Barracas, Buenos Aires
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Area | 7.6 km² |
| Population | 77,474 (2001) |
| Density | 10,194/km² |
| Comuna | C4 |
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| Barrios' day | December 13 |
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Barracas is a barrio, or district, in the southeast part of the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is located between the railroad of Ferrocarril General Manuel Belgrano and the Riachuelo River, and the streets Regimiento de Patricios, Defensa, Caseros, Vélez Sársfield, Amancio Alcorta, Lafayette, and Lavardén. The name Barracas comes from the word barraca, which refers to a temporary construction of houses using rudimentary materials.
[edit] History
In the 18th century "barracas" began to be constructed on the banks of the Riachuelo River and were used to store leather, cured meat and slaves.
On March 24, 1791, a bridge was built that gave the neighborhood an important strategic value during the British invasions of the Río de la Plata. In 1858, part of this bridge was destroyed by flood and was replaced by a new iron bridge in 1871. There were a series of problems with this new bridge until the inauguration of its replacement in 1931 that still stands day.
Throughout most of the 19th century, the neighbourhood was home to some of the wealthiest families of the city. Santa Lucía avenue was the principal centre of activity and contained many of the city's most famous stores at the time.
However, when a yellow fever epidemic swept many southern parts of the city at the end of the 19th century most of the wealthy families fled to the north of the city leaving the neighbourhood to become the working-class area that it still remains today.
During the 20th century Barracas was subsidised by a few wealthy Argentine families. Immigrants, especially Italians, started to settle here and it became popular with the working-class. Third-rate cafes were built attracting people with a lower financial status. Factories dominated the economy of the area up until 1946.
The factories of Barracas now began to close, fewer train services were run and freeway construction forced the demolition of over twenty residential buildings and two public parks.
[edit] References
- (Spanish) Barrios Porteños
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