Mercedes, Uruguay

Mercedes
—  Capital city  —
Mercedes Location in Uruguay
Coordinates: 33°15′0″S 58°1′55″W / 33.25°S 58.03194°W / -33.25; -58.03194Coordinates: 33°15′0″S 58°1′55″W / 33.25°S 58.03194°W / -33.25; -58.03194
Country	Uruguay
Department	Soriano Department
Population (2004)
– Total	42,032
– Demonym	mercedario,-a
Time zone	UTC -3
Postal code	75000
Area code(s)	+598 453

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.

Population

In 2004, it had a population of about 42,032^[1]

Year	Population
1963	31,358
1975	34,512
1985	36,701
1996	39,320
2004	42,032

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay^[2]

References

1. ^ "2004 Census of Soriano department" (XLS). INE. 2004. http://www.ine.gub.uy/fase1new/Soriano/Cuadro7_17.XLS. Retrieved 4 July 2011. 
2. ^ "1963–1996 Statistics / M" (DOC). Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay. 2004. http://www.ine.gub.uy/biblioteca/toponimico/TOPOletraM.doc. Retrieved 4 July 2011. 

External links

• INE map of Mercedes