title: Soriano Department
text: # Soriano Department
  
  Soriano (Spanish pronunciation:) is a department of Uruguay. Its capital is Mercedes. It is located on the west of the country, south of Río Negro Department, north of Colonia Department and west of Flores Department. Its western border is the Río Uruguay, separating it from Argentina.
  
  ## History
  
  In 1624, a Franciscan Mission established a reduction for the indigenous tribes of the area named Santo Domingo Soriano. In spite of interruptions in its existence, it is considered the earliest populated centre of the actual Uruguay. Eventually, in its place Villa Soriano was founded.
  
  The first division of Uruguay in departments happened on 27 January 1816. At the time, eight departments were formed, with Soriano being one of them. When the first constitution was signed in 1830, Soriano Department was one of the nine original departments of the Republic.
  
  ## Demographics
  
  Ethnic groups in Soriano (2011 est.) :
  
  | Ethnic groups | Ethnic groups | Percent | Percent |
  | - | - | - | - |
  | White | White | 94.1% | 94.1% |
  | Black | Black | 3.2% | 3.2% |
  | Indigenous | Indigenous | 4.0% | 4.0% |
  | Asian | Asian | 0.3% | 0.3% |
  | None/Other/Unspecified | None/Other/Unspecified | 2.1% | 2.1% |
  
  As of the census of 2011, Soriano Department had a population of 82,592 (40.853 male and 41.742 female) and 32,075 households.
  
  Demographic data for Soriano Department in 2010:
  
  * Population growth rate: 0.558%
  * Birth rate: 16.60 births/1,000 people
  * Death rate: 9.41 deaths/1,000 people
  * Average age: 31.7 (30.8 male, 32.6 female)
  * Life expectancy at birth:
     * Total population: 76.32 years
     * Male: 73.47 years
     * Female: 79.26 years
  * Average per household income: 25,198 pesos/month
  * Urban per capita income: 9,648 pesos/month
  
  2010 Data Source:
  
  | Main Urban Centres | Other towns and villages |
  | - | - |
  | Population stated as per 2011 census. ||
  | City / TownPopulation Mercedes41,974 Dolores17,174 Cardona4,600 Palmitas2,123 José Enrique Rodó2,120 Chacras de Dolores1,961 Villa Soriano1,124 | Town / VillagePopulation Santa Catalina998 Egaña783 Risso557 Villa Darwin (Sacachispas)456 Cañada Nieto430 Agraciada394 Palmar381 |
  | Rural population ||
  | According to the 2011 census, Soriano department has a rural population of 6,612. ||
  
  ## Noted locality
  
  * Agraciada Beach, a historically important location in Uruguay's past, associated with the Thirty-Three Orientals.
  
  ## Notable people
  
  * Juan Idiarte Borda, from Soriano, was President of Uruguay from 1894 to 1897
  * Tomás Gomensoro Albín, from Soriano, was President of Uruguay (interim) from 1872 to 1873
  * Jesús Posse, rower
  * Santiago Ostolaza, from Dolores, football player
  