LOMAS DE ZAMORA

cabecera (county seat) and partido (county) of Gran (Greater) Buenos Aires, Arg. It lies immediately south of the city of Buenos Aires, in Buenos Aires provincia. The name and origin of the partido and cabecera date from the late 16th century, when Juan de Zamora, one of the founders of Buenos Aires, was granted a large landholding on the lomas (slopes) in the vicinity. In 1861 the partido of Lomas de Zamora was officially established. It is bordered by the partidos of Lans (northeast), Quilmes (east), Almirante Brown (southeast), Esteban Echeverra (southwest), and La Matanza, the Riachuelo River, and the national capital (northwest). Besides Lomas de Zamora cabecera (officially declared the seat of the partido in 1864), the major localities are Banfield, Temperley, Villa Turdera, and Llavallol. In 1865 the Church of Our Lady of Peace was built in Lomas de Zamora. The national normal school was founded there in 1902, and the National University of Lomas de Zamora (1972) is located in the city. Prior to 1910, when it was given city status, Lomas de Zamora was a residential town with a large British colony. Since 1940 it has become an industrial centre, with chemical, electrical-manufacturing, and cement industries. The cabecera and partido are completely within the Gran Buenos Aires urban area. Pop. (1991 prelim.) partido, 572,769.