FLORENCIO VARELA

cabecera (principal built-up area) and partido (political subdivision), at the southeastern limits of Gran (Greater) Buenos Aires, Argentina, in Buenos Aires province. Founded as the town of San Juan in 1873, Florencio Varela was declared a city in 1953. The partido was established in 1893, out of the existing partidos of Quilmes, San Vicente, and Almirante Brown. The partido of Florencio Varela covers 80 sq mi (206 sq km) and is bordered by the partidos of Berazategui (northeast), La Plata (southeast), San Vicente and Almirante Brown (southwest), and Quilmes (northwest). Other major localities within the partido are Gobernador Monteverde and Bosques. With the growth of the national capital, Florencio Varela has been absorbed into the southeastern suburban area of Gran Buenos Aires. Less than half of it lies within the Gran Buenos Aires urban area, and its population density is lower than most of the other partidos. Railway service and the national highway system connect the cabecera to Buenos Aires. Pop. (1980) partido, 173,452.