chapéu mangueira is thought to have began its existence in around the first decade of the 20th century as people migrated from various parts of the city in the hopes of securing work with the duque de caxias (duke of caxias) in leme.

up until the 1930s, the area experienced very little trade and consequently accrued limited economic value - however, from the start of the 1940s there was a great influx of migrants from surrounding states, such as pernambuco, paraíba and espírito santo, who were hunting for better vocational prospects, and hoped that the growing metropolis would afford them a better way of life.

the origin of the name is rather comical - a sign posted to the hill ascent  stated: 'soon at this site, mangueira hat factory' - in reality, the factory was to be built on a different mountain, but the name remained.