Santo Antônio do Rio Abaixo is a Brazilian municipality located in the state of Minas Gerais. The city belongs to the mesoregion of Belo Horizonte and to the microregion of Conceição do Mato Dentro. The estimated population in 2010 was 1777 inhabitants.HistorySanto Antônio do Rio Abaixo came about with its clusters of houses occupying a space between the rough edges of an auriferous river and the slopes of small hills. The expedition that founded Santo Antônio do Rio Abaixo consisted of families of Portuguese explorers Duarte and Alvarenga. The pioneers started mining gold in the lands of the Morro Grande Farm, building, on the right bank of a river, a chapel to St. Anthony and also their huts, thus forming a small village. Because it was built following the currents of water, it was named Santo Antônio do Rio Abaixo. Later, it increased to a town and became a district of Conceição do Mato Dentro, on January 4, 1875. Emancipated on March 1, 1963.FoundationIn 1695, the pioneer Borba Gato discovers gold in Sabara. Then, Borba Gato explores the Santo Antônio river in the city of Ferros, where fixed residence (town Borba Gato). With it, other explorers came and were found in abundance, alluvial gold in the Santo Antônio river, secure residences in its right edge, giving rise to the camp of Santo Antônio do Rio Abaixo. In the year 1787, with a population fixed the River St. Anthony, estimated upwards of 400 people, José Ferreira Santiago, asked Queen Maria I of Portugal permission to raise a chapel which would serve him and his neighbours. His request was accepted on March 10, 1788.