The Departamento de Canelones (Spanish: Departamento de Canelones; pronounced [kaneˈlones]) is one of the 19 Uruguayan departments. With an area of 4,536 km2 (1,751 sq mi) and 518,154 inhabitants, it is located in the south of Uruguay. Its capital is Canelones. Ciudad de la Costa is the largest city by total population and Las Piedras is the largest city with an official census.

Canelones Department
Flag of Canelones Department
Coat of arms of Canelones Department
Canelones Department is located in Uruguay
Canelones Department
Location of Canelones Department and its capital
Coordinates (Canelones): 34°31′S 56°17′W / 34.517°S 56.283°W / -34.517; -56.283
Country Uruguay
Established1816
Capital of DepartmentCanelones
Government
 • IntendantMarcelo Metediera
 • Ruling partyFrente Amplio
Area
 • Total
4,536 km2 (1,751 sq mi)
Population
 (2011 census)
 • Total
520,187
 • Density110/km2 (300/sq mi)
DemonymCanario
Time zoneUTC-3 (UYT)
ISO 3166 codeUY-CA
Websitewww.imcanelones.gub.uy

Geography

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Neighbouring departments are Maldonado and Lavalleja to the East, Florida to the North, San José to the West, and Montevideo to the South. Part of the southern border is formed by the Río de la Plata. It is the second smallest department of the country after that of Montevideo, but the second largest in population.

Located in the humid templated region, the average temperature is low compared to that of the rest of the country (around 15 °C), as are the levels of precipitation (up to 2,000 mm yearly, on average).

By area Canelones Department is the second smallest of Uruguay's 19 departments.

Topography and hydrography

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Santa Lucía River, at San Ramón.

Canelones Department, is characterized by flat lands and absence of relief (like most parts of Uruguay), with small coastal sand dunes at the south, and with meadows and woods in the center, north and west.[1]

The department is rich in waterways, with many rivers and streams. However, there are two rivers that stand out for their importance: the Santa Lucía River and the Río de la Plata, which is actually a sea of salt water. On the coastline formed by the Río de la Plata, there are many spa towns and their respective beaches.

Santa Lucia River, meanwhile, forms the northern boundary with Florida, which is separated by a bridge known as the Paso Pache.

Regions

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Despite being a small department, Canelones has a population of over 500,000 inhabitants and one of the highest population densities in the country with 114 inhabitants per square kilometer.

The department is divided into approximately 20 sections. Within these, there are significant populations centers, some of which have the status of municipality, while others are part of cities formed recently by decree, and then there are also those that do not have enough inhabitants and are therefore often considered simple population entities with no mayor or government, remaining under the direct jurisdiction of the Municipality of Canelones (in Spanish, Intendencia Municipal Canelones or Comuna Canaria), which is based in the departmental capital, Canelones.

History

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Canelones was one of the nine original departments created in 1830. Over the years its boundaries have changed little.[citation needed]

Economy

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Agriculture is one of the principal contributors to the economy of Canelones. The cultivation of grapevines is widespread, and the area is a major contributor to Uruguay's burgeoning wine industry. In addition, cereal crops – principally maize – are produced, as are a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Tourism, in the eastern coastal area, is also a major source of income for the department, and has enabled the development of important urban centres, such as Atlántida.[citation needed]

Demographics

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Ethnic groups in Canelones (2011 est.)[2]
Ethnic groups Percent
White
93.1%
Black
7.4%
Indigenous
4.9%
Asian
0.5%
None/Other/Unspecified
1.8%

At the 2011 census, Canelones Department had a population of 520,187 (253,124 male and 267,063 female) and 222,193 (+44.25% than in 2004 (153,931)) households.[3] The average household size was 2.3 persons.

Demographic data for Canelones Department in 2010:

  • Population growth rate: 1,095%
  • Birth rate: 14.83 births/1,000 people
  • Death rate: 8.45 deaths/1,000 people
  • Average age: 32.9 (31.4 males, 34.3 females)
  • Life expectancy at birth
    • Total population: 76.37 years
    • Male: 72.95 years
    • Female: 80.00 years
  • Average per household income: 25,087 pesos/month
  • Urban per capita income: 10,015 pesos/month

2010 Data Source:[4]

Main urban centres Other towns and villages
Population stated according to the 2011 census.[5]
City / Town Population
Ciudad de la Costa (**) 113,257
Las Piedras 71,258
Barros Blancos 31,650
Pando 25,947
La Paz 20,524
Canelones 19,865
Santa Lucía 16,742
Progreso 16,244
Villa Crespo y San Andrés 9,813
Colonia Nicolich 9,624
Fracc. Camino del Andaluz y R.84 9,295
Salinas * 8,626
Parque del Plata * 7,896
San Ramón 7,133
Joaquín Suárez 6,570
Sauce 6,132
Atlántida * 5,562
Tala 5,089
Neptunia * 4,774
Pinamar – Pinepark * 4,724
San Jacinto 4,510
Toledo 4,397
City / Town Population
Villa Aeroparque 4,307
Empalme Olmos 4,199
Santa Rosa 3,727
Marindia * 3,543
Las Toscas * 3,146
Cerrillos 2,508
Estación Atlántida * 2,274
Migues 2,109
San Bautista 1,973
San Luis * 1,878
Dr. Francisco Soca 1,797
Montes 1,760
La Floresta * 1,595
Fracc. sobre R.74 1,513
San Antonio 1,489
Villa San José 1,419
Villa Felicidad 1,344
Estación La Floresta * 1,313
Juanicó 1,305
City Golf * 1,104
Aguas Corrientes 1,047
Town / Village Population
Costa Azul 965
Barrio Cópola 826
Lomas de Carrasco 806
Estanque de Pando 770
Jardines de Pando 756
Totoral del Sauce 746
Olmos 662
Seis Hermanos 622
Villa Argentina 622
Villa El Tato 615
Costa y Guillamón 550
Villa Paz S.A. 542
Cuchilla Alta 527
Castellanos 520
Villa Porvenir 507
Barrio La Lucha 492

(* Resorts of the Costa de Oro – ** Sum result. See main article for all censal areas included.)

Rural population
 
Map showing the municipalities of Canelones Department

According to the 2011 census, Canelones department had a rural population of 48,219 (9.3%).[3]

Government

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The executive power is exercised by the Intendencia Departamental de Canelones. The Intendant is elected every five years with the possibility of reelection. The legislative power is exercised by the Junta Departamental.

On 15 March 2010, by the Act of Ley Nº 18.653,[6] the following Municipalities were formed in the Canelones Department:

Source: Intendencia Municipal de Canelones[7]
* Stated as 2004 estimates.
** Source: El Observador (2010)[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Montevideo COMM. "Geografía política - CANELONES". Enciclopedia Geográfica del Uruguay (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  2. ^ "Población por sexo y ascendencia étnico racial, según departamento" (in Spanish). National Institute of Statistics. Archived from the original on 30 November 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Censos 2011 Canelones (flash plugin needed)". INE. 2012. Archived from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  4. ^ "Uruguay en cifras" (PDF) (in Spanish). INE. 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  5. ^ "Censos 2011 Cuadros Canelones". INE. 2012. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  6. ^ "Ley Nº 18.653". República Oriental del Uruguay, Poder Legislativo. 2010. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  7. ^ "Municipios Canarios". Comuna Canaria. 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  8. ^ "ELECCIONES - Canelones". El Observador. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
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34°32′0″S 55°56′0″W / 34.53333°S 55.93333°W / -34.53333; -55.93333