Two provinces emerged in the 20th century Argentina They changed their name as a tribute to political leaders. This happened between 1952 and 1955 in Chaco and La Pampa, when both adopted new names after becoming provinces. The change promoted by the nation state was part of an institutional process that shaped the country’s territorial development and reflected the current political climate.
In the first half of the last century Argentina underwent a series of territorial reforms. Several regions previously administered as national territories became part of provinces. Further development of this process allowed areas with a long history of central administration to begin defining their own political and administrative identities.
The development of the Argentine map was not just a reaction to technical decisions. Political and social factors influenced the name and status of some areasparticularly during the provincialization process in the mid-20th century.
According to information from BillikenThe history goes back to the 19th century, when large parts of the country did not yet form a province. These national territories were administered directly by the central governmentwhich distinguished its organization from the already existing provinces.
The Gran Chaco National Territory was created in 1872 by a presidential decree Domingo Faustino Sarmiento. This measure was part of a dual strategy: enabling the expansion of state control and ensuring border security. Over time, new regulations were added, such as the Organic Law of National Territories of 1884, which regulated their administration and promoted the conditions for their future transformation into provinces.
Accordingly Billiken, The creation of national territories was intended to strengthen the presence of the statefacilitate the integration of sparsely populated places and organize the distribution of resources. This dynamic promoted territorial consolidation and laid the foundation for new provinces in the 20th century.
The remodeling of these spaces was completed on August 8, 1951, when Congress passed Act 14,037. The law elevated both Chaco and La Pampa to provincial status, a move seen as paramount in reorganizing the country’s political system and strengthening its federal structure.
Once they became provinces, Chaco And The pampas they came to be called President of the Province of Perón And Eva Peron Provincerespectively. This change occurred in 1952 and was aimed at honoring President Juan Domingo Perón and Eva Duarte de Perón, who had recently died.
According to official records cited by BillikenThis renaming coincided with a period of intense political activity marked by a profound institutional reorganization. The new names were printed in the official documents and maps distributed by the government of the time, cementing the memory of both leaders in Argentine geography.
The honor had a limited duration: from 1952 to 1955At this point, Perón’s government was overthrown in a coup. The new authorities immediately repealed the measure and restored the original names Chaco And The pampasa decision that remains in effect today.
According to the analysis by BillikenThe brief existence of provinces named after political figures highlighted the relationship between power and territory in 20th-century Argentina. Although these changes were temporary, they left their mark on the official documentation and reflected the level of political identification of the period.
Maps issued in the mid-1950s clearly show the name Eva Peron Province And President of the Province of Peróna fact that shows the extent of the toll and the impact of the political process. Documentation of the period, preserved in state archives and public exhibitions, still features these denominations, although they were abolished after the regime change.
Today both Chaco as The pampas They retain their historical names and a consolidated political structure, the result of decades of institutional development. Since then, no other province has been named after national politicians.
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