San José de Mayo
San José de Mayo (Mayo) is a city in the San José Department in southern Uruguay. Located on the banks of the San José River, it lies approximately northwest of Montevideo. It was founded in 1783 by Spanish colonialists, and later developed into an administrative and agricultural center in the region.
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Overview
Overview
Spread over an area of, it had a population of 38,553 inhabitants in 2023.
Documentary record
San José de Mayo is a place documented in the authority records of the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names. The authority records of the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names record San José de Mayo as a department capital and town. The authority records of the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names record San José as the administrative unit of San José de Mayo.
Key facts
Key facts
• Official Name — San José de Mayo • Type — Capital city • Subdivision Type — Country • Subdivision Name — Uruguay • Subdivision Type1 — Department • Subdivision Name1 — San José Department • Established Title — Founded • Established Date — 1783 • Population Blank1 Title — Demonym • Population Blank1 — maragato,-a • Population As Of — 2023 Census • Population Total — 35883 • Population Density Km2 — auto • Area Total Km2 — 16.9 • Time Zone — UTC -3 • Elevation M — 51 • Postal Code Type — Postal code • Postal Code — 80000 • Area Code Type — Dial plan • Area Code — +598 434 (+5 digits) • Custom Label Sec1 — Climate • Custom Data Sec1 — Cfa
History
History
San José de Mayo was founded on 1 June 1783 by Eusebio Vidal under orders from Viceroy Juan José de Vértiz y Salcedo. It is named after the San José River. The first settlers consisted of about 40 Spanish families, originating from mainland Spain, accompanied by several indigenous people and supplies. The inhabitants of the city became known as "maragatos" after the Maragatería region in Province of León. These settlers had colonized Patagonia before moving on to southern Uruguay, and later expanded into southern Brazil. In the early 19th century, San José was a major center in the fight for independence against the Spanish. In 1811, people from San José participated in the revolt led by José Gervasio Artigas. The town served as the provisional capital in the fight against the Empire of Brazil in 1825. The Thirty-Three Orientals passed through San José during the campaign against the Portuguese forces. The Cathedral of San José de Mayo was built between 1857 and 1874.
Geography
Geography
San José de Mayo is located on the banks of San Jose river, in the San José Department in southern Uruguay. It is spread over an area of. Increased precipitation as a result of climate change and impermeabilization of the local land surfaces has made San José de Mayo more prone to flooding over the 1987–2017 period.
Demographics and economy
Demographics and economy
In 2023, San José de Mayo had a population of 38,553 inhabitants. The population consisted of 18,436 males and 20,117 females. About 6,665 inhabitants (17.3%) were below the age of fourteen. • Year || Population • 1867 — 3,224 • 1908 — 12,297 • 1963 — 27,482 • 1975 — 28,554 • 1985 — 31,825 • 1996 — 34,552 • 2004 — 36,129 • 2011 — 36,743 • 2023 — 38,553 Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay The city serves as a major agricultural and industrial centre in Southern Uruguay. Industries in San José include agricultural products, textiles and leather goods, furniture, and automobile parts
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article San José de Mayo, revision 1373600120 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
Makers, houses and production
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Makers, houses and production
The people, houses and objects recorded in connection with this place.
Born at
2- Daniel ChavarriaAuthor
Established from a fact already recorded on a verified source.
- Jaime ClaraAuthor
Established from a fact already recorded on a verified source.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 26 September 2026.
Elsewhere in General
22,760 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- San Joaquin Memorial High SchoolOrganisation
- San Joaquin ValleyPlace
- San JoséPlace
- San José de GuanipaPlace
- San José High SchoolOrganisation
- San Juan BautistaPlace
- San Juan CacahuatepecPlace
- San Juan de AznalfarachePlace
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