La Paz, Canelones

{{Infobox settlement

|official_name = La Paz

|other_name =

|settlement_type = City & Municipality

|image_skyline =

|imagesize =

|image_caption =

|pushpin_map = Uruguay

|pushpin_map_caption = Location within Uruguay

|subdivision_type = Country

|subdivision_name = {{flag|Uruguay}}

|subdivision_type1 = Department

|subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Canelones}}

|established_title = Founded

|established_date = 1872

|founder =

|population_as_of = 2011 Census

|population_total = 20524

|population_density_km2 =

|area_total_km2 =

|timezone = UTC -3

|coordinates = {{coord|34|45|42|S|56|13|24|W|region:UY-CA|display=inline}}

|elevation_m = 50

|postal_code_type = Postal code

|postal_code = 90100

|area_code_type = Dial plan

|area_code = +598 2 (+7 digits)

|website =

}}

La Paz is a small city in the Canelones Department, southern Uruguay. It gives the name to the municipality to which it belongs.

Geography

The city is located {{convert|2.5|km}} 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, 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, while on 19 December 1957 it was further elevated to "Ciudad" (city) by the Act of Ley Nº 12.477.{{cite web |url=http://www0.parlamento.gub.uy/leyes/AccesoTextoLey.asp?Ley=12477 |title=Ley Nº 12.477 |publisher=República Oriental del Uruguay, Poder Legislativo |year=1957 |accessdate=9 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304105031/http://www0.parlamento.gub.uy/leyes/AccesoTextoLey.asp?Ley=12477 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.observa.com.uy/Municipales2010/nota.aspx?id=96430&ex=33&ar=1&fi=39 |title=ELECCIONES - Canelones |publisher=El Observador |accessdate=2 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312024255/http://www.observa.com.uy/Municipales2010/nota.aspx?id=96430&ex=33&ar=1&fi=39 |archivedate=12 March 2012 }}

Population

According to the 2011 census, La Paz has a population of 20,524.{{cite web|url=http://www.ine.gub.uy/censos2011/resultadosfinales/cuadros/NIVEL%20DEPARTAMENTAL/Canelones/P_3_CAN.xls |title=Censos 2011 Cuadros Canelones |year=2012 |publisher=INE |accessdate=25 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010041513/http://www.ine.gub.uy/censos2011/resultadosfinales/cuadros/NIVEL%20DEPARTAMENTAL/Canelones/P_3_CAN.xls |archivedate=10 October 2012 }} In 2010, the Intendencia de Canelones had estimated a population of 23,500 for the municipality during the elections.

File:MunCanLaPaz.svg

class="wikitable" style="line-height:1.1em;"

! Year

Population
align="right"

| 1908

2,505
align="right"

| 1963

13,226
align="right"

| 1975

14,653
align="right"

| 1985

16,209
align="right"

| 1996

19,547
align="right"

| 2004

19,832
align="right"

| 2011

20,524

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay{{cite web|url=http://www.ine.gub.uy/biblioteca/toponimico/Categorizaci%F3n%20localidades%20urbanas%20orden%20alfab%E9tico.pdf |title=Statistics of urban localities (1908–2004) |publisher=INE |year=2012 |format=PDF |accessdate=9 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150323054815/http://www.blayney.nsw.gov.au/ArticleDocuments/329/3h%20-%20Hobbys%20Yards%20Heritage%20Items.pdf.aspx |archivedate=23 March 2015 }}

Places of worship

Government

The city mayor as of July 2010 is Juan Tons.[http://www.ci.gub.uy/home/home/index.php?menu=sub1_13&t=secciones&secc=225 "MUNICIPIOS DE URUGUAY" at the Intendents' Congress website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308153806/http://www.ci.gub.uy/home/home/index.php?menu=sub1_13&t=secciones&secc=225 |date=2012-03-08 }} {{in lang|es}}

References

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