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Córdoba, Argentina
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Córdoba is a city located near the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas on the Suquía River, about northwest from Buenos Aires. It is the capital of Córdoba Province.
Córdoba is the second-largest city in Argentina after the federal capital Buenos Aires, with about 1.3 million inhabitants as per the 2001 census. The city was founded on July 6, 1573 by Jerónimo Luis de Cabrera, who named it after Córdoba, Spain. It was one of the first Spanish colonial capitals of the region that is now Argentina (the older city was Santiago del Estero, founded in 1553).
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Córdoba is a city located near the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas on the Suquía River, about northwest from Buenos Aires. It is the capital of Córdoba Province.
Córdoba is the second-largest city in Argentina after the federal capital Buenos Aires, with about 1.3 million inhabitants as per the 2001 census. The city was founded on July 6, 1573 by Jerónimo Luis de Cabrera, who named it after Córdoba, Spain. It was one of the first Spanish colonial capitals of the region that is now Argentina (the older city was Santiago del Estero, founded in 1553). The Universidad Nacional de Córdoba is the oldest university in Argentina. It was founded in 1613 by the Jesuit Order.
After the end of World War II, Córdoba became a major center for the Argentine aircraft industry, and the site of The Instituto Aerotécnico that later became the Fábrica Militar de Aviones. It employed the Focke Wulf men until President Juan Perón was ousted by a coup in 1955. Lockheed Martin purchased FMA in the late 1990s.
Córdoba has many historical monuments preserved from the times of Spanish colonialism, especially buildings of the Roman Catholic Church. The most recognizable is perhaps the Jesuit Block (Spanish: Manzana Jesuítica), declared in 2000 as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO which consists of a group of buildings dating from the 17th century, including the Montserrat School, the University (today the historical museum of the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba) and the church of the Society of Jesus.
History
Settlement
In 1570 viceroy Francisco de Toledo entrusted Spanish settler Jerónimo Luis de Cabrera, to populate and to found in the valley of Punilla. Cabrera sent an expedition of 48 men to the territory of Comechingones's Province. And divides the principal column that enters in the north of the provincial territory through the town of Villa Maria.
The one hundred men expedition set foot on what today is Córdoba on June 24, 1573. Cabrera called a nearby river San Juan (today Suquía). The settlement was finally founded on July 6 of the same year and named Córdoba de la Nueva Andalucía, possibly in honor of ancestors of the founder's wife, originally from Córdoba, Spain. The foundation took place on the left bank of the river on founder Francisco de Torres' advice.
The settlement was inhabited by aboriginal people called Comechingones, who were living in communities named Ayllus. After 4 years, having repelled the aborigines, the settlement's authorities moved it to the opposite bank of the Suquía River in 1577. The governing lieutenant at the time, Don Lorenzo Suárez de Figueroa, planned the first layout of the city, of 70 blocks. Once the city core been moved to its current location, it acquired a stable population since its economy bloomed associated with the trade with the cities in the northern territories.
In 1599, the religious order of the Jesuits arrived, hereby, the religious Order founded in 1608 the Novitiate and in 1610 the Colegio Maximo which derived in 1613 the University of Cordoba (today National University of Cordoba), the fourth most ancient of the Americas.
In 1776 the King Carlos III creates the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, in which Cordoba stays in 1785 as the Government Intendency of Cordoba, including the current territories of the provinces of Cordoba, La Rioja and the region of Cuyo.
Early European Settlement
According to the 1760 census, the population of the city was promoting 22,000 inhabitants. During the May Revolution in 1810, the widespread opinion of the most notable citizens was of continuing respecting the orders of Fernando VII, attitude assumed by the local authorities. This position was not shared by the Dean Gregorio Funes, who was adhering to the revolutionary ideas, beside supporting contact with Manuel Belgrano and Juan Jose Castelli.
In March, 1816 the Argentine Congress met in Tucumán for an independence resolution. Cordoba sent Eduardo Perez Bulnes, Jerónimo Salguero de Cabrera, Jose Antonio Cabrera, and to the Canon of the cathedral Michael Calixto of the Circle, all of them of autonomous position.
