Montevideo (Spanish pronunciation: [monteβiˈðeo]) is a department (departamento) of Uruguay.

It was created on 27 January 1816 by Montevideo Cabildo's decree and approved by José Artigas on next 3 February, at the same time Maldonado, Soriano, Canelones, San José and Colonia departments were being created.

This decree mentioned about its territory that it comprised "beyond the Capital's wall until the Peñarol line".

[5] This law was further regulated by the decree of 28 August 1835, where it precisely defined where were the borders of Montevideo: the Santa Lucía river from its estuary in River Plate to the convergence with Las Piedras stream, and following this stream until its source at the Pereira hills.

Separate numbers have been provided for each of the 8 new divisions of the department called Municipios (Municipalities).