The Departament de Canelones () is one of the 19 Uruguayan departments. With an area of and 608,956 inhabitants at the 2023 Census, it is located in the south of Uruguay. Its capital is Canelones. Ciudad de la Costa is the largest city by total population and Las Piedras is the largest city with an official census.

Geography Neighbouring departments are Maldonado and Lavalleja to the East, Florida to the North, San José to the West, and Montevideo to the South. Part of the southern border is formed by the Río de la Plata. It is the second smallest department of the country after that of Montevideo, but the second largest in population.

Located in the humid templated region, the average temperature is low compared to that of the rest of the country (around 15 °C), as are the levels of precipitation (up to 2,000 mm yearly, on average).

By area Canelones Department is the second smallest of Uruguay's 19 departments.

Topography and hydrography

Canelones Department, is characterized by flat lands and absence of relief (like most parts of Uruguay), with small coastal sand dunes at the south, and with meadows and woods in the center, north and west.

The department is rich in waterways, with many rivers and streams. However, there are two rivers that stand out for their importance: the Santa Lucía River and the Río de la Plata, which is actually a sea of salt water. On the coastline formed by the Río de la Plata, there are many spa towns and their respective beaches.

Santa Lucia River, meanwhile, forms the northern boundary with Florida, which is separated by a bridge known as the Paso Pache.

Regions Despite being a small department, Canelones has a population of over 500,000 inhabitants and one of the highest population densities in the country with 114 inhabitants per square kilometer.

The department is divided into approximately 20 sections. Within these, there are significant populations centers, some of which have the status of municipality, while others are part of cities formed recently by decree, and then there are also those that do not have enough inhabitants and are therefore often considered simple population entities with no mayor or government, remaining under the direct jurisdiction of the Municipality of Canelones (in Spanish, Intendencia Municipal Canelones or Comuna Canaria), which is based in the departmental capital, Canelones.

History Canelones was one of the nine original departments created in 1830. Over the years its boundaries have changed little.

Economy Agriculture is one of the principal contributors to the economy of Canelones. The cultivation of grapevines is widespread, and the area is a major contributor to Uruguay's burgeoning wine industry. In addition, cereal crops – principally maize – are produced, as are a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Tourism, in the eastern coastal area, is also a major source of income for the department, and has enabled the development of important urban centres, such as Atlántida.

Demographics

At the 2011 census, Canelones Department had a population of 520,187 (253,124 male and 267,063 female) and 222,193 (+44.25% than in 2004 (153,931)) households; at the 2023 Census this had grown to 608,956 inhabitants. The average household size in 2011 was 2.3 persons.

Demographic data for Canelones Department in 2010: Population growth rate: 1,095% Birth rate: 14.83 births/1,000 people Death rate: 8.45 deaths/1,000 people Average age: 32.9 (31.4 males, 34.3 females) Life expectancy at birth Total population: 76.37 years Male: 72.95 years Female: 80.00 years Average per household income: 25,087 pesos/month Urban per capita income: 10,015 pesos/month 2010 Data Source:

Main urban centres Other towns and villages Population stated according to the 2011 census. City / Town Population Ciudad de la Costa (**) 113,257 Las Piedras 71,258 Barros Blancos 31,650 Pando 25,947 La Paz 20,524 Canelones 19,865 Santa Lucía 16,742 Progreso 16,244 Villa Crespo y San Andrés 9,813 Colonia Nicolich 9,624 Fracc. Camino del Andaluz y R.84 9,295 Salinas * 8,626 Parque del Plata * 7,896 San Ramón 7,133 Joaquín Suárez 6,570 Sauce 6,132 Atlántida * 5,562 Tala 5,089 Neptunia * 4,774 Pinamar – Pinepark * 4,724 San Jacinto 4,510 Toledo 4,397 City / Town Population Villa Aeroparque 4,307 Empalme Olmos 4,199 Santa Rosa 3,727 Marindia * 3,543 Las Toscas * 3,146 Cerrillos 2,508 Estación Atlántida * 2,274 Migues 2,109 San Bautista 1,973 San Luis * 1,878 Dr. Francisco Soca 1,797 Montes 1,760 La Floresta * 1,595 Fracc. sobre R.74 1,513 San Antonio 1,489 Villa San José 1,419 Villa Felicidad 1,344 Estación La Floresta * 1,313 Juanicó 1,305 City Golf * 1,104 Aguas Corrientes 1,047 Town / Village Population Costa Azul 965 Barrio Cópola 826 Lomas de Carrasco 806 Estanque de Pando 770 Jardines de Pando 756 Totoral del Sauce 746 Olmos 662 Seis Hermanos 622 Villa Argentina 622 Villa El Tato 615 Costa y Guillamón 550 Villa Paz S.A. 542 Cuchilla Alta 527 Castellanos 520 Villa Porvenir 507 Barrio La Lucha 492 (* Resorts of the Costa de Oro – ** Sum result. See main article for all censal areas included.) Rural population

According to the 2011 census, Canelones department had a rural population of 48,219 (9.3%).

Government The executive power is exercised by the Intendencia Departamental de Canelones. The Intendant is elected every five years with the possibility of reelection. The legislative power is exercised by the Junta Departamental.

On 15 March 2010, by the Act of Ley Nº 18.653, the following Municipalities were formed in the Canelones Department:

Source: Intendencia Municipal de Canelones * Stated as 2004 estimates. ** Source: El Observador (2010)

Municipality Population Aguas Corrientes 2,180* Atlántida 9,251* Barros Blancos 27,687* Canelones 27,338 Ciudad de la Costa 75,990* Colonia Nicolich 13,757* Empalme Olmos 6,747 Joaquín Suárez 16,135 La Floresta 6,561* La Paz 19,532

Municipality Population Las Piedras 74,436* Los Cerrillos 7,369 Migues 3,720** Montes 1,968** Pando 32,603 Parque del Plata 8,122* Paso Carrasco 22,688 Progreso 20,450* Salinas 17,997

Municipality Population San Antonio 3,552 San Bautista 4,045 San Jacinto 6,674 San Ramón 8,554 Santa Lucía 18,346 Santa Rosa 6,008 Sauce 14,815 Soca 3,829 Tala 9,499 Toledo 16,197

See also List of populated places in Uruguay#Canelones Department

References

External links

Official website Enciclopedia Geografica del Uruguay - Canelones (Spanish) INE map of Canelones Official map of the municipalities of Canelones. Nuestra Terra, Colección Los Departamentos, Vol.16 "Canelones"