San José de Mayo (; Mayo ) is a city in the San José Department in southern Uruguay. Located on the banks of the San José River, it lies approximately northwest of Montevideo. It was founded in 1783 by Spanish colonialists, and later developed into an administrative and agricultural center in the region. Spread over an area of , it had a population of 38,553 inhabitants in 2023.
History
San José de Mayo was founded on 1 June 1783 by Eusebio Vidal under orders from Viceroy Juan José de Vértiz y Salcedo. It is named after the San José River. It is spread over an area of .
Demographics and economy
In 2023, San José de Mayo had a population of 38,553 inhabitants. The population consisted of 18,436 males and 20,117 females. About 6,665 inhabitants (17.3%) were below the age of fourteen.
The city serves as a major agricultural and industrial centre in Southern Uruguay. Industries in San José include agricultural products, textiles and leather goods, furniture, and automobile parts