The decade of 1820 belonged to caudillos, since the country was in full process of formation. Until 1820 a central government taken root in Buenos Aires existed, but the remaining thirteen provinces felt that after July 9, 1816 what had happened it was simply a change of commander. Cepeda's Battle faced the commanders of the Littoral with the central power
Finally the federales obtained the victory, for what the country remained since then integrated by 13 autonomous provinces, on the national government having be dissolved. From this way the period known like about the Provincial Autonomies began. From this moment the provinces tried to create a federal system that was integrating them without coming to good port, this mainly for the regional differences of every province.
Two Cordobesean figures are outlined in this period: the governor Juan Bautista Bustos, who was an official of the Army of the North and in 1820 was supervised by the troops quartered in Arequito, a town nearby Cordoba and companion and later enemy, the general Jose Maria Paz.
In 1821, Bustos repelled the invasion of Cordoba on the part of Francisco Ramirez and his Chilean ally the general Jose Michael Carrera, conflict originated in a dispute with the power system that included the provinces of Buenos Aires, Cordoba and Santa Fe
According to the 1822 census the total population of Cordoba was of 11,552 inhabitants.
At the end of the 19th century the process of national industrialization began with the height of the economic agro-exporting model, principally of meats and cereals. This process is associated with the European immigration who began to settle the city, generally possessing the education and enterprising capacity appropriate for the development of industry. The majority of these European immigrants came from Italy and Spain (initially from Piedmont, Veneto and Lombardy; later from Campania and Calabria), (mostly Galicians and Basques)
The increase of the domestic market, the British investments that facilitated European settlement, the development of the railways on the humid pampas rapidly industrialized the city. Córdoba's industrial sector first developed from the need to transform raw materials such as leather, meats and wool for export. The demand for agro-industrial and railway equipment and introduction of U.S. and European automakers after 1954 created the divesified industrial base Córdoba enjoys today.
Geography
The city absolute location is the of latitude South taking as point of reference, San Martín Square at Cordoba city centre district. The relative location of the municipal common land, is in the south hemisphere of the globe, to the south of the South American subcontinent, in the geographical centre - west of Argentina and of the province of Cordoba; to a distance of 702 km from Buenos Aires and 401 km from the city of Rosario.
As per the provincial laws Not. 778 of December 14, 1878, Not. 927 of October 20, 1883 and Not. 1295 of December 29, 1893, the limits of the city of Cordoba are delineated in the northern part, South, East and West located to 12 km from San Martín Square (31 º 25 ' S 64 º 11 ' O), which means that the common land has 24 km from side. The city, adjoins in the northern territory with Colon Department summarizing a total surface of 562.
Geology
The city is located in the plain of the Humid Pampa, to the east of the oriental cord of Cordoba hills or Sierra Chica, which has an average height of 550 m. it spreads at the foot of the mount, on both margins of the River Suquía, covering the territory on the first gully created by the river and on the second one.
Climate
The climate of the city of Córdoba, as that of most of the province, is moderated by the altitude and, especially, the pampas winds, cold winds that blow from the South-western quadrant, originates in the Antarctica.
The variations or thermal extents are greater than in Buenos Aires, and lower in annual rainfall: 750 mm / year. The annual average temperature calculated during the 20th century was 18 °C. In January, the hottest month of the austral summer, the average maximum is of 31 °C and the minimum of 17 °C. In July, the coldest month of the year, the average temperatures are between 19 °C and 3 °C.
| Cordoba Meteorological station |
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| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
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| Average temperature (*C) | 24 | 23 | 21 | 18 | 15 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 18 |
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| Precipitation (mm) | 122 | 99 | 109 | 53 | 18 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 33 | 66 | 97 | 137 | 770 |
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Demographics
Demographic distribution
According to the last provincial census (2008), the city has 1,315,540 inhabitants, representing an increase of 3,78 % with regard to 1,267,521 inhabitants registered during the national census of 2001
Córdoba is the second largest city in the country in population and concentrates 40.9 % of the provincial population (3,216,993 inhabitants) and represents 3.3 % of the Argentine population, which according to estimates to June 2008, reached 39,745,613 inhabitants. As INDEC, the rate of growth inter sensual comes declining since 1980, when the record was marking a growth of 18.8 %, then, in the national census of 2001.
