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.
The city is located at the centre of the department, on the intersection of Route 3 with Route 11, 90 kilometres (56 mi) from the centre ofMontevideo. The railroad track connecting Montevideo with Colonia and with the northwest of the country passes through the city. The river Río San José flows along the northeastern and eastern limits of the city.
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.[1]
San José de Mayo was founded on 1 July 1783. It had acquired "Villa" (town) status before the Independence of Uruguay, which was elevated to "Ciudad" (city) on 12 July 1856 by the Act of Ley Nº 495.[2] During the 19th century it became a commercial and cultural centre, known as "Montevideo chico" ("little Montevideo"). The theatre "Teatro Macció" was constructed at the turn of the 20th century.
Population
In 2011 San José de Mayo had a population of 36,743.[3]
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
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay[2]
Besides being the administrative capital of the department, the city is an active regional commercial and financial centre. Its economy is linked mainly to cattle ranching, and it is an agro-industrial centre for dairy products, packing houses, mills, and chemicals.
