| Official Name: | Villa Soriano |
| Other Name: | Santo Domingo de Soriano |
| Settlement Type: | Town |
| Pushpin Map: | Uruguay |
| Pushpin Label Position: | right |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Uruguay |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  Uruguay |
| Subdivision Type1: | Department |
| Subdivision Name1: | Soriano Department |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Total: | 1124 |
| Timezone: | UTC -3 |
| Coordinates: | -33.4°N -58.32°W |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 75005 |
| Area Code Type: | Dial plan |
| Area Code: | +598 453 (+5 digits) |
Villa Soriano is a town in the Soriano Department of Uruguay. Historically, it was also known as Santo Domingo de Soriano. It had acquired the status of "Villa" (town) before the Independence of Uruguay.
It is located on the northwest end of Route 96, on the south bank of the river Río Negro, before it discharges into Río Uruguay.
In 1624, a Franciscan Mission established a village for the indigenous tribes of the area named Santo Domingo de Soriano. It constituted the first permanent European settlement on Uruguayan soil, predating the foundation of Colonia del Sacramento by more than fifty years. It was moved to its current location in 1708. The construction of its church began in 1751.
The town has strong associations with General José Gervasio Artigas, who is honoured by Uruguayans as the 19th century liberator of the country.
In 2011, Villa Soriano had a population of 1,124.[1] [2]
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
| 1908 | 6,303 | |
| 1963 | 1,036 | |
| 1975 | 1,120 | |
| 1985 | 1,068 | |
| 1996 | 1,074 | |
| 2004 | 1,184 | |
| 2011 | 1,124 |
https://www.villasoriano.com/ Page documenting the founding of Villa Santo Domingo Soriano, Uruguay, in 1624. Based on Wilde Marotta's book and Federico Marotta's research work.