| Official Name: | Cartagena |
| Settlement Type: | Commune |
| Flag Alt: | Flag |
| Map Alt: | Map of the Cartagena commune in the Valparaíso Region |
| Pushpin Map: | Chile |
| Pushpin Map Narrow: | yes |
| Pushpin Map Alt: | Location in Chile |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Chile |
| Coordinates: | -33.5425°N -71.5958°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Chile |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Valparaíso |
| Subdivision Type2: | Province |
| Subdivision Name2: | San Antonio |
| Government Footnotes: | [1] |
| Government Type: | Municipality |
| Leader Title: | Alcalde |
| Leader Name: | Ricardo García Tapia |
| Leader Party: | PPD |
| Established Title: | Founded |
| Established Date: | 1901 |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Area Footnotes: | [2] |
| Area Total Km2: | 245.9 |
| Population As Of: | 2012 Census |
| Population Total: | 17978 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Population Blank1 Title: | Urban |
| Population Blank1: | 15302 |
| Population Blank2 Title: | Rural |
| Population Blank2: | 1573 |
| Demographics Type1: | Sex |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Men |
| Demographics1 Info1: | 8,396 |
| Demographics1 Title2: | Women |
| Demographics1 Info2: | 8,479 |
| Timezone: | CLT[3] |
| Utc Offset: | -4 |
| Timezone Dst: | CLST[4] |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -3 |
| Elevation M: | 140 |
| Area Code: | 56 + 35 |
| Website: | Official website |
Cartagena is a Chilean commune located in the San Antonio Province, Valparaíso Region. The commune spans an area of 245.9sqkm.[2]
In the seventeenth century the area surrounding the town became a major producer of wheat, which was shipped to Peru and Spain via the port of Cartagena.
From 1870, Cartagena became a popular residence for the Chilean intellectual elite who built holiday houses and made it a fashionable seaside resort. Cartagena acquired its status as a commune in 1901.
According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Cartagena had 16,875 inhabitants; of these, 15,302 (90.7%) lived in urban areas and 1,573 (9.3%) in rural areas. At that time, there were 8,396 men and 8,479 women. Cartagena accounts for 1.10% of the regional population.[2] The demonym for a man from Cartagena is Cartagenino and Cartagenina for a woman.
As a commune, Cartagena 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 Oscaldo Cartegena Polanco (Independent). The council has the following members:[1]
Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Cartagena is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by María José Hoffmann (UDI) and Víctor Torres (PDC) as part of the 15th electoral district, (together with San Antonio, Santo Domingo, El Tabo, El Quisco, Algarrobo and Casablanca). The commune is represented in the Senate by Francisco Chahuán Chahuán (RN) and Ricardo Lagos Weber (PPD) as part of the 6th senatorial constituency (Valparaíso-Coast).