La Matanza ('The Slaughter' in Spanish) is a partido (county or department) located in the urban agglomeration of Greater Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.

La Matanza
Partido de La Matanza
La Matanza town hall in San Justo
La Matanza town hall in San Justo
Flag of La Matanza
Official seal of La Matanza
Map
Location of La Matanza
Location in Greater Buenos Aires and Buenos Aires Province
Coordinates: 34°43′S 58°38′W / 34.717°S 58.633°W / -34.717; -58.633
CountryArgentina
Established1784
SeatSan Justo
Government
 • MayorFernando Espinoza (PJ-FdT)
Area
 • Total
325.71 km2 (125.76 sq mi)
Population
 • Total
1,775,272
 • Density5,500/km2 (14,000/sq mi)
Demonymmatancero
Postal Code
B1625
IFAM
Area Code011 or 02202
Websitewww.lamatanza.gov.ar

This provincial subdivision had 1,775,272 inhabitants (at the 2010 Census)[1] in an area of 325.71 km2 (125.76 sq mi). Its capital city is San Justo, which is located around 16 km (10 mi) from the City of Buenos Aires.

History

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The origin of the name is uncertain. Is believed to reference a confrontation that Diego, the brother of conquistador Pedro de Mendoza, had with the Querandí tribe in 1536,[2] where he and 22 soldiers that were with him died. This area and the river were named La Matanza (The Slaughter) probably in his name, sometimes using the plural form (Matanzas). The oldest document in which the name of La Matanza appears is dated 29 July 1603.[3]

The partido was named Pago until 1730, then Partido de Matanza y Pozos (Partido of Slaughter and Wells): it was then a largely underpopulated rural area, and was led by a two-mayor system. In 1784, the partido was divided in two into La Matanza and Cañada de Morón (Morón Gully). In 1856, the capital city San Justo was founded.

In the 20th century, its population dramatically increased with the influx of the European immigration first and the internal migration later to the surroundings of the City of Buenos Aires, followed by migrants from neighbouring countries (mainly Bolivia and Paraguay)[4] by the end of the century.

Population

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La Matanza population pyramid (2022 census)

According to the Argentine census bureau, the INDEC, the population was 1,121,298 in 1991, 1,255,288 in 2001 and 1,772,130 in 2010. With an estimate of over 2 million by 2020, it is the most populated partido in the Province of Buenos Aires and the most populated municipality in the country.

Administrative subdivisions

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La Matanza Partido is divided into sixteen subdivisions or localidades:

Notes and references

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  1. ^ a b 2010 Census results Archived 15 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "BREVE RESEÑA HISTÓRICA DEL PARTIDO DE LA MATANZA" (in Spanish). Municipality of La Matanza. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  3. ^ "El partido de La Matanza cumple 416 años". El1 Digital (in Spanish). 29 July 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
  4. ^ "La Matanza, "tierra prometida" para miles de inmigrantes". El1 Digital (in Spanish). 3 June 2008. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
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