Santo Antônio

The State of Santo Antônio (Estado de Santo Antonio; Sankt Anton) is one of the eleven states of the Republic of Formosa. It is the southernmost state within Formosa, and is bordered to the North by the the states of Maceió, Sacramento and Carolina, to the south by the Araucarian regions of Juju, Llano, and Botanica, and to the east by the Cordovan region of Austral. With an area of ??? km2 and a population of 5,570,874, Santo Antônio is the # largest state and # most populous in the Baliscan Confederation.

The territory was split from Maceió in 1845, and was officially granted statehood on 12 March 1846; it subsequently became an attractive destination for European migrants, especially Austrians and Germans, who were encouraged to migrate to the region by generous government promises of land, autonomy and religious freedom.

Today, Santo Antônio is distinctive for its largely German-descended population and strong social welfare system, as well as for being the only Protestant-majority state in the Baliscan Confederation. The state's economy relies mainly on professional and business services, industry, and agriculture, which developed faster than the remainder of the Confederation. Santo Antônio is also renowned for its Germanic architecture and cultural festivities (such as Oktoberfest) and as a popular destination for retirees.