Mercedes, Buenos Aires

Mercedes

Coat of arms
Mercedes

Location in Argentina

Mercedes

Location in Buenos Aires Province

Coordinates: 34°39′S 59°26′W / 34.650°S 59.433°WCoordinates: 34°39′S 59°26′W / 34.650°S 59.433°W
Country  Argentina
Province Buenos Aires
Partido Mercedes
Founded June 25, 1752
Elevation 38 m (125 ft)
Population (2001 census [INDEC])
 • Total 51,967
CPA Base B 6600
Area code(s) +54 02324

Mercedes (Spanish pronunciation: [merˈseðes]) is a city in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. It is located 100 km west from Buenos Aires and 30 km southwest of Luján. It is the head town of the district (partido) of Mercedes as well as of the judicial district. The Catedral Basílica de Mercedes-Luján, located in the city, is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mercedes-Luján.

It has a population of 51,967 people (51,5% women, 48,5% men) as per the 2001 census [INDEC].

History

Mercedes was first established as a fortress against native attacks. Its original name was "La Guardia de Luján" and it was one of several fortress built in the borders of Buenos Aires to protect this city and gather the people living in the county near.

It became a town on 25 June 1752 when founded by José de Zárate during a military campaign known as "La Valerosa". In 1777 viceroy Pedro de Cevallos proposed moving the town, but actually it was moved to its present location by viceroy Juan José de Vértiz on 8 May 1779. When moved its name was changed to "Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes".

Mercedes is one of the few towns in Argentina in which three different railways meet, thus been connected with large commercial areas as Buenos Aires as well as the Pacific Ocean, the Andes range and the pampas plains. This was a powerful reason during the 19th century for proposing the city as the capital of Buenos Aires Province. Finally La Plata became capital, but Mercedes became known as the "West Pearl".

The large gothic cathedral Basílica Catedral Nuestra Señora de Mercedes can be found on San Martín square, also the location of the italianate Palacio Municipal (city hall) and numerous cafés and restaurants. A library founded by President Domingo Faustino Sarmiento is located a few streets away.

Popular culture

On the outskirts of Mercedes there is an old pulpería or rural bar and store, institutions which enjoy mythical status in gaucho culture. Known as "lo de Cacho" (Cacho's), it claims to be the last pulpería of the Pampas and retains the atmosphere of 1850, the year it opened. There is an original wanted poster for the outlaw Juan Moreira and reminders of gauchos, their culture and knife fights.

There is an old war memorial called "La Cruz de Palo". It is a wooden cross remembering where the last of the native attacks to Mercedes took place on 27 October 1823.

Mercedes is known for its peaches and salami, been the venue for the National Peach Fair (Fiesta Nacional del Durazno) as well as the National Salami Fair (Fiesta Nacional del Salame Quintero). Both fairs have their own queen elected each year.

Miscellanea

Mercedes has been the birthplace of several football players, musicians, writers and journalists. Nevertheless, it is most known as the town where ephemeral president Héctor José Cámpora was born as well as dictator Jorge Rafael Videla.

The city was organized by a-hundred-meters-long square blocks (as a Roman castra). The streets are numbered with even numbers from South to North and with odd numbers from East to West. Thus, is really easy to orient, find addresses and calculate distances along the city.

Gallery

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mercedes (Buenos Aires).