Cruz del Eje
| Cruz del Eje | |
|---|---|
| City | |
 | |
  Cruz del Eje | |
| Coordinates: 30°44′S 64°48′W / 30.733°S 64.800°WCoordinates: 30°44′S 64°48′W / 30.733°S 64.800°W | |
| Country |
 Argentina |
| Province | Córdoba |
| Department | Cruz del Eje |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Francisco Alberto Esteban (Radical Civic Union) |
| Elevation | 449 m (1,473 ft) |
| Population (2012) | |
| • Total | 29,337 |
| Time zone | ART (UTC-3) |
| CPA base | X5280 |
| Dialing code | +54 3549 |
| Website | Official website |
Cruz del Eje is a city in the province of Córdoba, Argentina. It has about 28,000 inhabitants as of the 2001 census [INDEC]. It is the head town of the department of the same name, which has a population of about 52,000.
The area of the city was originally inhabited by Comechingón aboriginals, which were thoroughly displaced or exterminated by the Spanish conquistadores by the end of the 17th century. The first official owner of the lands was Francisco de Baigorri, as recorded on September 22, 1735, which is taken as the foundation date of the city.
 The Arturo Illia Museum |
The settlement was linked by a road to the provincial capital, Córdoba, in 1878, and it was declared a municipality on May 8, 1890; at the time it had about 4,000 inhabitants. On the latter year the train station was also opened. Cruz del Eje's position as a railroad node would lead to a rapid growth in importance; the railway workshops were dismantled in the 1970s. The Cruz del Eje Reservoir, initiated by Governor Amadeo Sabattini, was completed in 1943. The city grew subsequently as a tourist destination.
President Arturo Illia maintained a medical practice in Cruz del Eje from 1928 until his election as President of Argentina in 1963. President Illia's Cruz del Eje home was made a museum in 2003.
References
- Municipal information: Municipal Affairs Federal Institute (IFAM), Municipal Affairs Secretariat, Ministry of Interior, Argentina. (Spanish)