See also: Mercedes

Mercedes is a town of Uruguay, capital of the department of Soriano.

History

Mercedes was founded in 1788 by the priest Manuel Antonio of Castro there Careaga under the name of Capilla Nueva of mow Mercedes .

It is in this city which was carried out what one calls the Grito de Asencio , which marked the beginning of the revolution of the country. Then, the general Jose Artigas establishes his general headquarter in the current Notre Dame college Of the Orchard ( Colegio Nuestra Señora Del Huerto ), and it was still at Mercedes that he pronounced the Declaration of Mercedes ( Proclama from Mercedes ) the April 11th 1811.

For all these reasons, the city adopted the currency “Here was born the Fatherland” ( Aquí nació Patria ).

In 1857, Mercedes replaces the Villa Soriano like departmental capital.

Geography

The city is located on southern bank of the Río Negro, in the North-West of the department.

Economy

The city centralizes the administrative capacity of the Intendencia Municipal of Soriano , the industrial activities, the cultural events and the means of communication of the department.