Río Grande Department
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Río Grande Department | |
|---|---|
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
.svg) Location of Río Grande Department within Tierra del Fuego Province | |
| Coordinates: 53°47′11″S 67°41′48″W / 53.78639°S 67.69667°W | |
| Country |  Argentina |
| Province | Tierra del Fuego Province |
| Head town | Río Grande |
| Area | |
• Total | 12,181 km2 (4,703 sq mi) |
| Population (2010) | |
• Total | 70,042 |
| • Density | 5.7501/km2 (14.893/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-3 (ART) |
Río Grande Department (Spanish: Departamento Río Grande) is a department of Argentina in Tierra del Fuego Province, Argentina. The largest city and seat of the department is the city of Río Grande. It was established in the early 20th century as an agricultural colony, followed by the development of its port and, the further discovery of oil, have shaped its economic and demographic landscape.
The history of the area dates to an expedition led by Julio Popper discovering the Río Grande in October 1886. The establishment of the first Salesian Mission in 1893 is considered the earliest record of white settlement in the region. Río Grande was officially founded on 11 July 1921, and was recognized by a central government decree as an agricultural colony. The initial settlers were workers from the abandoned gold mines in the San Sebastian region. The city experienced rapid growth as a port and an urban center. The discovery of oil in 1959, spurred significant migratory movements, further complemented by migrations in the 1970s and 1980s due to the promulgation of the Law of Economic Promotion, offering tax exemptions and subsidies to industries and settlers.[2]
