Conchillas

Conchillas
Town
Conchillas

Location within Uruguay

Coordinates: 34°9′52″S 58°1′58″W / 34.16444°S 58.03278°W
Country  Uruguay
Department Colonia Department
Population (2011)
  Total 401
Time zone UTC -3
Postal code 70004
Dial plan +598 4577 (+4 digits)

Conchillas (locally: [konˈtʃiʒas]) is a small industrial town located within the Colonia Department, in southwestern Uruguay.

Location

The town is located on the coast of Río de la Platanear the stream Arroyo Conchillas, 50 kilometres (31 mi) northwest of Colonia del Sacramento, the capital city of the department, and 40 kilometres (25 mi) southeast of Carmelo.

History

The town is said to have been founded by the English on 24 October 1887.[1] 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.[2]

However, with the outbreak of the Second World War, Conchillas was sold to two Uruguayan entrepreneurs who introduced a series of modifications. Today, the English influence 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.[2]

On 21 December 1955, the status of the localities known as "Conchillas y Gil" was elevated to "Pueblo" (village) under the common name "Conchillas" by the Act of Nº Ley 12.254.[3]

Population

According to the 2011 census, Conchillas had a population of 756.[1]

Year Population
1908 3,149
1963 825
1975 755
1985 727
1996 784
2004 756
2011 401*

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay[4]
* In the 2011 census the population of the Pueblo Gil censual area (309 inh.) was counted separately from Conchillas.

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Censos 2011 Colonia (needs flash plugin)". ΙΝΕ. 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  2. 2.0 2.1 History of Conchillas (Spanish)
  3. "Ley Nº 12.254". República Oriental del Uruguay, Poder Legislativo. 1955. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  4. "Statistics of urban localities (1908–2004)" (PDF). INE. 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.

External links