Manuel B. Gonnet

Manuel B. Gonnet is a neighborhood in La Plata, Argentina. It is part of a group of neighborhoods developed around the then Buenos Aires Great Southern Railway (later Ferrocarril General Roca) connecting La Plata with Buenos Aires, and Tolosa, Ringuelet, City Bell and Villa Elisa.It is named after Manuel Benito Gonnet, first provincial minister of Public Works (after the Federalization of Buenos Aires) and provincial legislator.According to the 2001 Census INDEC, Manuel B. Gonnet has a population of 22,963 in 2.335ha.HistoryOn 13 July 1882 the provincial government started construction of new railroad branches to connect the new provincial capital with the Buenos Aires Western Railway and the Buenos Aires Great Southern Railway. The La Plata - Empalme Pereyra (Villa Elisa) line was opened on 1 January 1889.In 1889 at the inauguration of the Adolfo Alsina train station, the local landowners decided to start a partnership, subdivide part of the land into lots and found a town. The train station opened on 15 February and on 24 February they announced the establishment of Villa Máximo Paz, named after the then governor. However, the enterprise did not immediately succeed and it took many years to attain a stable population. Initially, the first houses were used as weekend retreats for the rich people of La Plata.