LA MATANZA

partido (political subdivision) of Gran (Greater) Buenos Aires, Arg., directly southwest of the city of Buenos Aires, in Buenos Aires province. The present-day partido was part of the Pago (country district) de las Conchas during the 17th and early 18th centuries. In 1730 the Pago de las Conchas was divided into four rural settlement areas, one of which was the Pago de la Matanza. The partido of La Matanza was established in 1784, and a justice of the peace was appointed to the region. Towns were established many years later. The present cabecera (administrative seat), San Justo, was founded in 1856. The partido covers 125 sq mi (323 sq km) and is bordered by the partidos of Lomas de Zamora and Esteban Echeverra (southeast), as well as Marcos Paz (southwest), Merlo, Morn, and Tres de Febrero (northwest), and Cauelas (south). The Ro de la Matanza (Riachuelo) forms the southeastern border. Besides the cabecera, the major localities within the partido are Ciudad General Belgrano, Villa Madero, Villa Luzuriaga, Laferrere, Ramos Meja, and Tablada. The industries of La Matanza manufacture plows, automobile accessories, paper, and rubber goods. Agricultural lands, outside the built-up areas, grow wheat, corn (maize), barley, and alfalfa and support livestock. With the growth of the national capital, La Matanza has been absorbed into the southwestern suburban fringe of Gran Buenos Aires. About half of the partido lies within the Gran Buenos Aires urban area, and its numerical population increase in both the 1960s and 1970s was greater than any other partido in Gran Buenos Aires. Pop. (1980) 949,566.