Ramos Mejia
Encyclopedia
Ramos Mejía is a locality
of La Matanza Partido
in Greater Buenos Aires
. The city has an area of 11.9 km² and a population
of 98,457 (INDEC, 2001).
It is one of the largest commercial districts in the Western Zone of Greater Buenos Aires
.
, and had returned from a nine-year stay in the Upper Peru
, where his business interests had met with success. The ranch became noteworthy as the site of the first public religious controversy in Argentina, when Ramos Mejía's differences over the interpretation of biblical canon
with the local parish priest, Father Castañeda, led to the former's exile from the parish in 1821.
The property remained in name of wife, María Antonia Segurola de Ramos Mejía, who became its sole proprietor upon her husband's death in 1828. Confiscated by order of Governor Juan Manuel de Rosas
in 1840, it was returned to the widow in 1853 following Rosas' overthrow
. She bequeathed the land to her four sons in a living trust. They, in turn, sold the first lots to the Buenos Aires Western Railway
, which inaugurated the station at the site on September 25, 1858, along the nation's first rail line
.
Subsequent sales by the heirs, and its resale as parcels, led to the establishment of the town in 1871. Bouyed by the subsequent wave of immigration in Argentina, Ramos Mejía grew rapidly and in 1904, the cobblestone
Avenida Rivadavia reached the town from Buenos Aires. The original station was replaced in 1907 by a larger structure designed by Dutch architect John Doyer; one of the most recognizable examples of Victorian architecture
in Argentina, the building itself was converted to a museum in 2008.
Ramos Mejía would be the site of other milestones in the history of Argentine public transport
. The establishment of the Transporte Ideal San Justo, a shared taxi company, in 1921, marked the birth of the popular transport service in Argentina (where they are known as colectivo
s). The electrification of the Western Railway line in 1923 between Ramos Mejía and the Estación Once
terminal in Buenos Aires would be another first in the nation.
Among the most important educational institutions in the city are the Ward College, established in 1913, and the Salesian Wilfrid Barón College of Don Bosco, established in 1930. The local Casa de la Cultura ("cultural house") houses the Leopoldo Marechal
Theatre, one of the most important such establishments in La Matanza County. Ramos Mejía was officially recognized as a city by the Provincial Legislature on September 17, 1964.
The city is the birthplace of, among other well-known personalities in Argentina, comedian Antonio Gasalla
, cyclist and olympic gold medalist Walter Pérez
, former Vice President Carlos Ruckauf
, Governor Daniel Scioli
, screenwriter Damián Szifrón
, and songwriter María Elena Walsh
.
Locality
Locality may refer to:* Locality, a.k.a. human settlement* Locality of reference in computer-science data-access issue* Locality * Locality * Locality, physics concept re principle of locality* Locality in astronomy...
of La Matanza Partido
La Matanza Partido
La Matanza is a partido located in the Greater Buenos Aires in Buenos Aires Province in Argentina....
in Greater Buenos Aires
Greater Buenos Aires
Greater Buenos Aires is the generic denomination to refer to the megalopolis comprising the autonomous city of Buenos Aires and the conurbation around it, over the province of Buenos Aires—namely the adjacent 24 partidos or municipalities—which nonetheless do not constitute a single administrative...
. The city has an area of 11.9 km² and a population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of 98,457 (INDEC, 2001).
It is one of the largest commercial districts in the Western Zone of Greater Buenos Aires
Greater Buenos Aires
Greater Buenos Aires is the generic denomination to refer to the megalopolis comprising the autonomous city of Buenos Aires and the conurbation around it, over the province of Buenos Aires—namely the adjacent 24 partidos or municipalities—which nonetheless do not constitute a single administrative...
.
History
The land where the city is now located was originally purchased from Martín José de Altolaguirre by Francisco Ramos Mejía in 1808. Ramos Mejía was the son of a merchant from SevilleSeville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
, and had returned from a nine-year stay in the Upper Peru
Upper Peru
Upper Peru was the region in the Viceroyalty of Peru, and after 1776, the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, comprising the governorships of Potosí, La Paz, Cochabamba, Los Chiquitos, Moxos and Charcas...
, where his business interests had met with success. The ranch became noteworthy as the site of the first public religious controversy in Argentina, when Ramos Mejía's differences over the interpretation of biblical canon
Biblical canon
A biblical canon, or canon of scripture, is a list of books considered to be authoritative as scripture by a particular religious community. The term itself was first coined by Christians, but the idea is found in Jewish sources. The internal wording of the text can also be specified, for example...
with the local parish priest, Father Castañeda, led to the former's exile from the parish in 1821.
