MERCEDES

city, southwestern Uruguay, on the Negro River. The city, which was founded in 1781, is noted for its colonial architecture, beaches, a river promenade, and summertime regattas and tennis tournaments. Although much of the city's income derives from tourism, it functions as an administrative, commercial, ranching, and agricultural centre and has several industries. Mercedes has a government-owned television station. Shallow-draft vessels operating from its port connect with larger craft serving cities on the Uruguay River and Ro de la Plata. Mercedes is linked to Montevideo by highway, air, and rail. Pop. (1975) 34,512. also called Villa Mercedes city of west-central Argentina, located on the Quinto River of east-central San Luis provincia, in a semiarid transition area between the Pampa (east) and the San Luis Mountains (northwest). It was founded in 1856 as Fuerte Constitucional, and the surrounding lands were distributed to veteran army officers who guarded the frontier. In 1861 the settlement was renamed Villa Mercedes in honour of the Virgen de la Merced (Spanish: Virgin of Mercy), its patroness. From 1863 to 1865, the city was constantly attacked by Indians and mountain rebels; they were finally repelled and the rebel leader, Puebla, was killed. Water for irrigation from the Quinto River has enabled the area to become an important grain (corn , sorghum, and rye) and cattle-producing region. Incorporated as a city in 1896, Mercedes has a large grain mill and refrigerator plants to process beef for export. Pop. (1980 prelim.) 50,856.