The city of Federación, located in the northeast of the province of Entre Ríos, was structured, like most Argentine cities, around “the classic block-by-block grid layout bequeathed by the Laws of the Indies,” taking shape alongside the development of its various economic roles. The evolution of economic functions and the actions of different social forces gradually shaped a unique organization of urban space, in which distinct “neighborhoods” or urban districts clearly reflected the inequalities of the local socioeconomic structure.
The city comprised different urban sectors: the Casco Central (Central Core); the La Curtois zone; and the Industrial, San Lorenzo, Salto Grande, San Miguel, Miguelito, and La Virgen neighborhoods. These were surrounded by quintas (smallholdings) to the south, the La Virgen stream to the north, Route 14 to the west, and the Uruguay River to the east. The Casco Central was the oldest and most populated area of the city, concentrating administrative, financial, legal, recreational, and largely commercial activities. It was the venue for the most important community events, such as the commemoration of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception and the Student Festival, and was inhabited by middle-class sectors and most of the city's industrialists and professionals. Ultimately, the Casco Central represented the city's origin and functioned as its heart.
