What if I told you this quiet town holds a name older than Buenos Aires itself? Welcome to Centro Agrícola El Pato. Its name El Pato meaning The Duck is a legacy from Juan de Garay’s era. He established this area during the second founding of Buenos Aires.
Centro Agrícola El Pato is more than just a name. It’s a place with a rich history. It’s nestled in Berazategui in the Greater Buenos Aires area. The town lies near Provincial Route 36 and the Autopista 2 interchange. It’s bordered by significant places. To the north lies Ingeniero Allan. El Peligro and Arturo Seguí are to the south. To the east is the Pereyra Iraola Provincial Park. La Capilla in Florencio Varela is to the west.
The area wasn’t always known as El Pato. In the 1940s people called it Los Campitos. Small landholdings characterized the area. The name change wasn’t without some debate. The first Sociedad de Fomento was named Pago Nuestro. Then there was the 1942 Asociación Vecinal for the first aid station. This added to the confusion. The townsfolk wanted a definitive answer. They went to the Provincial Historical Archive. They found that the name El Pato went back to 1580. Juan de Garay distributed the conquered lands. This included a Laguna del Pato. This lagoon belonged to Captain Antón Higueras de Santana. Its location matched Centro Agrícola El Pato’s current site. They chose the historical name. The town officially became Centro Agrícola El Pato a designation reflecting its primary agricultural activity.
The railway played a key role. A railway line connected Avellaneda to La Plata. Initially it didn’t stop at Centro Agrícola El Pato. In 1941 local residents petitioned for a stop. Their efforts succeeded. On October 18 1942 the first train stopped at Los Campitos. The modest railway stop and a first-aid station were inaugurated. This was a significant event for the growing community. In 1943 the train stop became officially known as Centro Agrícola El Pato. The railway ceased operations in July 1977. The station building however remains a testament to this past.
Centro Agrícola El Pato’s story is one of perseverance. The town evolved from a collection of small farms into the place you see today. Its history is deeply interwoven with the history of Buenos Aires. The enduring name El Pato speaks to this connection. Today Centro Agrícola El Pato is a thriving community. It holds a special place in Argentina’s history. This small town boasts a name older than Buenos Aires itself. This truly is a place worth remembering.