Colonia is a departamento

Departamento

Departamento is the Spanish term for a department.As country subdivision it can be found in several countries of Latin America....

in southwestern Uruguay

Uruguay

Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...

. Its capital is Colonia del Sacramento

Colonia del Sacramento

Colonia del Sacramento is a city in southwestern Uruguay, by the Río de la Plata, facing Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is the oldest town in Uruguay and capital of the departamento of Colonia. It has a population of around 22,000.It is renowned for its historic quarter, a World Heritage Site...

, the country's second oldest city.

Economy

The region is the main producer of dairy products in Uruguay

Uruguay

Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...

. Its proximity to Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...

 makes it the
main entry point for tourists coming from Argentina

Argentina

Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...

 into Uruguay

Uruguay

Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...

, usually by crossing the Río de la Plata.

Population and Demographics

As of the census of 2004, there were 119,266 people and 40,243 households in the department. The average household size was 3.2. For every 100 females, there were 96.7 males.

• Population growth rate: 0.448% (2004)
• Birth Rate: 15.05 births/1,000 people (2004)
• Death Rate: 9.97 deaths/1,000 people
• Average age: 33.5 (32.5 Males, 34.6 Females)
• Life Expectancy at Birth (2004):
  • Total population: 76.57 years
  • Male: 72.68 years
  • Female: 80.61 years
• Average Family Size: 2.19 children/woman
• Urban per capita income (cities of 5,000 inhabitants or more): 4,385.6 pesos/month

Main Urban Centres

Population stated as per 2004 census.

City / Town	Population
Colonia del Sacramento Colonia del Sacramento Colonia del Sacramento is a city in southwestern Uruguay, by the Río de la Plata, facing Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is the oldest town in Uruguay and capital of the departamento of Colonia. It has a population of around 22,000.It is renowned for its historic quarter, a World Heritage Site...	21.714
Carmelo Carmelo Carmelo is a city located in the department of Colonia of western Uruguay. Route 21 passes through the city, joining it with Nueva Palmira to the northwest and Colonia del Sacramento to the southeast. Carmelo is noted for its wineries.-History:...	16,866
Juan Lacaze Juan Lacaze Juan Lacaze, or Juan L. Lacaze, is a city located in southwestern Uruguay, within the Colonia Department. Its status was elevated to "City" category on 8 May 1953 by decree Ley No. 11.934.- Geography :...	13,196
Nueva Helvecia Nueva Helvecia Nueva Helvecia is a city in the southeastern part of Colonia Department of Uruguay. It is located on the intersection of Routes 52 and 53, about west of Montevideo and north of Colonia Valdense. Its status was elevated to "City" category on 11 December 1952 by decree Ley No...	10,002
Rosario Rosario, Uruguay Rosario , also known as Rosario Oriental, Villa del Rosario, or Rosario del Colla, is a small city located within the Colonia Department, in southern Uruguay. It is located on the south end of Route 2, about north of its intersection with Route 1...	9,311
Nueva Palmira Nueva Palmira Nueva Palmira is a city in Colonia Department in south-western Uruguay. It is located on the east bank of Uruguay River, about northwest of the departmental capital Colonia del Sacramento.-Population:In 2004, it had a population of 9,230....	9,230
Tarariras Tarariras Tarariras, also known as Joaquín Suárez, is a town in the south of the Colonia Department of southern Uruguay. It is located on the junction of Route 50 with Route 22, about north of the later's junction with Route 1, which is east-northeast of Colonia del Sacramento, the capital city of the...	6,070
Florencio Sánchez Florencio Sánchez, Uruguay Florencio Sánchez is a town of the Colonia Department of southwestern Uruguay. It is located on the junction of Route 2 with Route 12, and is named after the Uruguayan writer and politician Florencio Sánchez. Its status was elevated to "Pueblo" category on 2 November 1929 by decree Ley No. 8.482...	3,526
Ombues de Lavalle Ombúes de Lavalle Ombúes de Lavalle is a small town located in the north of Colonia Department in southwestern Uruguay. It is located near the border with the Soriano Department on Route 55, south of its intersection with Route 12, west-southwest of Cardona and east of Nueva Palmira.- Origin of name :The town is...	3,451
Colonia Valdense Colonia Valdense Colonia Valdense is a town located in southwestern Uruguay, within the Colonia Department. It is home to around 3,100 people. It lies along Route 1.- History :Colonia Valdense was founded in 1856, following the arrival of Italian immigrants from Piedmont...	3,087

Other towns and villages

Town / Village	Population
Miguelete Miguelete, Uruguay Miguelete or Colonia Miguelete is a town in the Colonia Department of southwestern Uruguay. It is located on Route 106, a small distance south of its intersection with Route 54, about north-northeast of the department capital Colonia del Sacramento. Its status was elevated to "Pueblo" category...	979
Conchillas Conchillas Conchillas is a small industrial town located within the Colonia Department, in southwestern Uruguay.- Geography :Conchillas is located in southwestern Colonia, near the Arroyo Conchillas. It has coasts over the Río de la Plata. Colonia del Sacramento, the capital city of the department and one of...	756
La Paz La Paz, Uruguay La Paz is a small city in the Canelones Department, southern Uruguay. It is located east of Route 5 on the border with Montevideo Department. It belongs to the wider Montevideo Metropolitan Area.- History :...	653
El Semillero El Semillero El Semillero is a caserío in the Colonia Department of southwestern Uruguay. It is located on Route 50, half way between its junction with Route 1 and the small town of Tarariras...	523

Rural population

According to the 2004 census, Colonia department has an additional rural poulation of 16,545.

External links

• INE map of Colonia Department