Canelones (Spanish pronunciation:[kaneˈlones]) is the capital of thedepartment of Canelones inUruguay. Its name is derived from a species of cinnamon, which is called "canelón", growing along the banks of the homonymous river.[1] Since 2010, the city is also the seat of themunicipality of Canelones.
The city is located onRoute 5 about 50 kilometres (31 mi) North ofMontevideo and on its intersection with Route 64. It lies on the west bank of the river Arroyo Canelón Chico.
It was founded on 24 April 1783 under the name "Villa Guadalupe". It became capital of one of the nine earlier Departments of the Republic. The railroad arrived here in 1874, while in 1908 National Route 5 fromMontevideo was inaugurated. On 23 March 1916, it was renamed to "Canelones" and its status was elevated to "Ciudad" (city) by the Act of Ley Nº 5.400.[2]
According to the 2011 census, Canelones had a population of 19,865.[3] In 2010, theIntendencia de Canelones had recorded a population of 25,961 for the municipality during the elections.[1] While Canelones is the capital of the department of the same name, it has a considerably smaller population compared with two other cities in the department,Ciudad de la Costa andLas Piedras.
Location map of the Municipality of Canelones
Year
Population
1908
8,523
1963
14,028
1975
15,988
1985
17,323
1996
19,388
2004
19,631
2011
19,865
2017
32,743
Source:Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay[2]
The city and the department have numerous small to large vineyards and wineries. In 1987 the cold-storage facility "Frigorífico Canelones" was founded, which ever since became the principal industry of the city.[1]