Rio Grande da Serra (Great River of the Mountain Chain) is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil.

[3] The earliest date recorded in the history of Rio Grande da Serra is May 26, 1560 when land was allotted in Jeribatiba, the third village developed by the Jesuits.

To meet local needs, salt had to be brought from the port of São Vicente up to the Alto da Serra highlands via the village now known as Paranapiacaba.

Salt was transported along the so-called Caminho do Mar (sea road) to Alto da Serra, also locally known as Zanzaláh.

One of the Jesuits who died on this route was buried with a wooden cross which in 1611 was converted into a chapel, now known as the Capela de São Sebastião.

[4][5] In 1840, General Antônio Manuel de Melo built a ranch on the road from Mogi das Cruzes to São Paulo.

In 1927, São Paulo municipality acquired Pedreira, a suburb of Rio Grande, bringing new factories with opportunities for employment.

Between 1930 and 1954 many small scale industries, extensive housing facilities, marketing centers and factories manufacturing all types of goods were set up.

[4][5] Population growth in Rio Grande da Serra was slow until the mid-1970s, when there was an influx of migrants, mostly miners which has lasted until today, although the increase is now falling.

Rio Grande da Serra is one of the 39 municipalities (Prefeituras) in the state of São Paulo under the federal government of Brazil.

It is named after Asa White Kenney Billings, the United States hydroelectric engineer who was instrumental in building it.

In addition to Rio Grande da Serra and São Paulo, the Billings sub-basin includes Diadema, Ribeirao Pires, Santo Andre, and Sao Bernardo do Campo.

[15] In 1931, the city of São Paulo signed an agreement with Light & Power to provide energy and extend the operation of the quarry.

[15] The distinctive light blue and white Our Lady of Grace Chapel (Igreja Nossa Senhora das Graças), accessed via a steep flight of steps, was established in 1949.