Pocito Department
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Pocito Departamento Pocito |
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|---|---|
| Department | |
.png) location of Departamento Rawson in San Juan Province |
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| Coordinates: 31°39′S 68°33′W / 31.650°S 68.550°W | |
| Country | Argentina |
| Established | August 8, 1888 |
| Founded by | ? |
| Seat | Villa Aberastain |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Sergio Uñac, |
| Area | |
| • Total | 515 km2 (199 sq mi) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 40.969 (2,001 census [INDEC]) |
| Demonym(s) | pocitano/a |
| Postal Code | 5400 |
| IFAM | SJU009 |
| Area Code | 0264 |
| Patron saint | Santa Bárbara |
| Website | http://www.pocito.gov.ar/ |
Pocito is a department in San Juan Province, Argentina. It is located to the south of the city of San Juan, and is predominantly agricultural, the principle products being grapes and olives. It has a string of prestigious wineries that make up the so-called "Wine Route". The west part of the department is mountainous.
"Pocito" means "little pit" or "little hole" and was named after a supposed "little hole" where the legendary India Mariana found golden nuggets (See below).
Nineteenth-century travelers would relate how Pocito was the first green land they encountered after leaving Mendoza.
The founder of the city is considered to be Dr. Jose Ignacio de la Roza, who divided up the land and planned the construction of the Pocito Canal.
After the May Revolution, the province was divided administratively into urban and rural areas. In 1834, Governor Jose Martin Yanzón and his Minister, Timoteo Bustamente, established departments in the Province of San Juan. Two departments were divided into three districts and Pocito was included in the third quarter of the Department of the South.
On January 16, 1851, the Governor Nazario Benavides approved the "Rules of Irrigation". As a result, Mr. Rosendo Bernardo, the inspector of water, divided the province of Pocito into eight sections, which number was later increased to nine and then ten.
On December 9, 1869, during the government of Dr. Jose Maria del Carril, the Departmental System Act came into being. Under Article 36 of the Constitution, the Province was redivided into eighteen departments, the fifth of which was Pocito.
On March 29, 1876 the Pocito Municipal Board was established, the first commissioner being Julian Mazo.
In Pocitanas land, there once lived an old Huarpe Indian called Mariana, whose only company and defense was a faithful dog. She lived under a carob tree and invariably smoked a cigar. She occupied the time telling stories of fabulous adventures to children who visited her, and sold "brilliant pebbles" to travelers and neighbors. These were nuggets of gold, which she always maintained came from the "pocito".
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Wikipedia