Santa Cruz, Chile

Santa Cruz
—  City and Commune  —
Church of Santa Cruz

Flag

Coat of arms
Map of Santa Cruz commune in O'Higgins Region
Santa Cruz
Location in Chile
Coordinates (city):
Country Chile
Region O'Higgins
Province Colchagua
Government[1]
 • Type Municipality
 • Alcalde Héctor Valenzuela Valenzuela
Area[2]
 • Total 419.5 km2 (162 sq mi)
Population (2002 Census)[2]
 • Total 32,387
 • Density 77.2/km2 (200/sq mi)
 • Urban 18,603
 • Rural 13,784
Sex[2]
 • Men 16,160
 • Women 16,227
Time zone CLT [3] (UTC-4)
 • Summer (DST) CLST [4] (UTC-3)
Website Municipality of Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is a Chilean city and commune, located in the Colchagua valley, in the O'Higgins Region, placed in the southern shore of Tinguiririca river, 110 miles from Santiago, Chile's capital city and 27 miles from San Fernando[5]

Contents

History

There is no exact data about the foundation of the city, although there is an official date when the city became a municipality in the year 1891,[6] the same year as Pichilemu.

From its beginnings, the town was a center of handcrafted artifacts and agriculture development, being the wheat, tomatoes and wine, the main products of the area. Because of the relation with countryside traditions from its starts, Santa Cruz offers an authentic view about the countryside traditions of Chilean culture expressed in the wine, the food and the traditional sport such as the rodeo.

The city was among those affected by the 2010 Chile earthquake.[7]

Demographics

According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Santa Cruz spans an area of 419.5 km2 (162 sq mi) and has 32,387 inhabitants (16,160 men and 16,227 women). Of these, 18,603 (57.4%) lived in urban areas and 13,784 (42.6%) in rural areas. The population grew by 10.7% (3,129 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.[2]

Economy

In the last two decades, rural tourism has become an important source of revenues for the city, the development of this industry was due specially because of the vineyards placed in the valley joint in a project called "Wine Route"[8], that offers several tours in the area[5]

Climate

Template warm climate, with rains between June and November.[5].

Administration

As a commune, Santa Cruz is a third-level administrative division of Chile administered by a municipal council, headed by an alcalde who is directly elected every four years. The 2008-2012 alcalde is Héctor Valenzuela Valenzuela.[1]

Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Santa Cruz is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Mr. Ramón Barros (UDI) and Mr. Juan Carlos Latorre (PDC) as part of the 35th electoral district, (together with Placilla, Nancagua, Chépica, Lolol, Pumanque, Palmilla, Peralillo, Navidad, Litueche, La Estrella, Pichilemu, Marchihue and Paredones). The commune is represented in the Senate by Andrés Chadwick Piñera (UDI) and Juan Pablo Letelier Morel (PS) as part of the 9th senatorial constituency (O'Higgins Region).

See also

References

External links