Córdoba is a city located in the foothills of the Sierra Chica mountains on the Suquía river, the center of Argentina's most productive agricultural area. It is the capital of Córdoba Province.

Córdoba is a major industrial center, but retains many historic buildings from the Colonial era.

As of 2003 Córdoba had a population of about 1,350,000 people, making it Argentina's joint second-largest city, a position it traditionally shares with Rosario, the largest being Buenos Aires.

History

Córdoba was founded in 1573 by Jerónimo Luis de Cabrera, who named it after Córdoba, Spain. It was one the first Spanish Colonial capitals of the region that is now Argentina (The oldest was Santiago del Estero, founded in 1553). The University is the second oldest in South America, founded in 1613.

After the end of World War II Córdoba became a major centre for the Argentine aircraft industry, and the site of Argentina's military aeroplane factory, the Fábrica Militar de Aviones.

The Argentine Government offered positions to German technicians from the Focke Wulf company at its aerotechnical institute, the Instituto Aerotécnico in Córdoba. Many moved there in 1947.

The Instituto Aerotécnico later became the Fábrica Militar de Aviones. It employed the Focke Wulf men until President Juan Perón fell from power in 1955.

Historical Heritage

Córdoba has plenty of historical monuments preserved from the times of Spanish colonialism (see Spanish colonization of the Americas), especially buildings of the Roman Catholic Church. The most recognizable is perhaps the Jesuit Block (Spanish: "Manzana Jesuítica"), declared in 2000 as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO [1]. It is a block of buildings from the 17th century, including the Montserrat school, the university (today the historical museum of the National University of Córdoba ), and the church of the "Compañía de Jesús." (Spanish for "Society of Jesus")

Government

• Mayor as of 2003: Luis Juez

External links

• Official website, in Spanish
• Satellite photo of Córdoba