| Basavilbaso | |
|---|---|
| — Town — | |
|
Basavilbaso
|
|
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Argentina |
| Province | Entre Ríos |
| Department | Uruguay |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Blanca A. Rossi (Justicialist Party) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 9,354 |
| Time zone | ART (UTC-3) |
| CPA base | E3170 |
| Dialing code | +54 3445 |
Basavilbaso is a town in the center region of the province of Entre Ríos, Argentina, about 60 km (37 mi) from Concepción del Uruguay. It has about 9,400 inhabitants as per the 2001 census [INDEC]. Locals often shorten the name to Basso.
The town developed around the Gobernador Basavilbaso Station of the Ferrocarril Central Entrerriano railway company, which became part of Entre Ríos Railway in 1892. The first train arrived on 30 June 1887, and this is now regarded as the foundation date of Basavilbaso.
The town was first settled by Russian Jewish immigrants. Basavilbaso was the first Jewish colony in Argentina. These settlers formed the first agricultural cooperative in South America, called Lucienville. As "Jewish gauchos", they were recognized as the first to farm in an area where farming was nonexistent. Other groups began to settle in the town: Italians, Volga Germans, and Russians. [1]