Greater Cordoba is the metropolitan area of the city of Córdoba, a union of medium localities of the department Colon, from the north to the south. Great Cordoba is the second urban agglomeration of Argentina as for population and surface refers.
The growth of the metropolitan area was not equal in all directions;, it spreads approximately up to 50 km (31 mi) to the northwest of the Córdoba city centre in a thin succession of small localities. This is almost the maximum distance from the Buenos Aires city center to the most distant of its metropolitan area points; whereas in the rest of the cardinal points it comes to .
Ethnicity
The most common ethnic groups are Italian and Spaniard (mostly Galicians and Basques), Germanic, Slavic, British, Irish and French.
Waves of immigrants from European countries arrived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The main contributors were Spain, Italy, France, Eastern European nations such as Croatia, Poland, Russia, Romania, Ukraine and the Balkans (especially Greece, Serbia and Montenegro), Switzerland, Germany, the United Kingdom and Ireland, and Scandinavia (especially Sweden). By the 1910s, 43 percent of the city population was non-native Argentine after immigration rates peaked.
Most immigrants, regardless of origin, settled in the city or around Greater Cordoba. However, in the first stages of immigration, some formed colonies (especially agricultural colonies) in different parts of the city, often encouraged by the Argentine government and/or sponsored by private individuals and organizations.
Urban Structure
The use of the city soil is regulated by the municipality, which determines and destines 26,177 hectares to urban area (40.24 %), 12,267 hectares to the industrial dominant area (21.3 %), 16,404 hectares to rural area dominant (28.45 %) and 5,750 hectares to other uses as military proposes, or institutional spaces (9.98 %) of the total area of the city.
Green spaces include different types of spaces, from squares, small squares, up to urban, green linear parks of different scales as the river Suquia, bicycle pathways and highway s). The surface supported by the Municipality of Cordoba in character of green Urban adds approximately 1645 hectares.
Panoramic view of the city
Historical Centre
The historical centre is shaped by quadrangular blocks of some hundred thirty meters of side. The disposition of the neighborhoods and principal avenues is radial. From the city centre district large avenues that lead to the most peripheral neighborhoods are born. In conformity with the demographic growth the city has expanded principally to the northwest and to the southeast, following the trace of the National Route Number 9
Districts
Central District
Is the most important commercial area, as well as the most important financial area. There are banks like the Bank of Córdoba and other private banking institutions. There's also a variety of restaurants with varying food and prices. Sightseeing places include San Martín square, Jesuit Block (declared UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Genaro Pérez Museum. Main avenues and streets are Vélez Sarsfield, Colón Avenue, *General Paz, Dean Funes and 27 de Abril , where most buses have a bus-stop.
Nueva Córdoba
Is the home of shopping malls like Patio Olmos, high rises, pubs, disco clubs, squares, restaurants, supermarkets and other entertainment and commercial centres. This district includes very important buildings from large companies like Motorola and Intel. An important cultural point of interest is Palacio Ferreyra, a mansion built in 1916 based on plans by the French architect, Paul Sanson. The Ferreyra palace was converted into the Evita Perón Museum of Fine Arts (the city's second) in 2007.
