Nueva Helvecia
| Nueva Helvecia | |
|---|---|
 Nueva Helvecia
|
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| Coordinates: 34°17′S 57°12′W / 34.283°S 57.200°WCoordinates: 34°17′S 57°12′W / 34.283°S 57.200°W | |
| Country |
 Uruguay
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| Department | Colonia |
| Founded | 1862 |
| Population (2004) | |
| • Total | 12,000 |
Nueva Helvecia is a Uruguayan city located in Colonia. Nueva Helvecia (formerly known as Colonia Suiza) is 120 kilometres west of Montevideo, the capital and largest city of Uruguay. It's a few miles from the coast were the Atlantic Ocean meets the Río de la Plata and East of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is known nationwide for its Swiss heritage.
The first wave of immigrants arrive at the end of 1861. However the day of its foundation is considered to be 24 April 1862. This year marks the time when a large number of immigrants, mostly from Switzerland, but with a significant number from Austria, Germany, Italy and France, settled in the area. Colonia Suiza, Colonia Valdense, Colonia Miguelete, Rosario and other towns are the consequence of this European immigration. The name "Nueva Helvecia" was given to "Colonia Suiza" some decades later. The first Swiss settler was David Salomon Bratschi from Bern, Switzerland. He arrived in 1858, three years earlier than the first large group of settlers who arrived in 1861.
Europe was undergoing severe economical hardships during the second part of the 19th century. The Industrial Revolution affected many small artisans and family businesses. By law the Swiss mercenary soldiers no longer could fight for other countries and were coming back home to find their families in precarious conditions that could not support any more members.
Like many others in Europe, America was a chance for progress and prosperity. Many came to North America during the Gold Rush, but once the Civil War started in the United States the Swiss emigrants started looking further south in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay for a better future. In Brazil there was a law that foreigners could not own land. In Argentina the colony settle in Indian territory and were not welcome. But Uruguay welcomed immigrants with open arms. They were desperate to populate the country that had a few inhabitants at the time. The Swiss Colony was given autonomy and the first democratic secret vote in Uruguay happened en "Colonia Suiza". The Swiss immigrants helped shape many Uruguayan laws, giving Uruguay the name of "the Swiss of America" among many other things, like the classical production of Swiss cheese, also known as "Queso Colonia"
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