Poá is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The water extracted from Fonte Áurea, or the Golden Fountain, is sold throughout Brazil. The population is 118,349 (2020 est.) in an area of 17.26 km².
Poá is one of eleven municipalities considered spa towns (Estancia Hidromineral) by the state of São Paulo, by fulfilling certain prerequisites set by state law. This status ensures that these municipalities more money from the state to promote regional tourism and beyond that the city acquired the right to add the title "Estancia Hidromineral" to its name, term by which is designated by both the municipal expedient as the official state references. Poá's economy is mainly service-focused, since the installation of polluting industries has been banned since 1970, the year it became a spa town. Territory wise, is one of the smallest municipalities in the state of São Paulo (only bigger than Aguas de São Pedro and São Caetano do Sul). Verticalization in the city center is discouraged in order to preserve the small-town atmosphere of the city, with narrow streets and the preservation of several old buildings. The council is not the richest in the region, but still outperforms its neighbors in several social indicators, thus signaling that the economic growth of Poá is more equal and sustainable than in other cities, and that its population has better quality of life due to public facilities (schools, parks and health units). In indexes like the human development index, the child development index and the index of development of basic education, Poá surpasses all municipalities. In 2007 it was considered one of the safest cities of São Paulo, specifically the 5th, behind only São Caetano do Sul, Barueri, Caieiras and Mogi das Cruzes.
