| Conchillas | |
|---|---|
| — Town — | |
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Conchillas
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Uruguay |
| Department | Colonia Department |
| Population (2004) | |
| • Total | 756 |
| Time zone | UTC -3 |
| Postal code | 70004 |
| Area code(s) | +598 4577 |
Conchillas (Spanish pronunciation: [kontʃi'ʒas]) is a small industrial town located within the Colonia Department, in southwestern Uruguay.
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Conchillas is located in southwestern Colonia, near the Arroyo Conchillas. It has coasts over the Río de la Plata. Colonia del Sacramento, the capital city of the department and one of the oldest European settlements in present-day Uruguay, lies 50 km to the southeast. Carmelo, another important resort located near the Uruguay River, lies 40 km to the northwest.
The town is said to have been founded by the English at the turn of the 19th century. It soon became an important place for the exploitation of mineral resources. The English created a factory, founded two cemeteries, and established an Anglican Church. It is also believed that they kept their own currency for economic transactions, which was widely accepted in the rest of the country.[1]
However, with the outbreak of the Second World War, Conchillas was sold to two Uruguayan enterpreneurs who introduced a series of modifications. Today, the English influence and that resulted from the arrival of numerous European settlers, is mainly evident in the architecture of Conchillas rather than in the way of life of its inhabitants.[1]
According to the 2004 census, Conchillas had a population of 756.[2]
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1963 | 825 |
| 1975 | 755 |
| 1985 | 727 |
| 1996 | 784 |
| 2004 | 756 |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay[3]
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