Mercedes, Uruguay
Encyclopedia
Mercedes is the capital and largest city of the department
of Soriano
in Uruguay
. It 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.
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. Mercedes was founded in 1788 by the priest Manuel Antonio de Castro y Careaga with the name of Capilla Nueva de las Mercedes. Its status was elevated to "City" category on 6 July 1857 by decree Ley No. 531, becoming thus the capital of the department and replacing Villa Soriano
at it.
Its rambla (sea-side road) is one of the most beautiful and widest in the country.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay
Departments of Uruguay
||Uruguay consists of 19 departments :# Artigas . Formed in 1884 from part of Salto Department. The only department to border both Argentina in the west and Brazil in the north and east.# Canelones . One of the original 6 departments created in 1816...
of Soriano
Soriano Department
Soriano is a department of Uruguay. Its capital is Mercedes.-Population and Demographics:As of the census of 2004, there were 84,563 people and 26,105 households in the department. The average household size was 3.2...
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...
. It is located on the junction of Route 2
Route 2 (Uruguay)
Route 2 is a national route of Uruguay. In 1983, it was assigned the name Grito de Asencio. It connects Fray Bentos with Rosario. The road is approximately in length.-References:...
with Route 14, and is situated on the south bank of the Río Negro
Río Negro (Uruguay)
The Río Negro is the most important river in Uruguay. It originates in the southern highlands of Brazil, just east of Bagé, and flows west across the entire width of Uruguay to the Uruguay River. The course of the Río Negro across Uruguay effectively divides the south of the country from the north...
. Also Route 21 from 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...
of Colonia Department
Colonia Department
Colonia is a departamento in southwestern Uruguay. Its capital is Colonia del Sacramento, the country's second oldest city.-Economy:The region is the main producer of dairy products in Uruguay...
terminates in this city.
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. Mercedes was founded in 1788 by the priest Manuel Antonio de Castro y Careaga with the name of Capilla Nueva de las Mercedes. Its status was elevated to "City" category on 6 July 1857 by decree Ley No. 531, becoming thus the capital of the department and replacing Villa Soriano
Villa Soriano
Villa Soriano is a town in the Soriano Department of Uruguay. Historically, it was also known as Santo Domingo de Soriano. It is located on the northwest end of Route 96, on the south bank of the river Río Negro, before it discharges into Río Uruguay....
at it.
Its rambla (sea-side road) is one of the most beautiful and widest in the country.
Population
In 2004, it had a population of about 42,032| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1963 | 31,358 |
| 1975 | 34,512 |
| 1985 | 36,701 |
| 1996 | 39,320 |
| 2004 | 42,032 |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay