Colonia Valdense facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Colonia Valdense
City
Celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Italian immigrants.
Colonia Valdense Location in Uruguay
Country	Uruguay
Department	Colonia
Elevation	34 m (112 ft)
Population  (2011 Census)
• Total	3,235
Time zone	UTC -3
Postal code	70400
Dial plan	+598 455 (+5 digits)

The Waldensian Evangelical Church in Colonia Valdense

Colonia Valdense is a small city in southwestern Uruguay. It's part of the Colonia Department. About 3,200 people live here.

Where is Colonia Valdense?

Colonia Valdense is located along Route 1. This main road connects different parts of Uruguay.

The city is about 120 kilometers (75 miles) west of Montevideo. Montevideo is the capital city of Uruguay. Colonia Valdense is also just 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) west of where Route 1 meets Route 51.

The History of Colonia Valdense

Colonia Valdense was founded in 1856. It was first officially called "Valdense." The city was started by Italian immigrants who came from a region in Italy called Piedmont. Many of them came from the Waldensian Valleys and the Aosta Valley.

The town gets its name from Pierre Valdo. He was a French merchant who started a religious group. This group became known as "The Waldensians." The Waldensian Evangelical Church is a Protestant church. It has a strong presence in Colonia Valdense today.

How Colonia Valdense Became a City

Over time, Colonia Valdense grew. On November 6, 1951, its status was changed to "Pueblo," which means village. This was done by a special law, Ley N° 11.742.

Later, on September 24, 1982, the village was officially renamed "Colonia Valdense." At the same time, its status was raised to "Ciudad," meaning city. This change happened because of another law, Decreto-Ley N° 15.323.

What Language Was Spoken?

The first settlers in Colonia Valdense spoke a dialect called Patois. This was an Occitan dialect. It was spoken in the town of Villar Pellice in Italy, where many settlers came from.

This dialect was mainly spoken in the Colonia Department. This is where the first Waldensian settlers made their homes. Today, Patois is considered a language that is no longer spoken by many. However, some older people in the area still use it. You can find old writings in Patois at the Waldensian Library (Biblioteca Valdense) in Colonia Valdense.

How Many People Live Here?

According to a count in 2011, Colonia Valdense had a population of 3,235 people.

Here's how the population has grown over the years:

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay (Uruguay's National Institute of Statistics)

Famous People from Colonia Valdense

From 1936 to 1979, a German social activist named Annemarie Rübens lived in Colonia Valdense. She had to leave Nazi Germany.

Annemarie Rübens started a special home for refugee children. These children were victims of the Nazi regime. She called this home Casa Rubens. Later, it became a daycare center. It helped children whose parents were held as political prisoners. Sadly, Rübens was not allowed to return to Uruguay during a time of dictatorship.

In 2016, a street in Colonia Valdense was renamed after Ana María Rübens. This was a way to honor her life and the help she gave to many children.

Places to Visit

Colonia Valdense has several important buildings, including places of worship:

• Waldensian Temple (Waldensians)
• Our Lady of Fatima Chapel (Roman Catholic)

Sister Cities

Colonia Valdense has a "twin town" or "sister city." This means they have a special friendship and cultural exchange.

• Luserna San Giovanni,  Italy

Images for kids

• 

  Celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Italian immigrants.

See also

In Spanish: Colonia Valdense para niños