Haven’t you heard of the town that straddles two partidos? This is Gerli. It lies in both Avellaneda and Lanús. Gerli is a vibrant part of Greater Buenos Aires.
Gerli’s story began officially on March 30 1909. Antonio Gerli owned the land. He decided to establish a settlement here. Thus, the town was named after him.
In 1944, Gerli experienced a significant change. The creation of the Lanús Partido split the town. Part of Gerli became part of Lanús. The rest remained in Avellaneda.
Gerli achieved municipal recognition on November 11 2005. The Legislature of Buenos Aires Province made it official. This marked a new chapter for the town.
As of the 2001 census, Gerli had 64640 inhabitants. 31090 lived in Avellaneda. 33250 lived in Lanús. This makes Gerli a significant urban area.
The town is home to Club El Porvenir. This football club plays in Argentina’s lower leagues. It is a point of pride for local sports fans.
Gerli consists of diverse neighborhoods. Villa Echenagucía is the oldest. It was founded in 1894. Other barrios include Villa Angélica, Villa Modelo and La Mosca. Each has its own unique character.
Gerli even has its own flag. It was approved on March 31 2002. The flag features blue-celeste, white and black. These colors represent important local clubs. In the center is the Ombú de Preciado. This reflects Gerli’s historical name.
Local school children chose the flag design. It was a community effort. Father Abel María Abregú blessed the flag. The Bomberos Voluntarios de Echenagucía-Gerli provided a guard of honor.
The city of Gerli also boasts an official shield. It was created and approved on March 29 1996. The shield symbolizes work and pioneering families. It also depicts factories, homes and the Puente Gerli.
Notice the Ombú de Preciado. It is featured along with a milk churn. This represents the early dairy industry.
Gerli is divided into two sections. Each section has its own Catholic churches. In Lanús, you’ll find San Pedro Armengol and San José de los Obreros. Avellaneda boasts Nuestra Señora la Conquistadora and San Antonio de Padua.
Today, Gerli continues to thrive. It is a town with a rich history. Its people are proud of their unique identity. Despite being divided, Gerli remains a united community.