o município registrava 21.200 habitantes.^[23] Em 2010, o número caiu para 17.029 habitantes, o que representa uma redução de cerca de 19,7% em relação ao censo anterior.^[24] O Censo de 2022 apontou 16.296 habitantes, indicando uma queda adicional de aproximadamente 4,3% em relação a 2010.^[1] A estimativa populacional mais recente do IBGE é de 16.646 habitantes.^[1] Essa trajetória descendente reflete uma redução contínua ao longo do período coberto pelos censos disponíveis, com perdas mais acentuadas entre 2000 e 2010.

Density and distribution

Tremedal has a low population density of 8.11 inhabitants per square kilometer, according to the 2022 Demographic Census by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).^[1] This sparse density is typical of municipalities in Bahia's southwest region, where large territorial extensions support extensive rural land use with limited human settlement concentration. The population distribution is predominantly rural, with approximately 73.64% of residents living in rural areas—one of the higher rural proportions among Bahian municipalities—based on IBGE data.^[25] This rural predominance aligns with Tremedal's classification as a Rural Adjacente municipality in IBGE's rural-urban typology, indicating a primarily countryside-based settlement pattern with some adjacency to urban influences.^[26]

Human development indicators

The Human Development Index (IDHM) of Tremedal was 0.528 according to 2010 data, placing the municipality in the low human development category (below 0.550).^[1] This value is considerably below both the Bahia state average of 0.660 and the national Brazilian average of 0.727 for the same reference period.^[1] The IDHM is a composite indicator that measures average achievements in three basic dimensions of human development:

• Longevity (life expectancy at birth)
• Education (mean years of schooling and expected years of schooling)
• Income (gross national income per capita)

Tremedal's low IDHM reflects structural challenges in these dimensions typical of many rural municipalities in the semi-arid region of Bahia, where access to quality education, healthcare, and economic opportunities remains limited. No more recent official IDHM calculation for the municipality has been published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) or IBGE since the 2010-based Atlas do Desenvolvimento Humano.^[2]

Economy

Agriculture and livestock

Tremedal's economy is predominantly rural, with agriculture and livestock serving as the primary sources of livelihood for much of the population. Production systems in the municipality include mixed crop-livestock activities and temporary crops. A diagnostic study by Embrapa indicates that 25% of agricultural properties engage in mixed lavoura/pecuária (crop-livestock) systems, while 18% focus on temporary crops.^[27] Land use features significant areas of pasture and mosaic of agriculture, alongside savanna formations, supporting livestock production typical of the interior of Bahia.^[28] The municipality participates in official agricultural surveys tracking temporary and permanent crops, reflecting ongoing farming activities.^[29][30]

Other economic activities

The economy of Tremedal features limited secondary sector activities, while the tertiary sector is dominated by public administration and services in terms of formal employment and contribution to PIB. Public administration stands out as a major employer, with general public administration registering 548 formal workers, making it the leading source of formal employment in the municipality (data as of recent updates around 2025-2026).^[31] Commerce and other private services contribute on a smaller scale. Industrial and construction activities remain minimal, consistent with the rural profile of the region.^[31]

Economic indicators

Tremedal's economy remains modest in scale, typical of rural municipalities in Bahia's southwest region. According to data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), the per capita gross domestic product (PIB per capita) was R$ 10,626 as of 2023.^[1] The total gross domestic product (PIB) can be approximated at around R$ 173 million using the per capita figure and recent population estimates of approximately 16,300–16,600 inhabitants, reflecting the municipality's limited economic output. Earlier figures for 2021 show a total PIB of around R$ 134 million, according to compiled data.)

Government and politics

Municipal administration

The municipal administration of Tremedal is organized according to the principles of Brazilian municipal law, with executive power exercised by the prefeito and legislative power by the Câmara Municipal. The executive branch is headed by Prefeito José Carlos Vieira Bahia (known as Dr. Zé Bahia), affiliated with the AVANTE party, who was re-elected in the 2024 municipal elections with 58.77% of valid votes and took office in January 2025.^[32][33] He is supported by Vice-Prefeito Valdelício Viana dos Santos and a cabinet of municipal secretaries overseeing areas such as health, education, and public works.^[34] The legislative branch consists of the Câmara Municipal de Tremedal, composed of 11 vereadores elected for four-year terms. The chamber is responsible for approving municipal laws, the budget, and supervising the executive branch.^[33]

