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Montevideo (1.3 million inhabitants, approximately 50% of the national population) is the capital, chief port and largest city of Uruguay.

From the Plaza de Independencia which is the juncture between the old city and the ciudad nova extends the Calle 18 de Julio to Cordon, one of the finest boulevards of South America.

Montevideo is situated in the south of the country, at the northern mouth of the very wide Plata River ( Río de la Plata) estuary, 120 miles across from Buenos Aires at the southern side.

The city was founded in 1725 by the Spanish to prevent futher incursions by the Portuguese, who had founded Colonia del Sacramento in the previous century, into what was considered Spanish lands, granted to them by the Treaty of Tordesillas. In 1828, the town became the capital of Uruguay. There are at least two explanations for the name Montevideo: The first states that it comes from the Portuguese "Monte vide eu" which means "I see a mountain". The second is that the Spaniards recorded the location of a fountain in a map as "Monte VI De Este a Oeste" meaning "The sixth mountain from east to west". The city's full original name is San Felipe y Santiago de Montevideo.

The city fell under heavy British influence from the early 19th century until the early 20th century as a way to circumvent Argentine and Brazilian commercial control. It was repeatedly besieged by Argentinian dictator Juan Manuel de Rosas between 1838Events January 6 Samuel Morse first publicly demonstrates the telegraph. January 8 Alfred Vail demonstrates a telegraph using dots and dashes (this is the forerunner of Morse code) January 12 Joseph Smith, Jr. and Sidney Rigdon flee Ohio for Missouri Marc and 1851Events January 23 The flip of a coin determines whether a new city in Oregon is named after Boston, Massachusetts, or Portland, Maine, with Portland winning. March 1 Victor Hugo gives speech at the French national assembly and uses the phrase United State. Between 1860Events March 6 Abraham Lincoln speaks against slavery in New Haven, Connecticut April 3 The Pony Express makes its first run. May 9 The Constitutional Union Party holds its convention and nominates John Bell for President of the United States. May 13 Batt and 19111911 is a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). Events January-June January 1 Northern Territory is separated from South Australia January 3 In London, a shootout between Russian anarchists and the Scots Guard January 10 Major Jimmi, the British built an extensive railroad network linking the city to the surrounding countryside.

During the early 20th century, many Europeans immigrated to the city, and by 19081908 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). Events January-February January 1 A ball signifying New Year's Day drops in New York City's Times Square for the first time January 8 A train collision occurs in the Park Avenue T, 30% of the population was foreign born. During the mid-20th century, military dictatorshipA military dictatorship is a form of government wherein the political power resides within the military; it is similar but not identical to a , i. a state ruled directly by the military. Like all dictatorships, a military dictatorship may be official or u and economic stagnation caused a decline whose residual effects are still seen today. Many rural poor flooded the city, with a large concentration in Ciudad Vieja.

Recently, economic recovery and stronger trade ties with Uruguay's neighbors have led to renewed agricultural development and hopes for greater future prosperity.