San José de Mayo

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San José de Mayo is an Uruguayan city, capital of San José Department. As of 2004, the official population was 36,339.

San José de Mayo is located in the center of the department of San José, on the right bank of the San José River. Located at kilometre 96 of the Montevideo-Colonia railway and at the intersection of Uruguayan Routes 3 and 11, besides being a political-administrative departmental capital, it is an active regional commercial and financial center (linked especially to cattle ranching), and an agro-industrial center for dairy, packing houses, mills, and chemicals.

Founded June 1, 1783, during the 19th century it became a commercial and cultural center, known as "Montevideo chico" ("little Montevideo") and was elevated to the category of a city July 12, 1856, culminating at the turn of the 20th century with the construction of the Teatro Macció.

People from San José de Mayo are known by the Spanish language demonym "maragato/maragata".

Evolution of the population
Year City Agglomerated area
1963 27,482 27,482
1975 28,424 28,616
1985 31,825 32,195
1996 34,927 35,675
2000 36,129 37,032

Coordinates: 34°20′S, 56°43′W