Córdoba Province, Argentina
Córdoba
Provincia de Córdoba (Spanish) | |
---|---|
Province of Córdoba | |
UTC−3 (ART) | |
ISO 3166 code | AR-X |
HDI (2021) | 0.841 very high (13th)[3] |
Website | www |
Córdoba (Spanish pronunciation:
Córdoba is the second-most populous Argentine province, with 3,978,984 inhabitants, and the fifth by size, at about 165,321 km2 (63,831 sq mi). Almost 41% of its inhabitants reside in the capital city, Córdoba, and its surroundings, making it the second most populous metro area in Argentina.
History
Before the
Once settled in Upper Peru, the Spaniards searched for a route to the Río de la Plata port in the Atlantic Ocean to transport the Peruvian gold and silver to Europe.
Córdoba de la Nueva Andalucía (nowadays the city of Córdoba) was founded as a middle point on that route on July 6, 1573 by Jerónimo Luis de Cabrera. The Colegio Convictorio de Nuestra Señora de Monserrat was founded by the
In 1783, seven years after the consolidation of the
After the
Led by
During the presidency of Sarmiento an astronomic observatory (1871) and the Faculty of Physical Sciences and Mathematics (1873) were inaugurated.
The creation of the railways and the consequent immigration brought a second wave of population growth to Córdoba. From 1887 on, several agricultural colonies (
The
After World War II, many foreign workers and workers from other provinces in Argentina were attracted to Córdoba's industrial development, led by the expansion of the car industry. It was during Arturo Frondizi's presidency (1958–1962) that most new auto industries settled in the city of Córdoba and its surroundings.
As in the rest of the country,
Córdoba has continued to prosper, despite left-wing violence in 1973,
Geography
Córdoba, located just north of the geographical center of the nation, is Argentina's fifth-largest province. The main feature of the province is the presence of an extensive plain covering the eastern two-thirds of the province and the existence of three major mountain ranges, which, combined, are known as
West of these valleys, the
The climate of the province is predominantly temperate, with some regional variations. Generally speaking, summers are hot and humid, falls are pleasant, winters are extremely dry with strong variations in temperature, and springs are windy and variable. The eastern part of the province experiences summer average high temperatures between 30 and 32 °C (86 and 90 °F) and lows of 16 to 18 °C (61 to 64 °F), with frequent thunderstorms and heat waves with temperatures higher than 38 °C (100 °F) alternating with periods of much drier, pleasant weather following cold fronts. Monthly precipitation during this season ranges from 90 to 120 mm (3.5 to 4.7 in). Nights are noticeably cooler in March, which is also the rainiest month, and April often brings very pleasant weather with highs around 23 °C (73 °F) and lows around 11 °C (52 °F). Starting in May, rainfall is low, with less than 25 mm (0.98 in) monthly during the winter. Frost arrives in late April in the south, and late May in the north.
Winter temperatures average a high of 15 to 18 °C (59 to 64 °F) and lows of 2 to 4 °C (36 to 39 °F), but marked variations are possible: northerly winds can push values up to 30 °C (86 °F) and southerly winds can keep afternoon temperatures at 6 °C (43 °F) and bring nighttime temperatures to −5 °C (23 °F). The air is often humid in winter, and thick fog is very common. Snowfall is very rare, almost unheard of in the northeast, but snowstorms can occur: in 2007, between 10 and 20 cm (4 and 8 in) covered a significant part of the region, and temperatures plummeted to -9 °C in most areas (16F). Spring is very variable, alternating between very intense heat waves and cool weather periods with severe thunderstorms, hail and strong winds. Total precipitation is over 850 mm (33 in) along the border with Santa Fe and diminishes to about 700 mm (28 in) in the west, reaching a minimum of about 600 mm (24 in) in the southernmost part of the province. This climate allows eastern Córdoba to be the nation's main producer of soybeans and peanuts, and a large producer of maize and dairy products.
The foothills of the Sierras are known for their pleasant weather: summer days are slightly cooler and the air feels much drier despite high precipitation; winters are much drier with less fog and less wind, and more pleasant sunny days. The eastern slopes of the sierras experience the highest precipitation: usually about 900 mm (35 in), with some spots averaging up to 1,200 mm (47 in) which fall exclusively in the form of very heavy thunderstorms in the summer. Snowfall occurs more frequently in the sierras, but is rarely heavy due to the dryness of the air.
The weather in the Pampa de Achala is very variable because of the high altitude: generally speaking, the strong radiation provides pleasant summer afternoons, but temperatures at night can be very cold. Frost can happen throughout the year, and winters are extremely dry with nights well below 0 °C (32 °F). Temperatures well under −15 °C (5 °F) have been recorded, and snowfall is very common but in small quantities due to the lack of precipitation during the colder months. Summer thunderstorms can be very violent, bringing large hail, frequent lightning and high winds.
The region of
Economy
Córdoba has the second-largest provincial economy in Argentina, behind only the
As in most places, the majority of GDP is produced by services (financial, educational, medical, professional, etc.). Within this sector, major players include Deloitte, Tarjeta Naranja and Bancor (financial services providers headquartered in the provincial capital), the city's various universities, a number of public and private clinics which attract patients both domestically and internationally (medical tourism), construction and engineering companies such as Roggio and Electroingenieria, media groups (La Voz del Interior is the largest Argentine newspaper outside Buenos Aires), retail firms (such as Grupo Dinosaurio) and a large number of small partnerships operating in accounting, law, architecture, etc. In the past, the province had significant call centers, but these have mostly been moved to lower-wage locations.
