São Carlos is a city located in the North-central region of the Brazilian state of São Paulo. It is located about 250km Northwest of the capital city of São Paulo.
The area that is now São Carlos was first settled by Portuguese settlers while looking for gold in 1831, becoming an offical village in 1865, and a city in 1880.
The area of the city is located within the Paraná Basin, a large area of sedimentary formations that range in age from 450 million to 65 million years ago.
São Carlos is named after Saint Carlos Borromeo; an Italian cardinal and Catholic saint who was named the patron saint of the city. São Carlos was named on 4 November 1857, on the Feast of Saint Carlos.