Las Piedras | |
|---|---|
City and municipality | |
 The Obelisc of Las Piedras | |
  Las Piedras | |
| Coordinates: 34°43′0″S 56°13′0″W / 34.71667°S 56.21667°W | |
| Country |  Uruguay |
| Department |  Canelones |
| Founded | 1744 |
| Elevation | 81 m (266 ft) |
| Population (2011 Census) | |
| • Total | 71,268 |
| • Demonym | pedrense |
| Time zone | UTC -3 |
| postal code | 90200 |
| Dial plan | +598 2 (+7 digits) |
Las Piedras is a city in the Canelones Department of Uruguay. As of the census of 2011, it is the seventh most populated city of the country.
Las Piedras is also the name of the municipality to which the city belongs.
The city is located on the east side of Route 5, 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) north of the border with Montevideo Department. Bordering La Paz to the south and Montevideo to the southeast, it belongs to the wider metropolitan area of Montevideo. The stream Arroyo de las Piedras flows by the city.
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Las Piedras has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[1]
Las Piedras was founded in 1744 under the name "San Isidro".[2]
On May 18, 1811 the Uruguayan independence leader don José Gervasio Artigas led patriot forces to victory against Spain at the Battle of Las Piedras. While not the definitive event in the country's independence process, it marked a significant step towards the eventual establishment of an independent Uruguay.
It had acquired the status of "Pueblo" (village) before the Independence of Uruguay. Its status was elevated to "Ciudad" (city) on 15 May 1925 by the Act of Ley Nº 7.837.[2]
According to the 2011 census, Las Piedras had a population of 71,258.[3] In 2010 the Intendencia de Canelones had estimated a population of 79,412 for the municipality during the elections.[4]
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1908 | 8,109 |
| 1963 | 40,658 |
| 1975 | 53,331 |
| 1985 | 58,283 |
| 1996 | 66,584 |
| 2004 | 69,222 |
| 2011 | 71,258 |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay[2]
There is one professional association football team called Juventud de Las Piedras.