It is located at the corner of Hipólito Yrigoyen and Chacabuco, and has now been restored and adapted to house the principal art gallery of the city. Nueva Cordoba has a number of important avenues like Yrigoyen and Velez Sarsfield. Most of the university students of this growing city live in this neighbourhood, several buildings are being built transforming this area in the fastest-growing area of the city. This neighborhood has his own web site: Portal Nueva Cba .com
Ciudad Universitaria
The district is located in the southern area of the city, next to the 17 hectare (43 acre) Sarmiento Park, the city's most important. The Universidad Nacional de Córdoba has most of its facilities in this area. It's the first university built in Argentina by Jesuits, and it's very well known in all the world because of its prestige. Many important scientists that are required around the world studied there. Also, in March 1918, students at the National University of Córdoba (UNC) rebelled against the university system, accusing professors of being authoritarian, inefficient, clerically oriented, and obscurantist.
The distinctive nature of the movement derived not only from its radical demands, but also from its extremist tactics, the level of sophistication of its organization, and its major continental impact. In fact, the Reform Movement rapidly spread from Cordoba to Lima (1919), Cuzco (1920), Santiago de Chile (1920), and Mexico (1921). Another important university, the UTN, dedicated to the teaching of engineering sciences, is located in this part of the city. There are also a gym and football stadium and tennis courts for the students. The Córdoba Zoo is located in this district.
Argüello
Is located about 6 kilometers (3.75 miles) from Cerro de Las Rosas. It is famous for its well-known high schools such as Colegio Aleman, La Salle and Colegio del Carmen, other very prestigious high school in Cordoba is San Jose from Sol de Mayo, that is located in Alto Alberdi. Over the last decade, this neighborhood has experienced steady growth.
Especially in the area of Barrio La Carolina, where private gated communities such as Las Delicias and *Lomas de La Carolina have hosted important celebrities and government officials such as former Argentine President Carlos Menem and the basketball legend Marcelo Milanesio from Asociación Deportiva Atenas.
Economy
Since World War II, Córdoba has been developing a versatile industrial base. The biggest sectors are car manufacturing (Renault, Volkswagen, Fiat), railway construction (Materfer) and aircraft construction (Fábrica Militar de Aviones, currently shared between the state and Lockheed Martin). Furthermore, there are textile, heavy and chemical industries and some agrobusinesses.
Córdoba has been considered the technological centre of Argentina. The Argentinian spaceport (Centro Espacial Teófilo Tabanera) in the suburb Falda del Carmen, where satellites are being constructed and operated is located in the area. The software (Motorola, Vates, Intel, Electronic Data Systems, Santex América) and electronic industries are advancing and exporting more and more goods.
Sports
Football (soccer), like in the rest of Argentina, is the most popular sport. Several leagues and divisions compete in the local championship annually. Some important teams are Talleres, Instituto, Belgrano, Racing de Córdoba, and General Paz Juniors.
Basketball could arguably be the second most popular sport in Córdoba city. Asociación Deportiva Atenas is the most popular club, and one of the most successful in Argentina, having won the National League (LNB) seven times, and being three times winner of the South American League.
Rugby union is also a very popular sport in Córdoba, which has close to 20 teams with many divisions. Tala Rugby Club, La Tablada,Palermo Bajo, and the Cordoba Athletic Club (one of the oldest clubs in Argentina and founded by the British who worked in the building of the Argentine Railroads around 1882) are some of the most prestigious teams. Cordoba is one of the strongest rugby places in Argentina, and is the home of many international players. Many of the great players in Argentina and Italy began their carriers in the Córdoba´s rugby clubs.
Golf and tennis are also very popular; notable players that started playing in Cordoba include Ángel "Pato" Cabrera and Eduardo "Gato" Romero in golf and David Nalbandian in tennis.
The Argentine stage of the World Rally Championship has been run not far from the city since 2004.
Hockey and tennis are also important sports in Córdoba.
Culture
Literature
Córdoba has long been considered one of the most culturally rich cities of Argentina. The Literary activity flourished in the city at the beginning of the last century. Córdoba was the city of Leopoldo Lugones, Arturo Capdevila and Marcos Aguinis, among other many prestigious writers.
Music
The typical music in Córdoba is the cuarteto. It can be heard in many parties and pubs. The most popular cuarteto singers are: Carlos Mona Jiménez, Rodrigo, La Barra and Jean Carlos, among others. The places they usually sing are named bailes (dances). One of the first groups was Cuarteto de Oro.
