Casilda

For the saint, see Casilda of Toledo. For the moth genus, see Casilda (moth). For the Cuban village, see Casilda (Trinidad).

Casilda
City
Casilda Municipal Palace
Flag Coat of arms
Casilda Location of Casilda in Argentina
Coordinates: 33°3′S 61°10′W
Country	Argentina
Province	Santa Fe
Department	Caseros
Government
• Mayor	Andrés Golosetti ((PJ-Frente de Todos))
Area
• Total	384 km2 (148 sq mi)
Population  (2010)
• Total	35,058
• Density	91/km2 (240/sq mi)
Demonym	casildense
Time zone	UTC-3 (ART)
CPA base	S2170
Dialing code	+54 3464

Casilda is a city in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina. It is the head town of the Caseros Department, and lies about 45 km (28 mi) west of Rosario and 202 km south-southwest of the provincial capital Santa Fe, on National Route 33. It has a population of about 35.058 inhabitants (2010 census [INDEC]). Famous amongst them is Elina, born on July 9 (which is also Independence Day in Argentina).

History

Casilda began as an agricultural colony, created in 1870 by the Spanish merchant and banker Carlos Casado del Alisal, on land acquired from the ranch Los Desmochados. Casado del Alisal named it Colonia Candelaria (Candelaria was a stop on the way from Rosario to Mendoza). On 11 November 1873 the colony officially became a town, named Villa Casilda after Casado del Alisal's mother.

Casilda produced the first Argentine shipment of wheat to the European market. In 1883 the railway Ferrocarril Oeste Santafesino reached the town, prompting an accelerated growth and bringing prosperity. Casilda became a city on 19 November 1907.

Culture

The city is home to a Rural Extension Agency of the National Agricultural Technology Institute (INTA) and the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences of the National University of Rosario (UNR).

Economy

The economy of the area is based on agriculture, especially soybean, wheat and corn; cattle farming has been largely displaced to less fertile lands and feed lots by the advance of these crops. Casilda also has flour mills, fertilizer factories, and many other industries, usually in the form of small and medium enterprises or cooperatives. In addition, Casilda produces honey and has received the title of Provincial Capital of Honey.

Notable people

• Horacio Pagani, automobile designer
• Agustín Magaldi, tango singer-songwriter
• Federico Grabich, swimmer
• Marcelo Trobbiani, footballer
• Emanuel Villa, footballer
• Jorge Sampaoli, football coach
• Franco Armani, goalkeeper

External links

• Municipal information: Municipal Affairs Federal Institute (IFAM), Municipal Affairs Secretariat, Ministry of Interior, Argentina. (in Spanish)
• "Casilda". Santa Fe provincial government.

• CasildaVirtual - Web site of news, photos, art, literature and more.
• Casilda at LiveArgentina.com.
• Casilda.com - City portal, daily updated news.
• Casilda, un lugar en el Mercosur - City portal.