Goiânia, city in south central Brazil, capital of Goiás State, situated on a plateau near the Meia Ponte River. A planned modern city, Goiânia is an administrative center. Grain, livestock, and coffee are produced in the area, and nickel, titanium, chromium, and diamonds are mined. A railroad connects the city with Brasília and the coast. Goiânia is the site of the Federal University of Goiás (1960) and the Catholic University of Goiás (1959). First laid out in 1933, the city succeeded Goiás as state capital in 1937, and it was formally inaugurated as such in 1942. Population (1996 estimate) 1,004,098.