The province is among the most visited in Argentina (mostly by domestic travelers) because of its hilly landscapes, pleasant weather, "fun" reputation, and cultural offerings. In particular, cities like
Call centers flourished in the province in the past but have mostly been moved to lower-wage locations. They were instead replaced by service centers from technology companies, starting with Motorola several years ago, and many of these have evolved into software and technology development centers. Current players in that industry include Intel, Mercado Libre, Santex, Globant and a vast (and growing) number of small, specialized providers which have organized under the banner of the "Cordoba Technology Cluster". The capital city has been named one of Latin America's major startup ecosystems, with several active angel investors, incubators and a well-educated talent pool supported by local universities.
The installation of the
Food processing is another strength of the province, with the multinational candy and snack manufacturer
Industry represents 17% of the province's income, and the energy production that supports it is based mainly on 15
Agriculture and livestock provide 10% of the province's output,[7] well above the national average. The agriculture is centered on soybeans, wheat and maize, and other cereals. Cattle and sheep enjoy the grass of Córdoba's green hills. The province provides the nation with 15% of its beef production and 28% of its dairy output.
Mining includes many different minerals, and construction material such as
Córdoba is connected by rail with Buenos Aires, Rosario, Mendoza and Tucumán. The
Government
Córdoba has a unicameral legislature elected by universal suffrage. Until December 2001, the legislature was bicameral (a Chamber of Deputies and a Senate), but following the 2001 constitutional reform, this division was abolished. The unified legislature is made up of 70 members: 26 elected to represent each of the provincial departments and 44 elected by the people of the province as a whole and assigned by a proportional system.[8] The Constitution of Córdoba forms the formal law of the province.
The head of government is the governor, accompanied by a vice-governor who presides the legislature and may fill the governor's place in certain cases. Like the legislators, the governor and vice-governor are elected for a four-year term, and can be re-elected for one consecutive term.
Córdoba has long been a bastion of the centrist Radical Civic Union, but in 1999 the Justicialist José Manuel de la Sota was elected governor, succeeded by fellow Peronist Juan Schiaretti in 2007.
In Argentina, the most important law enforcement organization is the Argentine Federal Police but the additional work is carried out by the Córdoba Provincial Police.
Political divisions
The province is divided in 26 regions, or departments (Spanish: departamentos), listed below with their regional capitals.
Demographics
Evolution of population:
- 1778: 44,506[9]
- 1820: 85,000[10]
- 1847: 90,000[11]
- 1853: 150,000[11]
- 1869: 210,508[12]
- 1895: 351,223[13]
- 1914: 735,472[14]
- 1947: 1,497,987[14]
- 1960: 1,753,840[14]
- 1970: 2,060,065[14]
- 1980: 2,407,754[14]
- 1991: 2,766,683[14]
- 2001: 3,066,801[14]
- 2010: 3,308,876[15]
Vertical bar chart demographic of Córdoba Province, Argentina between 1778 and 2010 |
Largest cities
Ranking[16] | City | Population (2010) |
---|---|---|
1 | Córdoba
|
1,417,298 |
2 | Río Cuarto | 160,010 |
3 | Villa María
|
89,000 |
4 | Villa Carlos Paz | 62,423 |
5 | San Francisco | 61,750 |
Cosquín
|
57,458 | |
6 | Alta Gracia | 48,140 |
7 | Río Tercero | 46,421 |
8 | Bell Ville | 40,835 |
9 | La Calera | 32,227 |
10 | Villa Dolores | 31,850 |
See also
- List of governors of Córdoba
References
- ^ "Nuevos datos provisorios del Censo 2022: Argentina tiene 46.044.703 habitantes". Infobae. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ "PBG Córdoba".
- ^ "El mapa del desarrollo humano en Argentina" (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. 25 June 2023.
- ^ "Producto Bruto Geográfico de Provincia de Córdoba–Años 1993–2013" (in Spanish). Dirección General de Estadísticas de la Provincia de Córdoba. Archived from the original on 12 July 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
- ^ The average exchange for 1 US dollar was 5.46 Argentine pesos in 2013 according to the World Bank
- ^ Córdoba Province Official Hotel List
- ^ Prospecting Argentina
- ^ Constitution of the Province of Córdoba (14 September 2001). Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes. (in Spanish)
- ISBN 978-987-574-267-3.
- ^ Sir Woodbine Parish (1853). Buenos Aires y las provincias del Rio de la Plata: desde su descubrimiento y conquista por los Españoles. Tomo II. Buenos Aires: Imprenta de Mayo, pp. 89
- ^ a b Sir Woodbine Parish, 1853: 450
- ISBN 987-538-125-X.
- ISBN 950-786-245-5.
- ^ a b c d e f g Argentina: población total por regiones y provincias. Censos Nacionales de 1914, 1947, 1960, 1970, 1980,1991 y 2001
- ^ censo nacional 2010
- ^ "Copia archivada" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 November 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
External links
- Official Executive Power Site (Spanish)
- Official Legislative Power Site (Spanish)
- Official Judicial Power Site (Spanish)
- La Voz del Interior daily newspaper (Spanish)
- La Mañana de Córdoba daily newspaper (Spanish)
- El Diario del Sur de Córdoba daily newspaper edited in Villa María (Spanish)
- Cordoba Regions
- Capillas y Templos de la Provincia de Córdoba - Argentina
- Tanti, en el corazón de Córdoba - Argentina
- Tourism in Cordoba Argentina. (Spanish)