Socorro´s history can be divided in seven periods:

- First Period:

It started in the sixteenth century and it lasted until 1738, when the colonization, by Simon de Toledo Pizza, began. At that time, the Indians who lived at the basins of the Peixe and Camanducaia rivers, after being repelled by the pioneers, have moved away to distant regions.

- Second period:

It started in 1738 and was extended until 1797. At that time, Socorro´s region was submitted to the parishioners and, after that, to the Atibaia village. At this time, the Bragança village was created and, lately, its name became just Bragança. Still in this period, Simon de Toledo Pizza was granted with an allotment, which later became the Campanha de Toledo district that gave rise to São José de Toledo village and to Socorro city.

- Third Period:

It goes from 1797 to 1883. It was characterized as Bragantino – Amparense, two distinct areas.At that time, Campanha de Toledo holds the main church, a chapel was built in honor of the saint Nossa Senhora do Perpétuo Socorro. In August 9th, the first Church service was realized. In this date, the city´s birthday is also celebrated.

On February 28th 1838, Socorro city was raised to the category of district and, later on, in March 24th 1871, it became a village. After all these events that happened in the history of our city, the fight between Bragança and Amparo started, in order to decide who would have the city´s possession. In April 21st 1873, Socorro city goes from Bragança to Amparo. However, in April 30th 1880, the city is returned, again, to Bragança, but not for a long time. In March 30th 1882, the city is one more time transferred to Amparo. 

- Fourth Period:

Socorro got its autonomy and, in this period, the main events, which contributed to the development of our city, happened. In March 17th 1883, Socorro was raised to the category of city and, in May 10th 1889, it was created the Comarca (district) that, in the same year, was elevated to the first instance. In this period, there was an estimated population of about 800 people in the urban area, according to statistics, without overpassing the 1.200 people in the whole city.

- Fifth Period:

It is remembered by the raise of Socorro status – as a city - to the condition of Sanitary Resort, which happened in April 24th 1945, thanks to the efforts of the State Governor, Fernando Costa. The economical base is the agriculture with emphasis in coffee and tobacco plantations and cattle creation.

- Sixth Period:

This period can be considered from 1960, when the current knitting network started to be outlined. Since 1973, it has been sold more than 9 thousand knitting machines, from the brands Elgin and Lanofix, which originated the small knitting business in the city. In 1978, Socorro gets the condition of Touristic Place and regains its political rights, starting to elect its mayor through direct pathways. Nowadays, Socorro has more than 400 knitting places.

Currently, what gives impulse to the economy is the tourism, with the increase of hotel chains and the arrival of rural and ecological tourism with places to fish, leisure centers and farm hotels. Besides that, the city offers the practice of adventure sports, such as rafting, water ride, cannoning, rappel, trekking, hang gliding, tricycle, mountain bike, motocross, among others.

Taking these considerations about Socorro, it is possible to say that the city has six different kinds of tourism: Adventure Sports, Shopping, Mineral Waters, Ecological, Rural and Historical.

- Seventh Period:

As mentioned above, a seventh period, which we can consider that started in 1997, with the arrival of Canoar Rafting e Expedições Company, operating rafting (inflatable boats that goes from 6 to 10 feet of length) in the Peixe River and also giving an initial start to Adventure Sports Tourism in Socorro.

Nowadays, Socorro has more than 15 different kinds of adventure sports and is one of the main places in São Paulo state for Ecotourism. In January 2002, the city hosted EMBRATUR´s workshop in order to help the Adventure Tourism planning, in the state of São Paulo.  Moreover, Socorro is also the main city for APPTA, which is an association pro adventure tourism of São Paulo (www.appta.tur.br).

- Eighth Period:

This period is characterized by preparing the city for the Tourism for all. Two projects developed here, the Adventurers Special and Socorro Affordable were chosen by the Ministry of Tourism as one of the ten tourism destinations reference in Brazil, in our case, the reference at segment Adventure Special.This situation has put in evidence in Socorro tourism market national and even international.

Projects:
Special Adventurers - Adapt adventure activities for people with disabilities or reduced mobility;
Safe Adventure - Empowering business adventure for the safe practice of adventure tourism;
Socorro Affordable - Adapt the city physically, private enterprise and empower people to be able to adequately serve persons with disabilities or reduced mobility.Socorro is chosen as Tourism

CITY´S HISTORICAL DATES

• Foundation date: August 9th, 1829
• City´s Birthday: August 9th
• Patroness (Saint): Nossa Senhora do Perpétuo Socorro. Her birthday is celebrated in August 15th .  
• Emancipation date: March 17th , 1983
• Socorro is given the condition of Sanitary Resort – 1945
• Socorro is given the condition of Tourism Resort – 1978
• Main character of the city´s creation: Simão de Toledo Pizza
• Main character of the city´s foundation: Capitão Roque de Oliveira Dorta 
• City´s name origin: it comes from the name of the patroness (Saint) – Nossa Senhora do Perpétuo Socorro
• Slogan: Socorro "Nature Ways"
• Destination in the Wor Special Adventure by Ministry of Tourism - 2010
  

Characters, important people of the city and the activities that have made them noticeable

1 - Dr. João Batista Gomes Ferraz – Alderman, Mayor, State Representative (the first inhabitant to assume this position), a Federal Representative and a member of the committee that built the Mausoleum of the Constitutionalist Soldier, in Ibirapuera district in São Paulo. He has also occupied lots of public roles during his life. 

2- Antonio Ferragutti (Toninho Ferragutti) – Musician and accordionist, internationally known, and one of the best in Brazil.

3- Poet Lino Guedes – An inhabitant that lived in Socorro for all his childhood, Lino died in 1951. He was son of Benedita, a slave from Cel. Olímpio house that, because of her kindness, used to live in freedom. He was also a very sensitive and gentle person. He has learned his first words in Socorro and in the school that used to study in Campinas, where he wrote for newspapers such as Diário and Correio Popular. After that, he moved to São Paulo and became a poet. He sings what he feels. He has written lots of poetry books and has famous verses, such as Sorrisos do Cativeiro (Smiles from Bondage), Urucungo, O canto do Cisne Negro (The song of the Black Swan), etc.

Find bellow a verse that shows his characteristics very well:

"Let´s go out this afternoon
Bring your little flip flops
And also that dress
That your Godmother gave to you,
Do not forget one thing:
Remind yourself of coming… alone"