Florida, Uruguay
Florida is the capital of Florida Department of Uruguay. Having a population of over 36,000, it is home to almost half of the inhabitants of the department.
Geography
It is located on Route 5, around north of Montevideo.The stream Arroyo Santa Lucía Chico flows along the east and south limits of the city.
Climate
On 14 January 2022, Florida recorded a temperature of, which is the joint highest temperature to have ever been recorded in Uruguay.History
The city was founded on 24 April 1809 with this name, Florida, in honor of the count of Floridablanca, the prime minister of the Spanish crown. It had acquired the status of "Villa" before the Independence of Uruguay. On 10 July 1856, it became capital city of the department by the Act of Ley Nº 493 and on 19 April 1894 its status was elevated to "Ciudad" by the Act of Ley Nº 2.258.It is home of the famous Piedra Alta de la Florida, the place of the Declaration of Independence in 1825. The city is also famous for San Cono's chapel, where multitudes gather every 3 June.
An important building is the Cathedral of Florida, which is the National Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Thirty-Three.
Population
In 2023, Florida had a population of 36,471.| Year | Population |
| 1908 | 10,606 |
| 1963 | 20,934 |
| 1975 | 25,374 |
| 1985 | 28,443 |
| 1996 | 31,594 |
| 2004 | 32,128 |
| 2011 | 33,639 |
| 2023 | 36,471 |
Source: ''National Statistics Institute''
Sister city
Florida has one sister city:- Asunción, Paraguay
Places of worship
- Cathedral Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Thirty-Three
- St. Joseph Parish Church
- St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish Church
- St. Conus Chapel in Florida, a very popular Roman Catholic pilgrimage sanctuary
Notable people
- Atilio Ancheta, Uruguayan international footballer
- Medardo R. Farías, Uruguayan army general and aviator