Barracas (Buenos Aires)

Barracas is a district in the southeast of Buenos Aires. It is 7.6 km ² and has 77,000 inhabitants (as of 2001). It is bounded by the streets Regimiento de Patricios, Defensa, Caseros, Velez Sarsfield, Amancio Alcorta, Lafayette and Lavardén. The name of the district is derived from barraca to German barracks, because of the construction of the houses in the area.

History

In the 18th century barracks were erected on the banks of the Riachuelo to store leather and meat and to accommodate slaves. On 24 March 1791 the bridge was opened, which had a strategic importance during the British invasion of the Río de la Plata. In 1858 this bridge was during a flood partially destroyed and 1871 replaced by an iron bridge. Also this bridge finally gave in 1931 a new building, which still stands today.

In the 19th century the district of residence for some of the wealthiest families of the city was. The Avenida Santa Lucía was the center of economic activity and site of many famous shops.

However, when a yellow fever epidemic broke out in the south of Buenos Aires, fled the wealthy in the northern districts. Today Barracas is a working-class neighborhood. Until 1946 the district was the site of many factories and many Italian immigrants started their new lives here. Since the end of World War II, however, the factories were gradually closed and soft for the construction of highways had homes and parks.

Sporting the club Sportivo Barracas was from 1917 until the mid- 1930s of importance. Barracas was in 1987 for the film " Sur " by Pino Solanas.