San José de Mayo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
San José de Mayo
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Capital city
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      From top, left to right: view of the Cathedral, the Macció Theater, the City Hall, monument of José Artigas in the Independence Square, the Treinta y Tres Orientales Square and the station.
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 San José de Mayo
Location in Uruguay
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| Country |  Uruguay |
| Department | San José Department |
| Founded | 1783 |
| Population
(2011 Census)
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| • Total | 36,743 |
| • Demonym | maragato-a |
| Time zone | UTC -3 |
| Postal code |
80000
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| Dial plan | +598 434 (+5 digits) |
| Climate | Cfa |
San José de Mayo is an important city in southern Uruguay. It is the capital of the San José Department. People from San José de Mayo are called maragatos.
Contents
Geography of San José de Mayo
The city is located in the center of its department. It sits where two main roads meet: Route 3 and Route 11. San José de Mayo is about 90 kilometers (56 miles) from Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay.
A railroad track also runs through the city. This track connects Montevideo to Colonia and other parts of western Uruguay. The Río San José river flows along the city's northeastern and eastern edges.
Sometimes, San José de Mayo can experience flooding. This is because of more rain and changes to the land over the years.
History of San José de Mayo
San José de Mayo was founded a long time ago, on July 1, 1783. Before Uruguay became an independent country, San José de Mayo was already considered a "Villa," which means a town.
Later, on July 12, 1856, it was officially made a "Ciudad," or city. During the 1800s, San José de Mayo became a busy place for business and culture. People even called it "Montevideo chico," meaning "little Montevideo." The famous "Teatro Macció" theater was built around the year 1900.
Population of San José de Mayo
In 2011, the city of San José de Mayo had a population of 36,743 people.
| Year | Population |
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| 1867 | 3,224 |
| 1908 | 12,297 |
| 1963 | 27,482 |
| 1975 | 28,554 |
| 1985 | 31,825 |
| 1996 | 34,552 |
| 2004 | 36,129 |
| 2011 | 36,743 |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay (National Institute of Statistics of Uruguay)
Places of Worship
San José de Mayo has several churches:
- Cathedral Basilica and National Sanctuary of St. Joseph (Roman Catholic)
- Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompei Parish Church (Roman Catholic)
- Our Lady of Fatima Parish Church (Roman Catholic)
- Our Lady of the Orchard Chapel (Roman Catholic)
Economy of San José de Mayo
San José de Mayo is the main city for its department. It is a busy center for business and money in the region. The city's economy mostly depends on cattle ranching. It also has factories that process farm products, like dairy items, packaged foods, and chemicals.
Notable Residents
Some well-known people who lived in San José de Mayo include:
- Cesár Cortinas (1892-1918), a musician and composer.
- Laura Cortinas (1881-1969), a writer, politician, feminist, and playwright.
- Ismael Cortinas (1884-1940), a politician.
See also
In Spanish: San José de Mayo para niños
