Canelones () is the capital of the department of Canelones in Uruguay. Its name is derived from a species of cinnamon, which is called "canelón", growing along the banks of the homonymous river. Since 2010, the city is also the seat of the municipality of Canelones.
Geography The city is located on Route 5 about North of Montevideo and on its intersection with Route 64. It lies on the west bank of the river Arroyo Canelón Chico.
History 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 from Montevideo 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.
Population According to the 2011 census, Canelones had a population of 19,865. In 2010, the Intendencia de Canelones had recorded a population of 25,961 for the municipality during the elections. 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 and Las Piedras.
Year Population 1908 8,523 1963 14,028 1975 15,988 1985 17,323 1996 19,388 2004 19,631 2011 19,865 2023 24,185 Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay
Economic activity 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.
Government and infrastructure The civil aviation agency of the country, National Civil Aviation and Aviation Infrastructure Direction (DINACIA), has its headquarters in Canelones."Inicio." (Archive) National Civil Aviation and Aviation Infrastructure Direction. Retrieved on April 17, 2012. "Avda. Camino de las Industrias Wilson Ferreira Aldunate (ex Camino Carrasco) 5519, Canelones, Uruguay."
Places of worship Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Roman Catholic)
Noted local people Diego Lugano, former international footballer Pablo Gabriel García, former international footballer for Matías Vecino, international footballer Facundo Peraza (born July 27, 1992), footballer Robert Siboldi, Former football player and former manager of Santos Laguna Sebastián Rodríguez (born 1992), footballer
Sister Cities Asunción, Paraguay Loudoun County, United States
See also
Canelones Department#Main Urban Centres
References
External links INE map of Canelones, Paso Espinosa and Paso Palomeque