San Martín, Mendoza
Encyclopedia
San Martín is a city
in the north-center part of the Mendoza Province
in Argentina
. It is the capital of the San Martín Department
and constitutes, with Palmira and La Colonia, the third-largest metropolitan area
in the province
.
called Pallamay until 1563, when the first European
s under the command of the Captain Pedro Moyano Cornejo, arrived to the area.
The city was known as Rodeo de Moyano or, alternatively, as La Reducción (Spanish
: The Reduction); but its name was changed to Villa Los Barriales in 1816, when it was included in the Corocorto Priesthood of Mendoza Province and officially established by the Governor of Mendoza
, Toribio de Luzuriaga.
San Martín came into prominence in the war of the Argentine independence
period, when José de San Martín
received an extensive land grant in the area to take advantage of agriculture
and help the Chilean army of Bernardo O'Higgins
in an effort to prevent new Spanish
invasions from Chile
to Argentina. In 1823, the governor Pedro Molina changed the name of the city yet again in homage to the Argentine general José de San Martín, who, besides his inestimable historical role, contributed many innovations to the local farming sector and in viticulture
, particularly.
In 1885, the first railway arrived in San Martin, uniting Buenos Aires
with Mendoza
and Chile. This development brought many Italian
immigrants to the area from Buenos Aires
; during the 1950s and '60s, National Route 7
was built between Buenos Aires and Mendoza Province, converting the city into an important distribution center along the most important highway between Buenos Aires and Santiago, Chile
.
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in the north-center part of the Mendoza Province
Mendoza Province
The Province of Mendoza is a province of Argentina, located in the western central part of the country in the Cuyo region. It borders to the north with San Juan, the south with La Pampa and Neuquén, the east with San Luis, and to the west with the republic of Chile; the international limit is...
in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. It is the capital of the San Martín Department
San Martín Department, Mendoza
San Martín is a department located in the centre of Mendoza Province in Argentina.The provincial subdivision has a population of about 108,500 inhabitants in an area of 1,504km², and its capital city is San Martín, which is located around 1,100km from Capital Federal.-Name:The Department and its...
and constitutes, with Palmira and La Colonia, the third-largest metropolitan area
Metropolitan area
The term metropolitan area refers to a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing. A metropolitan area usually encompasses multiple jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships,...
in the province
Provinces of Argentina
Argentina is subdivided into twenty-three provinces and one autonomous city...
.
History
The first San Martín inhabitants were the Huarpe Milkayak people. The territory was governed by the tribal chiefTribal chief
A tribal chief is the leader of a tribal society or chiefdom. Tribal societies with social stratification under a single leader emerged in the Neolithic period out of earlier tribal structures with little stratification, and they remained prevalent throughout the Iron Age.In the case of ...
called Pallamay until 1563, when the first European
European ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
s under the command of the Captain Pedro Moyano Cornejo, arrived to the area.
The city was known as Rodeo de Moyano or, alternatively, as La Reducción (Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
: The Reduction); but its name was changed to Villa Los Barriales in 1816, when it was included in the Corocorto Priesthood of Mendoza Province and officially established by the Governor of Mendoza
Governor of Mendoza
The Constitution of Mendoza Province, Argentina states that the executive power of the Province will be led by a citizen chosen as a Governor by the people for a four-year term, and not allowed to be re-elected for the immediately following term....
, Toribio de Luzuriaga.
San Martín came into prominence in the war of the Argentine independence
Argentine War of Independence
The Argentine War of Independence was fought from 1810 to 1818 by Argentine patriotic forces under Manuel Belgrano, Juan José Castelli and José de San Martín against royalist forces loyal to the Spanish crown...
period, when José de San Martín
José de San Martín
José Francisco de San Martín, known simply as Don José de San Martín , was an Argentine general and the prime leader of the southern part of South America's successful struggle for independence from Spain.Born in Yapeyú, Corrientes , he left his mother country at the...
received an extensive land grant in the area to take advantage of agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and help the Chilean army of Bernardo O'Higgins
Bernardo O'Higgins
Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme was a Chilean independence leader who, together with José de San Martín, freed Chile from Spanish rule in the Chilean War of Independence. Although he was the second Supreme Director of Chile , he is considered one of Chile's founding fathers, as he was the first holder...
in an effort to prevent new Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
invasions from Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
to Argentina. In 1823, the governor Pedro Molina changed the name of the city yet again in homage to the Argentine general José de San Martín, who, besides his inestimable historical role, contributed many innovations to the local farming sector and in viticulture
Viticulture
Viticulture is the science, production and study of grapes which deals with the series of events that occur in the vineyard. When the grapes are used for winemaking, it is also known as viniculture...
, particularly.
In 1885, the first railway arrived in San Martin, uniting Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
with Mendoza
Mendoza, Argentina
Mendoza is the capital city of Mendoza Province, in Argentina. It is located in the northern-central part of the province, in a region of foothills and high plains, on the eastern side of the Andes. As of the , Mendoza's population was 110,993...
and Chile. This development brought many Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
immigrants to the area from Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
; during the 1950s and '60s, National Route 7
National Route 7 (Argentina)
National Route 7 is a road in Argentina. It crosses the country from east to west, from the capital to the border with Chile, thus linking the Atlantic coast with the Andes, crossing the provinces of Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Córdoba, San Luis and Mendoza...
was built between Buenos Aires and Mendoza Province, converting the city into an important distribution center along the most important highway between Buenos Aires and Santiago, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
.