La Paz, Canelones

La Paz is a small city in the Canelones Department, southern Uruguay.

La Paz
City & Municipality
La Paz
Location within Uruguay
Coordinates: 34°45′42″S 56°13′24″W
Country Uruguay
Department Canelones
Founded1872
Elevation
50 m (160 ft)
Population
 (2011 Census)
 • Total20,524
Time zoneUTC -3
Postal code
90100
Dial plan+598 2 (+7 digits)

La Paz is also the name of the municipality to which the city belongs.

Location

The city is located 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) east of Route 5 on the border with Montevideo Department. It belongs to the wider Montevideo Metropolitan Area.

History

The first Spanish inhabitants settled here in 1758, when the land was distributed to settlers for development. The railroad arrived here in 1868. The village of La Paz was founded on 28 February 1872,[1] its name as a homage to the "Revolution of the Lances" (1870-1872). At the time it was a middle-class resort. The only Jewish cemetery of the country was created here in 1917.

On 15 May 1925, its status was elevated to "Villa" (town) by the Act of Ley Nº 7.837,[1] while on 19 December 1957 it was further elevated to "Ciudad" (city) by the Act of Ley Nº 12.477.[2]

The area was known for its vineyards, wine cellars and agroindustry. There were marble and granite quarries, used for the development of Montevideo and Buenos Aires, in Argentina. These quarries brought many Italian immigrants to the area. The exploitation of granite is still active. The city is also known for its meat industry.[3]

Population

According to the 2011 census, La Paz has a population of 20,524.[4] In 2010, the Intendencia de Canelones had estimated a population of 23,500 for the municipality during the elections.[3]

Location map of the Municipality of La Paz
YearPopulation
19082,505
196313,226
197514,653
198516,209
199619,547
200419,832
201120,524

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay[1]

Places of worship
  • Nuestra Señora de La Paz, La Paz Church (Roman Catholic)

Government

The city mayor as of July 2010 is Juan Tons.[5]

References
  1. "Statistics of urban localities (1908–2004)". INE. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 March 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  2. "Ley Nº 12.477". República Oriental del Uruguay, Poder Legislativo. 1957. Archived from the original on 28 December 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  3. "ELECCIONES - Canelones". El Observador. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  4. "Censos 2011 Cuadros Canelones". INE. 2012. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  5. "MUNICIPIOS DE URUGUAY" at the Intendents' Congress website Archived 2012-03-08 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
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