San Antonio Oeste
 This
city is located in the Gulf of San Matías, province of Río
Negro.
History narrates that a Spanish expedition arrived at the Gulf
on February the 18th, 1520, San Matías day.
Hence its name.
San Antonio was named after San Antonio Abad day,
when Spanish lieutenant Pedro García arrived at these shores
on January the 17th, 1779. However the first settlements
took place at the end of the 19th. century in the area
called Saco Viejo, where the Port of San Antonio Este sits today.
The population moved to the western sector of the cove because
of the lack of water. July the 10th, 1905 is
considered the foundation date of San Antonio Oeste.
At the beginning of the thirties this natural port became very
important for Patagonia and specially the then Río Negro
Territory, but gradually lost importance due to the arrival of the
railway from Buenos Aires to Bariloche
and San Antonio as an intermediate station.
In 1944, the port ceased its activities. Presently, it operates
with a minimal fishing activity and the deep water port was inaugurated
in the east bank.
San Antonio Oeste has a population of 18,000, and its economy
is based on the port activity of San Antonio Este and tourism in
the nearby Balneario Las Grutas.
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