Colonia Department

Colonia Department
Flag of Colonia Department
Flag
Coat of arms of Colonia Department
Coat of arms
Colonia Department is located in Uruguay
Colonia Department
Location of Colonia Department and its capital
Coordinates (Colonia del Sacramento): 34°28′17″S 57°50′39″W / 34.47139°S 57.84417°W / -34.47139; -57.84417
Country Uruguay
Established1816
Capital of DepartmentColonia del Sacramento
Government
 • IntendantGuillermo A. Rodríguez
 • Ruling partyNational
Area
 • Total
6,106 km2 (2,358 sq mi)
Elevation
71 m (233 ft)
Population
 (2023 census)
 • Total
135,717
 • Density22.23/km2 (57.57/sq mi)
Demonymcolonienses
Time zoneUTC-3 (UYT)
ISO 3166 codeUY-CO
Websitewww.colonia.gub.uy
Map of Colonia Department

Colonia (Spanish pronunciation: [koˈlonja] ⓘ) is a department of southwestern Uruguay. Its capital is Colonia del Sacramento, the country's second-oldest city.

Geography

Climate

Colonia has an annual average temperature of 20.4 °C (68.7 °F). In winter it has an average temperature of 9 °C (48.2 °F) and in summer it has an average temperature of 27 °C (80.6 °F)

Economy

The southwestern region of Uruguay, where Colonia Department is located, is traditionally associated with dairy production. The area contains production plants of several dairy companies, including the well-known Los Nietitos, Colonial, and La Positiva, as well as smaller producers.

The PepsiCo plant located in Colonia del Sacramento, is one of the three largest worldwide, employing more than 2,000 people and serving the entire Latin American import market. The plant operates under special economic zone legislation, and as of November 2019, has successfully approved an enlargement investment for $65 million.

Its proximity to Buenos Aires makes it the main entry point for tourists traveling from Argentina to Uruguay. Tourism is also favored by part of the capital being a World Heritage Site.

Demographics

Ethnic groups in Colonia (2011 est.)
Ethnic groups Percent
White
 
 95.8%
Black
 
 2.9%
Indigenous
 
 2.5%
Asian
 
 0.2%
None/Other/Unspecified
 
 2.1%

As of the census of 2023, Colonia Department has a population of 135,797.

Main Urban Centres Other towns and villages
Population stated as per 2011 census.
City / TownPopulation
Colonia del Sacramento29,231
Carmelo18,041
Juan Lacaze12,816
Nueva Helvecia10,630
Rosario10,085
Nueva Palmira9,857
Tarariras6,632
Florencio Sánchez3,716
Ombúes de Lavalle3,390
Colonia Valdense3,235
Town / VillagePopulation
Miguelete999
La Paz603
El Semillero600
Conchillas401
Rural population

According to the 2011 census, Colonia department has an additional rural population of 11,471.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Carlos Moreira renuncia al Partido Nacional y a su candidatura al Senado: "Impedir que se afecte el resultado electoral"". 2019-10-20. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  2. ↑ "Regiones agropecuarias del Uruguay" (PDF). Presidencia del Uruguay. Ministerio de Ganadería, Agricultura y Pesca.
  3. ↑ "Un sabor que es Marca País (Los Nietitos galardonado como referente en calidad y excelencia)". Archived from the original on 2025-12-11. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
  4. ↑ "Ferreri dijo que extensión del contrato de Pepsico en Zona Franca de Colonia y ampliación de su planta ratifican estabilidad del país - Presidencia de la República". Archived from the original on 2020-11-19. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  5. ↑ Uruguay, Presidencia de la República Oriental del. "Ferreri dijo que extensión del contrato de Pepsico en Zona Franca de Colonia y ampliación de su planta ratifican estabilidad del país - Presidencia de la República". Presidencia de la República Oriental del Uruguay (in European Spanish). Archived from the original on 2020-11-19. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  6. ↑ "Población por sexo y ascendencia étnico racial, según departamento" (in Spanish). National Institute of Statistics. Archived from the original on 30 November 2020.
  7. 1 2 "Censos 2011 Colonia (needs flash plugin)". INE. 2012. Archived from the original on 1 September 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  8. ↑ "Censos 2011 Cuadros Colonia". INE. 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.

34°7′0″S 57°41′0″W / 34.11667°S 57.68333°W / -34.11667; -57.68333