Minas, Uruguay

Minas
Capital city
Minas
Coordinates: 34°22′0″S 55°14′0″W / 34.36667°S 55.23333°W / -34.36667; -55.23333Coordinates: 34°22′0″S 55°14′0″W / 34.36667°S 55.23333°W / -34.36667; -55.23333
Country  Uruguay
Department Lavalleja
Founded 1783
Area
 • Total 8.2 km2 (3.2 sq mi)
Elevation 140 m (460 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 38,446
 • Density 4,745/km2 (12,290/sq mi)
 • Demonym minuano
Time zone UTC -3
Postal code 30000
Dial plan +598 444 (+5 digits)
Climate Cfa
Website lavalleja.gub.uy

Minas is the capital of the Lavalleja Department in Uruguay. As of the census of 2011, it is the twelfth-most populated city in the country.

Location

The city is located in the south of the department, on the intersection of Route 8 with Route 12.

Geography

It is situated between hill ranges and the basins of the streams Arroyo San Francisco and Arroyo Campanero.

History

A town was founded here in 1783 as "Villa de la Concepcion de las Minas", when a number of families from the Asturias and Galicia regions of Spain settled in the area following a frustrated attempt to populate Patagonia. The idea of a city in the area was first raised in 1753 by Jose Joaquin de Viana, the governor of Montevideo, who wanted to create a population centre in "the zones of the mines". He commissioned Rafael Perez Del Puerto to design the layout of the city, the basis of which remains in place today.

By a decree of 8 October 1830, its status was of "Villa" (town) and on 16 June 1837, by decree Ley Nº 158, it became the capital of the "Department of Minas". On 16 May 1888, its status was elevated to "Ciudad" (city) by decree Ley Nº 1.980. On 26 December 1927, after the renaming of the department, it became the capital of the "Department of Lavalleja" by decree Ley Nº 8.187.[1]

Population

According to the 2011 census, the censual area of Minas had a population of 38,446.[2][3]
The following areas are considered by some as part of the Minas urban area:

As a result, the total population of the Minas area can be said to be 38,909.

Year Population
1908 13,345
1963 31,256
1975 35,225
1985 34,658
1996 37,146
2004 37,925
2011 38,446

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay[1]

Features

In the city

In the northeast part of the city there is the big Parque Rodó which contains a zoological garden, a public open air swimming pool, an area for picnics and a small football field. At the east end of the city is the hill and park Cerro Artigas containing a mounted statue of the 19th-century Uruguayan hero General José Artigas.

Surrounding area

The Parque Salto del Penitente lies 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) east of the city, 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) to the west-southwest is Parque Salus and 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) to the southeast is the Parque de Vacaciones UTE-ANTEL, a park for the vacations of the employees of the Uruguayan Electricity Company and the Uruguayan Telecommunications Company. Villa Serrana is a scenic village located in the hills, about 25 kilometres (16 mi) northeast of Minas.

Places of worship

Famous people

It is the birthplace of:

Twin towns

References

  1. 1 2 "Statistics of urban localities (1908–2004)" (PDF). INE. 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  2. ↑ "Censos 2011 Cuadros Lavalleja". INE. 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  3. ↑ "Censos 2011 Lavalleja". INE. 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  4. ↑ Verdun Sanctuary (Spanish)
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