San Luis

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San Luis

San Luis, capital city (153,322 inhabitants in 2001) of the homonymous province (2001 population 367,933) in western Argentina. San Luis was founded in 1594 near Punta de los Venados by Spanish forces from Chile commanded by Juan de Jofré. The natives of San Luis are still referred to as puntanos. Rebuilt in 1596, after its destruction by Indians, the city was continually attacked by Indians throughout colonial times as it developed into a prosperous cattle-raising center. In 1711 and 1750 punitive action was taken against the Tehuelche Indians. In 1776 the city became part of the Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata, and in 1782 it was incorporated into the Intendancy of Córdoba. Finally, in 1813, it returned to the Intendancy of Mendoza, as part of the Cuyo region. Cattle and durum wheat are the main products of the province. Since the 1940s the region has been progressively losing inhabitants to the dynamic and prosperous city of Mendoza.

See alsoArgentina, Geography .

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Follari, Rodolfo S. El noventa en San Luis: Autonomistas y radicales en 1890. Buenos Aires: Ediciones Ciudad Argentina, 1995.

                                      CÉsar N. Caviedes

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San Luis

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