Other very popular music styles among the youth are, electronic music (or electro), as well as reggaeton. These are commonly played at "boliches" which are dancing clubs for young people. Cordoba is sometimes referred to as the Night Life city, because of its wide range of clubs and teenage "matines" (dancing clubs), as well as for Cordoba being a city which does not sleep at night.
Córdoba also enjoys a rich musical culture that includes classical, jazz, rock, pop and electronic in a variety of bars, pubs and dancing clubs. Córdoba is house of the Teatro San Martín, that regularly features classical music, folk music, theater plays, etc.
Monuments
Córdoba has many historical monuments left over from the colonial era. In the centre, near the Plaza San Martín square, is the Jesuit Cathedral, whose altar is made of stone and silver from Potosí. Every ornament inside is made of gold and the roof is all painted with different images from the Bible. Another important building is the Cabildo (colonial government house), located next to the church. The Jesuit Block, the Monserrat School, the University and the church of the Society of Jesus are located in Córdoba.
Festivals
Different festivals occur year-round. The first is in February, the Carnaval, where children enjoy throwing water balloons at each other on the street.
Then in the middle of the year, on July 20, Friends Day is celebrated. Usually, most of the teenagers meet at Parque de las Naciones or Parque Sarmiento and spend the afternoon there. At night, they go dancing to different places, and enjoy a drink.
The last festival is Spring Day, held on September 21, which is Students' Day. Many go to the park or spend the day in the nearby city of Villa Carlos Paz. There they can enjoy lots of activities like concerts, dancing, going down town or visiting the river bank.
Transportation
The Cordoba public transport system includes buses, trolleybuses, taxis and remis. Long-distance buses reach most cities and towns throughout the country.
There is a long-distance railway passenger service twice weekly overnight service to Buenos Aires and a once weekly overnight service northwest to Tucumán and stations in-between provided by Ferrocentral.
The Argentine government had projected to build a high-speed train between Buenos Aires-Rosario-Córdoba. Originally scheduled to be started in 2008, with its inauguration in 2010, it is still waiting for financing to be completed. It will eventually join Córdoba and Buenos Aires, with an intermediate stop in Rosario, in about 3 hours at speeds of up to 350 km/h.
The city is served by the nation's third largest airport Ingeniero Ambrosio L.V. Taravella International Airport.
Twin cities
Córdoba has 17 twin cities:
Image gallery
Image:Taxis plaza españa cordoba argentina.jpg|Plaza España
Image:Av. Colón y Cañada-01.jpg|Colón Avenue
Image:27deabril.JPG|27th of April Street
Image:Iglesia de los Capuchinos Cordoba Argentina.jpg|Los Capuchinos Church
Image:Parque Sarmiento, Córdoba, Argentina 1.jpg|Sarmiento Park
Image:Sherattoncordoba.jpg|Sheraton Hotel
Image:La Cañada - Dani.JPG|La Cañada
Image:Cordoba-teatrolibertador.JPG|Libertador Theatre
Image:Torreecipsa.jpg|Ecipsa Tower
Image:Fachadapalacioferreyra.JPG|The Ferreyra Palace Fine Arts Museum
Image:Cordoba-palaciojusticia.JPG|Provincial courthouse
Image:Fachadanuevamuseocaraffa.JPG|Emilio Caraffa Fine Arts Museum
Image:Grosisimo_cba.jpg|Nueva Córdoba neigbourhood
Image:Cordoba-compañia1.JPG|Jesuit Church
Image:Buenpastor111.jpg|"Buen Pastor" Cultural Centre
Image:Fachada museo marques de sobremonte cordoba.jpg|The Marqués de Sobremonte house
External links
- - Official website.* - Shooping, Restaurants, Hotels, Tourism and more.
- (Specific Site of Nueva Cordoba's neighborhood)
- (especially for culture and nightlife)
- - Córdoba's most important newspaper
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