*** Welcome to piglix ***

Province of Córdoba (Argentina)

Córdoba
Province
Clockwise from top: Estancia of Alta Gracia, Córdoba City, Sierras de Córdoba range, Jesuit Block.
Flag of Córdoba
Flag
Coat of arms of Córdoba
Coat of arms
Location of Córdoba within Argentina
Location of Córdoba within Argentina
Country Argentina
Capital Córdoba
Departments 26
Municipalities and communes 427
Government
 • Governor Juan Schiaretti (UNA)
 • Legislature 70
 • National Deputies
18
 • National Senators Laura Rodríguez Machado, Ernesto Martínez, Carlos Caserio
Area
Ranked 5th
 • Total 165,321 km2 (63,831 sq mi)
Population (2010)
 • Total 3,308,876
 • Rank 2nd
 • Density 20/km2 (52/sq mi)
Demonym(s) cordobés
Time zone ART (UTC−3)
ISO 3166 code AR-X
Website www.cba.gov.ar

Córdoba (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈkorðoβa]) is a province of Argentina, located in the center of the country. Neighboring provinces are (clockwise from the north): Santiago del Estero, Santa Fe, Buenos Aires, La Pampa, San Luis, La Rioja and Catamarca. Together with Santa Fe and Entre Ríos, the province is part of the economic and political association known as the Center Region.

Córdoba is the second most populous Argentine province, with 3,308,876 inhabitants, and the fifth by size, at about 165,321 km². Almost 41% of its inhabitants reside in the capital city, Córdoba, and its surroundings, making it the second most populous metro area in Argentina.

Before the Spanish conquista the region now called Córdoba Province was inhabited by indigenous groups, most notably the Comechingones and Sanavirones.

Once settled in Alto Perú, the Spaniards searched for a route to the Río de la Plata port in the Atlantic Ocean to transport the Peruvian gold and silver to Europe.

Córdoba de la Nueva Andalucía (nowadays the city of Córdoba) was founded as a middle point on that route on July 6, 1573 by Jerónimo Luis de Cabrera. The Colegio Convictorio de Nuestra Señora de Monserrat was founded by the Jesuits in 1599, followed by the National University of Córdoba, Argentina's first university, in 1613. The city continued to grow as an important cultural center, supported by the trade of precious metals from Peru. In 1761 a printing press was installed in the University.


...
Wikipedia

...