Mercedes, Uruguay

Mercedes
Capital city
Mercedes

Location in Uruguay

Coordinates: 33°15′0″S 58°2′0″W / 33.25000°S 58.03333°WCoordinates: 33°15′0″S 58°2′0″W / 33.25000°S 58.03333°W
Country  Uruguay
Department Soriano Department
Founded 1788
Population (2011)
 • Total 41,974
 • Demonym mercedario,-a
Time zone UTC -3
Postal code 75000
Dial plan +598 453 (+5 digits)

Mercedes (Spanish pronunciation: [merˈseðes]) is the capital and largest city of the department of Soriano in Uruguay. As of the census of 2011, it is the tenth most populated city of the country.

Mercedes is an important centre of commerce and a commercial port. Its main industries are based on agriculture, dairy products, paper manufacturing and industrial activities. Its rambla (riverside promenade) is one of the widest in the country.

Location

The city is located on the junction of Route 2 with Route 14, and is situated on the south bank of the Río Negro. Also Route 21 from Colonia del Sacramento of Colonia Department terminates in this city.

History

Mercedes was founded in 1788 by the priest Manuel Antonio de Castro y Careaga with the name of Capilla Nueva de las Mercedes. It had acquired the status of "Villa" (town) before the Independence of Uruguay. On 6 July 1857, its status was elevated to "Ciudad" (city) and it was designated as capital of Soriano, one of the nine original departments of the Republic at the time, by the Act of Ley Nº 531. Previously, the capital of the department had been Villa Soriano.[1]

Population

In 2011, it had a population of about 41,974[2]

Year Population
1908 15,667
1963 31,325
1975 34,518
1985 36,701
1996 39,320
2004 42,032
2011 41,174

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay[1]

Places of worship

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Statistics of urban localities (1908–2004)" (PDF). INE. 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  2. ↑ "Censos 2011 Cuadros Soriano". INE. 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.

External links