Political representation

Tremedal's political representation centers on municipal elections, where the mayor and city council (Câmara Municipal) are chosen through direct vote. In the 2024 municipal elections, José Carlos Vieira Bahia, known as Dr. Zé Bahia, was re-elected mayor representing the Avante party, securing 58.77% of the valid votes in the first round.^[35] He previously won the mayoral position in 2020 under the Podemos party with 46.30% of the votes.^[36] The Câmara Municipal de Tremedal comprises 11 vereadores, elected concurrently in 2024 for the 2025–2028 term, with results and party affiliations available via official Tribunal Superior Eleitoral sources and the municipal council's portal.^[33][37] As a small municipality in Bahia's southwest, Tremedal does not have dedicated seats in higher legislative bodies; it falls under statewide representation in the Assembleia Legislativa da Bahia (63 deputies) and Brazil's federal Chamber of Deputies (Bahia's 39 seats). Occasional acknowledgments of the municipality appear in state legislative records, such as motions commemorating its emancipation anniversary.^[9]

Infrastructure

Education

Education in Tremedal is primarily delivered through public municipal and state schools, serving the municipality's rural population with a focus on basic and fundamental education. The municipality maintains a network of schools that provide primary and secondary education, though infrastructure is limited due to the area's rural nature and large geographic extension of 2,017.659 km². Access to higher education typically requires residents to travel to larger neighboring cities or regional centers. Tremedal's low Human Development Index of 0.528 (2010 data) reflects challenges in educational indicators, including lower levels of school attendance and completion compared to state and national averages for Bahia. Literacy rates and mean years of schooling contribute to this ranking, highlighting the need for improved educational investment in the region.

Healthcare

The healthcare in Tremedal is provided through Brazil's public Unified Health System (SUS), with primary care as the main level of service in this rural municipality. Health indicators for the municipality are tracked and reported by national sources, including data on mortality and other metrics from the Ministry of Health. Infant mortality statistics are sourced from the Ministry of Health's DATASUS and published by IBGE, reflecting ongoing monitoring of health outcomes.^[1] Additional health characteristics, including structure of services, vaccinations, hospitalizations, births, and deaths, are documented in aggregated municipal data platforms.^[38] The municipality's low Human Development Index of 0.528 (2010) indicates broader developmental challenges, including in the health dimension.^[39]

Transportation

Transportation in Tremedal relies primarily on road infrastructure, with the state highway BA-263 serving as the main route providing access to the municipality and connecting it to neighboring areas such as Belo Campo and Piripá.^[40] This highway has been subject to maintenance and recovery efforts by the Bahia state government to address issues like erosion and improve traffic conditions.^[40] The municipality is located approximately 588 km from Salvador, the state capital, with road travel via state and federal highways being the primary means of connection to larger urban centers. Tremedal has a bus terminal that supports intermunicipal passenger transport services to regional destinations.^[41]

Culture

Traditions and heritage

Tremedal's traditions and heritage are centered on Catholic religious devotion and community-oriented celebrations typical of Bahia's southwestern sertão region. The most prominent tradition is the annual Festa do Glorioso Senhor do Bonfim, held in honor of the municipality's patron saint. Organized by the Paróquia Senhor do Bonfim, the festivities typically begin in early October and feature a novena with daily masses, thematic reflections on pilgrimage, faith, and devotion, as well as processions and communal gatherings that strengthen social bonds. These events blend religious observance with cultural expressions, drawing participation from residents and nearby communities.^[42] The festa includes special nights dedicated to cultural activities, where local presentations highlight regional folklore and community talent, reinforcing Tremedal's intangible cultural identity rooted in faith and collective heritage.^[42]

Municipal symbols

The official symbols of the municipality of Tremedal are the flag, the coat of arms, and the municipal hymn, which are representative of its culture and history.^[43] The Organic Law of the Municipality provides that the coat of arms shall be used on vehicles, official documents, and other representations of the municipal administration.^[43] The municipal hymn was instituted as the official anthem by Ordinary Law No. 67, dated December 13, 2021.^[44] The flag and coat of arms serve as the primary visual emblems of the municipality's identity and heritage.^[45]

Landmarks

Tremedal's landmarks primarily consist of religious sites and the surrounding rural landscapes, reflecting the municipality's modest size and agricultural character. The Igreja Matriz de Senhor do Bonfim stands as the principal religious landmark and community focal point in the town center. This church serves as the main place of worship for the Paróquia Senhor do Bonfim, hosting regular masses and acting as a center for religious and social activities in the municipality.^[46][47] The rural surroundings of Tremedal offer bucolic landscapes characterized by traditional agriculture and livestock areas, providing a tranquil environment for visitors interested in the region's natural and countryside setting rather than urban attractions.^[47]