The first neighbourhood of the country was built in Carmen de Patagones (1779-1827)

Abstract

In 1778 the Patagonic Plan, which consisted in setting up four forts in the Patagonic coast: Floridablanca in Bahía San Julián, Puerto Deseado, San José in Península de Valdez and Carmen de Patagones on the Negro river, was established. The Spanish Crown decided to
consolidate the Patagonic territories strategically because they were going through the international crisis caused by the independence of the United States and the expansion of the fishing economy in the less frequently visited seas. In the Negro river, around 30 km from its mouth, the settlement known as Carmen de Patagones was developed. It was founded on 22nd April 1779 by Francisco de Viedma when he settled “Nuestra Señora del Carmen” fort.
The 2nd October 1779 the first immigrants arrived. They stayed some time in temporary accommodation and later settled down in caves made by themselves.In 1781, Francisco de Viedma asked the engineer José Pérez Brito to draw the map of the population known as “Nueva Murcia” distributed in regular blocks. This was the first
neighbourhood built in the country.