In ca. 1866, Colonel William Hutchinson Norris and his son, Robert, of Perry County, Alabama, went to Brazil in response to Don Pedro II's, Emperor of Brazil, invitation for Confederates to settle there. They purchased a five hundred acre tract of land on the undeveloped Machadinho Estate near Santa Barbara D'Oeste in San Paulo State. The experiment was successful and other Confederates joined them. When the railroad in San Paulos was completed (1870's), the Confederates began building homes close to it. The Brazilians referred to this area as Villa Americana. It was incorporated as such (1900), but changed later to Americana (1938).
From the description of Americana (Brazil) Oral History Project collection, 1978. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 173863156
