Río Branco, Uruguay
Río Branco is a city in the Cerro Largo department of northeastern Uruguay, it borders the Brazilian city of Jaguarão, with which it communicates through the Baron of Mauá International Bridge. It is the easternmost city in all of Uruguay next to Barra del Chuy.
Name
The words Rio Branco mean "white river" in Portuguese. However, the name does not refer to any local river; it is a tribute to Brazilian diplomat José Paranhos, Baron of Rio Branco, who negotiated the definitive borders of Brazil and Uruguay. Hence the Portuguese name, instead of Spanish Río Blanco.Geography
It is located at the east end of Route 26, about east-southeast of the department capital city of Melo.The Yaguarón River, which forms the natural border with Brazil, flows along the city's northern limits. Right across the river lies the Brazilian town of Jaguarão, with the Baron of Mauá International Bridge joining the two cities.
History
On 31 August 1915, the villa previously known as Artigas was given its present name by Act of Law 5330. On 1 July 1953, its status was elevated to a ciudad by Act of Law 11,963.Population
In 2011, Río Branco had a population of 14,604.| Year | Population |
| 1908 | 4,106 |
| 1963 | 4,023 |
| 1975 | 5,685 |
| 1985 | 9,072 |
| 1996 | 12,215 |
| 2004 | 13,456 |
| 2011 | 14,604 |
Source: ''Instituto Nacional de Estadística de Uruguay''