Mercedes, Buenos Aires

Mercedes
City
Catedral Basílica de Mercedes-Luján,built in 1904 and National Historic Monument since 2010.
Coat of arms
Mercedes Location inBuenos Aires Province
Coordinates:34°39′S59°26′W
Country	Argentina
Province	Buenos Aires
Partido	Mercedes
Founded	June 25, 1752(1752-06-25)
Elevation	38 m (125 ft)
Population (2010 census)
• Total	56,116
CPA Base	B6600
Area code	+5402324

Mercedes(Spanish pronunciation:[meɾˈseðes]) is a city inBuenos Aires Province,Argentina. It is located 100 km (62 miles) west fromBuenos Airesand 30 km (18 miles) southwest ofLuján.It is the administrative headquarters for the district (partido) of Mercedes as well as of the judicial district. TheCatedral Basílica de Mercedes-Luján,located in the city, is the seat of theRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Mercedes-Luján.

Mercedes has a population of 51,967 people (51,5% women, 48,5% men) as per the 2001census[INDEC].

History

Mercedes was first established as a fortress againstnative indigenousattacks. Its original name was "La Guardia de Luján"and it was one of several fortress built in thebordersof Buenos Aires to protect this city and gather the people living in the county near.

It became a town on 25 June 1752 when founded by José de Zárate during a military campaign known as "La Valerosa".In 1777 viceroyPedro de Cevallosproposed moving the town, but actually it was moved to its present location by viceroy Juan José de Vértiz on 8 May 1779. When moved its name was changed to "Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes".

Mercedes is one of the few towns in Argentina in which three different railways meet, thus been connected with large commercial areas as Buenos Aires as well as the Pacific Ocean, theAndesrange and thepampasplains. This was a powerful reason during the 19th century for proposing the city as the capital of Buenos Aires Province. FinallyLa Platabecame capital, but Mercedes became known as the "West Pearl".

In 1812 theMercedes Partidowas established because of the city's increasing population and commercial activities. The first municipal government was elected in 1856. Then-governor of Buenos Aires, Mariano Saavedra, officially named it "Ciudad de Mercedes" in 1865, the same year that railway came to Mercedes for the first time.

Churches

The most importantchurchesin the city are:

• Our Lady of Mercedes Cathedrallocated on San Martín square, also the location of theitalianate"Palacio Municipal" (city hall) and numerous cafés and restaurants. A library founded by PresidentDomingo Faustino Sarmientois located a few streets away. Built inneogothicstyle and inaugurated on April 16, 1921, in 1934 received "cathedral" status by Pope bull. The Cathedral was declared National Monument of Argentina by a decree signed by presidentCristina Fernándezin 2010.
• St. Patrick's Church: Inaugurated on March 17, 1932 and remodeled in 2003, it has 2,500 m2 and a large number of vitraux, a figure representingSt. Patrickamong them. This church also has the largestpipe organinSouth America,with 4,700 tubes. It was directly brought fromGermany.A group ofgargoyles(18 in total) decorate the exterior of the church.
• St. Luis Gonzaga Church: designated by architectPedro Benoit(Pierre Benoît's son), is the oldest in the city, having been inaugurated as a chapel in 1891, after twelve years of construction. The chapel received "church" status in December 1941.

Transport

Railway

Mercedes has three railway stations, with two of them still active: Mercedes (Sarmiento) is terminus of theSarmiento Linedieselbranch fromMorenoand Mercedes (San Martín) is part of theSan Martín Railwayline where long-distance services are operated by state-owned companiesTrenes ArgentinosandFerrobairestoRufinoand Alberdi respectively. The station was originally built by theBuenos Aires and Pacific Railway.Mercedes Sarmiento and San Martín are also located few meters to one another.

The third station is Mercedes (Belgrano), originally built byFrench-ownedCompañía Generaland inactive since the 1970s. That station is far from the city's commercial area.

Railway stations with the name "Mercedes" are:

Name	Former company	Line	Status	Current operator
Mercedes	BA Western	Sarmiento	Active	Trenes Argentinos
Mercedes Pacífico	BA & Pacific	San Martín	Active	Trenes Argentinos,Ferrobaires
Mercedes	Compañía General	Belgrano	Closed(1977)1	—

Notes:

• ¹The building is currently occupied by several non-profit associations.

Road

Mercedes can be reached from the city ofBuenos Airesby the "Acceso Oeste" and then by National Route 5 until km. 100. From the city ofLobosby Provincial Route 41 to the north (80-km length) and fromChivilcoyby Route 5 to the northwest. The city can also be reached fromSan Antonio de Arecoafter completing 50 km-length (31 km) by Provincial Route 41.

Mercedes has abus terminal,located near the Mercedes (Sarmiento) railway station.

Geography

Location

The city of Mercedes is 34° 39'south latitude and 59° 25' west longitude, along the Luján River. It is 35 km (30 min by car) from the city ofLuján,one of the most important religious center and pilgrimage of Argentina; 100 km (62 mi) fromBuenos Airesand, 152 km (94 mi) fromLa Plata,capital of the province.

Climate

The climate of this region is the Mesopotamian type temperate humid with an annual average of 16 °C (60.8 °F). The winter is mild with average temperatures of 9 °C (48.2 °F), while the summer is mild with an average temperature of 23 °C (73.4 °F).

Popular culture

On the outskirts of Mercedes there is an oldpulperíaor rural bar and store, institutions which enjoy mythical status ingauchoculture. Known as "lo de Cacho"(Cacho's), it claims to be the last pulpería of thePampasand retains the atmosphere of 1850, the year it opened. There is an originalwanted posterfor the outlawJuan Moreiraand reminders of gauchos, their culture and knife fights.

There is an old war memorial called "La Cruz de Palo".It is a wooden cross remembering where the last of thenativeattacks to Mercedes took place on 27 October 1823.

Mercedes is known for itspeachesandsalami,been the venue for the National Peach Fair (Fiesta Nacional del Durazno) as well as the National Salami Fair (Fiesta Nacional del Salame Quintero). Both fairs have their own queen elected each year.

Miscellanea

Mercedes has been the birthplace of several football players (Lucas Biglia), musicians, writers and journalists. Nevertheless, it is most known as the town where presidentHéctor José Cámporawas born as well as the military dictator and presidentJorge Rafael Videla.

The city was organized by a-hundred-meters-long square blocks (as a Romancastra). The streets are numbered with even numbers from South to North and with odd numbers from East to West. Thus, is really easy to orient, find addresses and calculate distances along the city.

Gallery

• 
  Statue ofJosé de San Martín
• 
  Municipal building
• 
  Statue ofBartolomé Mitre
• 
  Church ofSaint Patrick
• 
  Belgrano Railwaytrain station
• 
  Palace of Justice
• 
  Argentine Theatre

External links

• (in Spanish)Intendencia de Mercedes(City hall of Mercedes)
• (in Spanish)Mercedes Newspaper
• (in Spanish)Mercedes News 24 hours
• Municipal information:Municipal Affairs Federal Institute (IFAM), Municipal Affairs Secretariat, Ministry of Interior, Argentina.(in Spanish)