Hualqui

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Hualqui
City and Commune
Mirador of Hualqui, formerly the colonial fortress
Flag
Flag
Coat of arms
Coat of arms
Location of Hualqui commune in the Bío Bío Region
Location of Hualqui commune in the Bío Bío Region
Hualqui
Location in Chile
Coordinates (city): 36°57′36″S 72°55′48″W / 36.96000°S 72.93000°W / -36.96000; -72.93000Coordinates: 36°57′36″S 72°55′48″W / 36.96000°S 72.93000°W / -36.96000; -72.93000
Country Chile
Region Bío Bío
Province Concepción
Government[1][2]
  Type Municipality
  Alcalde Ricardo Fuentes Palma (Ind.)
Area[3]
  Total 530.5 km2 (204.8 sq mi)
Population (2002 Census)[3]
  Total 18,768
  Density 35/km2 (92/sq mi)
  Urban 14,756
  Rural 4,012
Sex[3]
  Men 9,293
  Women 9,475
Time zone CLT (UTC−4)
  Summer (DST) CLST (UTC−3)
Area code(s) 56 + 41
Website Municipality of Hualqui

Hualqui is a Chilean city and commune in the Concepción Province, Biobio Region. It is also part of the Greater Concepcion conurbation, although it maintains a rural profile. It had a population of 18,768 inhabitants according to the 2002 census.[3]

Its name comes from the Moluche Aillarehue and rehue of Hualqui that existed there at the beginning of the Conquest of Chile. In 1577, the Royal Governor of Chile Rodrigo de Quiroga erected a small fort of Hualqui on the Biobío River 23 km (14 mi) from the city of Concepcion and 24 km (15 mi) to the northwest of Talcamávida at the site of the modern city and over time a small settlement grew around it. In the beginning of 1756 Governor Manuel de Amat y Juniet erected a town there, named San Juan Bautista de Gualqui. It served as capital to the Corregimiento de Puchacay and then Partido de Puchacay until 1799.

Demographics

According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Hualqui spans an area of 530.5 km2 (205 sq mi) and has 18,768 inhabitants (9,293 men and 9,475 women). Of these, 14,756 (78.6%) lived in urban areas and 4,012 (21.4%) in rural areas. The population grew by 16.2% (2,612 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.[3]

Administration

As a commune, Hualqui 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 Ricardo Fuentes Palma (Ind.).[1][2]

Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Hualqui is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Sergio Bobadilla (UDI) and Clemira Pacheco (PS) as part of the 45th electoral district, (together with Tomé, Penco, Florida, Coronel and Santa Juana). The commune is represented in the Senate by Alejandro Navarro Brain (MAS) and Hosain Sabag Castillo (PDC) as part of the 12th senatorial constituency (Biobío-Cordillera).

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 (Spanish) "Asociación Chilena de Municipalidades". Retrieved 23 February 2011. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 (Spanish) "Municipality of Hualqui". Retrieved 23 February 2011. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 (Spanish) "National Statistics Institute". Retrieved 13 December 2010. 

External links

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