On 24 October 1831, a presidential degree by Fructuoso Rivera ordered the creation of a city in the region. The task was entrusted to the President's brother, Colonel Bernab� Rivera.
Colonel Rivera left Montevideo on a three-month journey with a caravan of wagons and families, towards the shore of the Tacuaremboty River, which in the Guaran� languagemeans "river of the reeds". The area was surveyed and divided into blocks for settlement. On January 21, 1832, Coronel Rivera founded the town under the name "San Fructuoso", after Saint Fructuosus of Tarragona (whose Saint's Day is January 21).
By 1837, San Fructuoso was a growing town. It had more than 500 residents, a justice of the peace, a military commander, a parish priest, a mayor, and a Public Works Commission. On 16 June 1837, the Tacuaremb� Department was created (along withSalto and Paysand�), and San Fructuoso was named the capital.
Over time, the community continued to grow. According to the Act of Ley N� 2.389, on 17 July 1895 it held the status of "Villa" (town). Its name changed to "Tacuaremb�", and on 24 June 1912, its status was elevated to "Ciudad" (city) by the Act of Ley N� 4.031