The property remained in name of wife, María Antonia Segurola de Ramos Mejía, who became its sole proprietor upon her husband's death in 1828. Confiscated by order of Governor Juan Manuel de Rosas
Juan Manuel de Rosas
Juan Manuel de Rosas , was an argentine militar and politician, who was elected governor of the province of Buenos Aires in 1829 to 1835, and then of the Argentine Confederation from 1835 until 1852...
in 1840, it was returned to the widow in 1853 following Rosas' overthrow
Battle of Caseros
The Battle of Caseros was fought near the town of Caseros, more precisely between the present-day train stations of Caseros and Palomar in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, on 3 February 1852, between the Army of Buenos Aires commanded by Juan Manuel de Rosas...
. She bequeathed the land to her four sons in a living trust. They, in turn, sold the first lots to the Buenos Aires Western Railway
Buenos Aires Western Railway
The Buenos Aires Western Railway was one of the Big Four broad gauge British-owned companies that built and operated railway networks in Argentina...
, which inaugurated the station at the site on September 25, 1858, along the nation's first rail line
Rail transport in Argentina
The Argentine railway network comprised of track at the end of the Second World War and was, in its time, one of the most extensive and prosperous in South America. However, with the increase in highway construction, there followed a sharp decline in railway profitability, leading to the break-up...
.
Subsequent sales by the heirs, and its resale as parcels, led to the establishment of the town in 1871. Bouyed by the subsequent wave of immigration in Argentina, Ramos Mejía grew rapidly and in 1904, the cobblestone
Cobblestone
Cobblestones are stones that were frequently used in the pavement of early streets. "Cobblestone" is derived from the very old English word "cob", which had a wide range of meanings, one of which was "rounded lump" with overtones of large size...
Avenida Rivadavia reached the town from Buenos Aires. The original station was replaced in 1907 by a larger structure designed by Dutch architect John Doyer; one of the most recognizable examples of Victorian architecture
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
in Argentina, the building itself was converted to a museum in 2008.
Transportation in Argentina
Transport in Argentina is mainly based on a complex network of routes, crossed by relatively inexpensive long-distance buses and by cargo trucks. The country also has a number of national and international airports. The importance of the long-distance train is minor today, though in the past it was...
. The establishment of the Transporte Ideal San Justo, a shared taxi company, in 1921, marked the birth of the popular transport service in Argentina (where they are known as colectivo
Colectivo
Colectivo is the name given in Argentina and Paraguay to a type of public transportation vehicles, especially those of Argentina's capital city, Buenos Aires...
s). The electrification of the Western Railway line in 1923 between Ramos Mejía and the Estación Once
Estación Once
Once railway station is a large railway terminus in central Buenos Aires, Argentina.The station, inaugurated on December 20, 1882, is located in the barrio of Balvanera immediately north of Plaza Miserere, a large public square...
terminal in Buenos Aires would be another first in the nation.
Among the most important educational institutions in the city are the Ward College, established in 1913, and the Salesian Wilfrid Barón College of Don Bosco, established in 1930. The local Casa de la Cultura ("cultural house") houses the Leopoldo Marechal
Leopoldo Marechal
Leopoldo Marechal was one of the most important Argentine writers of the twentieth century.- Biographical notes :...
Theatre, one of the most important such establishments in La Matanza County. Ramos Mejía was officially recognized as a city by the Provincial Legislature on September 17, 1964.
The city is the birthplace of, among other well-known personalities in Argentina, comedian Antonio Gasalla
Antonio Gasalla
Antonio Gasalla is a well-known Argentine actor, comedian, and theatre director.-Life and work:Antonio Gasalla was born in Ramos Mejía, a western suburb of Buenos Aires, in 1941...
, cyclist and olympic gold medalist Walter Pérez
Walter Pérez
Walter Fernando Pérez is an Olympic gold medal-winning racing cyclist from Argentina.Pérez, who joined the Argentine cycling team in 1992, won the Men's Madison gold medal at the 2008 Olympics with team-mate Juan Curuchet.-References:* Crítica Digital...
, former Vice President Carlos Ruckauf
Carlos Ruckauf
Carlos Federico Ruckauf is a Peronist politician in Argentina, member of the Justicialist Party.-Biography:Carlos Federico Ruckauf was born in the western Buenos Aires suburb of Ramos Mejía. His parents separated when he was seven, and he lived in Mar del Plata, Salta, and Buenos Aires during the...
, Governor Daniel Scioli
Daniel Scioli
Daniel Osvaldo Scioli was Vice President of Argentina from 2003 to 2007 and is the current Governor of Buenos Aires Province and the president of the Justicialist Party. He is a sportsman, an entrepreneur and a politician.- Family :...
, screenwriter Damián Szifrón
Damián Szifrón
Damián Szifron is an Argentine film and television director, and screenwriter, best known as the creator of the TV series Los Simuladores ....
, and songwriter María Elena Walsh
María Elena Walsh
María Elena Walsh was an Argentine poet, novelist, musician, dramaturge, writer and composer, mainly known for her songs and books for children.-Biography:...
.