Balcarce, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

🇦🇷 San José de Balcarce (shortened to Balcarce) is a city in Buenos Aires Province (Argentina) about 51 km (32 mi) west of Mar del Plata. It is the head town of the Balcarce Partido (District of Balcarce). The UN/LOCODE is ARBCA.

The city is famous as the birthplace of Formula One legend Juan Manuel Fangio and today houses the Museo Juan Manuel Fangio ("Juan Manuel Fangio" Museum) and the Autódromo Juan Manuel Fangio, a motorsports circuit.

The town hall, cemetery portal and slaughterhouse were all designed by the architect Francisco Salamone, and contain elements of Art Deco style. Built in the late 1930s, these buildings were some of the first examples of modern architecture in rural Argentina.

Museo del Automovilismo "Juan Manuel Fangio" Located just a few blocks from where Fangio was born, the museum houses a collection of cars, trophies, photographs and other memorabilia.

Name The partido is named after Antonio González de Balcarce (1774-1819), an Argentine military commander, governor of Buenos Aires and Supreme Director (president) of Argentina in 1816.

Economy The economy of Balcarce Partido is dominated by agriculture. Other economic activities include mineral extraction and tourism.

Farming is dominated by the production of arable crops and potatoes.

The impact of modern farming techniques and mining has damaged the natural habitats of indigenous species such as emu, jackrabbit, viscacha and armadillo.

Balcarce is home to Argentina's National Institute of Agricultural Technology, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) and the faculty of agrarian sciences, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias de la Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata.