Cardoso Moreira (Portuguese pronunciation: [kɐʁˈdozu moˈɾe(j)ɾɐ]) is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro.

The Puris Indians, remnants of the Goitacá, who had been pursued by the Portuguese, are believed to have escaped successive migrations across the Muriaé River and taken shelter in the mission of the Franciscan priests.

Commander José Cardoso Moreira, in addition to making large investments in his lands, also made, as was customary at the time, several contributions to benefit the locality, becoming a major railroad shareholder.

The development brought about by the autonomy of its former neighboring district was witnessed, and in Cardoso Moreira, an emancipationist movement emerged, made official in 1986.

On July 31, 1988, the referral plebiscite finally reached the population of Cardoso Moreira, at the time called as "Dia do Sim".