San Nicolás de los Arroyos

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Pagename


imagesize = 200px
image_caption =
image_shield =
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position = bottom
pushpin_map_caption =Location in Argentina
pushpin_mapsize =200
pushpin_map1 = Buenos Aires Province
pushpin_label_position1 =bottom
pushpin_map_caption1 =Location in Buenos Aires Province
pushpin_mapsize1 =200
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = ARG
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = Buenos Aires
subdivision_type2 = Partido
subdivision_name2 = San Nicolás
established_title = Founded
established_date = April 14 1748
population_as_of = census-ar|2001
population_total = 137,867
population_density_km2 =
latd = 33
latm = 19
longd = 60
longm = 13
latNS=S|longEW=W
elevation_m = 17
postal_code_type = CPA Base
postal_code = 2900
area_code = +54 3461
website =

San Nicolás de los Arroyos (usually shortened to "San Nicolás") is a city in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, on the western shore of the Paraná River, 61 km from Rosario. It has about 138,000 inhabitants (census-ar|2001). It is the head town of the partido of the same name. The citizens call it Maria´s City, because it is claimed that The Virgen María appeared several times to one of its citizens and transmitted her messages.

History

San Nicolás de los Arroyos was founded on 14 April 1748 by Rafael de Aguiar, who gave it its name to honour Saint Nicholas of Bari, now patron of the city.

The closeness to the border between Buenos Aires and two other large provinces made the city a natural stage for the struggle between federalist and Unitarians forces in mid-19th century. The agreement between thirteen provinces on 31 May 1852, which ratified the Federal Pact and called for a Constitutional Assembly sponsored by Justo José de Urquiza, was signed in this town, and became known as "Acuerdo de San Nicolás de los Arroyos".

Geography

The city is located in the north-east of the province of Buenos Aires, 240 km from Buenos Aires City, within the so-called "Industrial Corridor" that goes from Greater Rosario to La Plata. Its limits are: to the west, Pergamino; to the south, Ramallo; to the east, with the Paraná River, which separates it from the province of Entre Ríos; and to the north, with the Arroyo del Medio, a small river that separates it from the province of Santa Fe.

Its main accesses are in the north-south axis: the Rosario-Buenos Aires Highway, and the Nuevo Central Argentino railroad.

San Nicolás has an important port on the Paraná, able to service large cargo ships. The railway system has passenger and cargo stations, the latter reaching up to the port.

Education

The city has 43 kindergarten institutions, 58 schools of Elementary Education, 28 of High-school level (both public and private), 26 schools for adults and a large number of tertiary studies institutes.

Cultural life

There are many cultural institutions, being the most important the one related to the Teatro Municipal "Rafael de Aguiar", founded on August 10th, 1908 and it is designed as a smaller model of the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires. Among the many libraries in the city, the oldest and largest is the Biblioteca Popular "Rafael de Aguiar", founded in 1947 by Juana Couretot de Guella.

Notable natives

*Health Minister Ginés González García [http://www.msal.gov.ar/htm/site/est_ministeriob.asp]
*Journalist and short story writer Manuel Peyrou (1902–1974) [http://www.me.gov.ar/efeme/index.html?mes=1&dia=1]
*Revolutionary and guerrilla leader Enrique Gorriarán Merlo (1942–2006)
*Members of the folk music band "Los Arroyeños" [http://www.losarroyenos.com.ar/]
*Football player Leo Franco
*Former football players Héctor Baley, Patricio Hernández, Rubén Pagnanini, Omar Sivori, Andrés Guglielminpietro, Nelson Vivas and Bruno Marioni

References

* This article draws material from the corresponding article in the Spanish Wikipedia.
*
* [http://www.me.gov.ar/efeme/diaconstitucion/acuerdo.html Ministry of Education] - Acuerdo de San Nicolás.

External links

*es icon [http://www.sannicolas.mun.gba.gov.ar/ Municipality of San Nicolás de los Arroyos] - Official website.
*es icon [http://www.sannicolasweb.com.ar/ The Portal of the city]
*es icon [http://www.vivisannicolas.com.ar/ Tourism Official Site]
*es icon [http://www.diarioelnorte.com.ar/ Diario El Norte] - Local newspaper
*es icon [http://www.intercom.com.ar/bibaguiar Biblioteca Popular "Rafael de Aguiar"] - Public Library