San José (sän hōsā') [key]or San José de Mayo (&thstrok;ā, mä'yō) [key], city (1996 pop. 33,351), capital of San José dept., S Uruguay, on the San José River. It is a commercial center for a large dairy and livestock region. The city was founded in 1783 by settlers from Spain, and was Uruguay's provisional capital in 1825–26. San José is noted for its architecture. Landmarks include a monument to Uruguayan patriots.
