The literal translation is "Saint Joseph of the Black River". The city's name origin comes from the fact that Saint Joseph ("São José") is the patron saint of the city, and the "Rio Preto" (Black river) cuts the city lands. A wooden sculpture of Saint Joseph wearing boots belongs to the city cathedral and no one knows for sure where it came from, but it has been in the city since it was a village in the 19th century, part of the city of Araraquara.