| Official Name: | Rio Branco |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Pushpin Map: | Uruguay |
| Pushpin Label Position: | left |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Uruguay |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  Uruguay |
| Subdivision Type1: | Department |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Christian Morel (PN) |
| Population As Of: | 2011 Census |
| Population Total: | 14604 |
| Timezone: | UTC -3 |
| Coordinates: | -32.5972°N -53.3833°W |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 37100 |
| Area Code Type: | Dial plan |
| Area Code: | +598 4675 (+4 digits) |
Río Branco is a city in the Cerro Largo department of northeastern Uruguay, it borders the Brazilian city of Jaguarão, with which it communicates through the Baron of Mauá International Bridge.
The words Rio Branco mean "white river" in Portuguese. However, the name does not refer to any local river; it is a tribute to Brazilian diplomat José Paranhos, Baron of Rio Branco, who negotiated the definitive borders of Brazil and Uruguay. Hence the Portuguese name, instead of Spanish Río Blanco (although the city's name has an acute accent on the first word that is required in Spanish, but absent from the Portuguese spelling).
It is located at the east end of Route 26, about east-southeast of the department capital city of Melo.
The Yaguarón River (Portuguese: Rio Jaguarão), which forms the natural border with Brazil, flows along the city's northern limits. Right across the river lies the Brazilian town of Jaguarão, with the Baron of Mauá International Bridge joining the two cities.
On 31 August 1915, the villa (town) previously known as Artigas was given its present name by Act of Law 5330. On 1 July 1953, its status was elevated to a ciudad (city) by Act of Law 11,963.[1]
In 2011, Río Branco had a population of 14,604.[2]
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
| 1908 | 4,106 | |
| 1963 | 4,023 | |
| 1975 | 5,685 | |
| 1985 | 9,072 | |
| 1996 | 12,215 | |
| 2004 | 13,456 | |
| 2011 | 14,604 |
Brazil has a Vice-consulate in Río Branco.[4]