Chanco, Chile Explained

Chanco
Native Name Lang:es
Settlement Type:Town and Commune
Flag Alt:Flag
Shield Alt:Escudo Chanco
Mapsize:175px
Map Alt:Localizacion de la comuna de Chanco en la Región del Maule
Pushpin Map:Chile
Pushpin Mapsize:175
Pushpin Map Alt:Location in Chile
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Chile
Coor Pinpoint:city
Coordinates:-36.2667°N -115°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Chile
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Maule
Subdivision Type2:Province
Subdivision Name2:Cauquenes
Established Title:Founded
Established Date:July 3, 1849
Government Footnotes:[1] [2]
Government Type:Municipality
Leader Title:Alcalde
Leader Party:RN
Leader Name:Viviana Díaz Mesa
Area Note:As of 2002
Unit Pref:Metric
Area Footnotes:[3]
Area Total Km2:529.5
Elevation M:513
Population Total:9003
Population As Of:2012 Census
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Demonym:Chanquino
Population Blank1 Title:Urban
Population Blank1:4012
Population Blank2 Title:Rural
Population Blank2:5445
Demographics Type1:Sex
Demographics1 Title1:Men
Demographics1 Info1:4,856
Demographics1 Title2:Women
Demographics1 Info2:4,601
Timezone:CLT[4]
Utc Offset:-4
Timezone Dst:CLST[5]
Utc Offset Dst:-3
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:3720000
Area Code:56 + 73
Website:Municipality of Chanco

Chanco is a Chilean town and commune located in Cauquenes Province, Maule Region.

Geography

Chanco is bordered on the north by Constitución and Empedrado (both in Talca Province); on the south by Pelluhue; on the east by Cauquenes, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean. The area of the municipality is 529.5sqkm.[3]

Demography

According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Chanco has 9,457 inhabitants (4,856 men and 4,601 women). Of these, 4,012 (42.4%) lived in urban areas and 5,445 (57.6%) in rural areas. Between the 1992 and 2002 censuses, the population fell by 0.4% (35 persons).[3]

History

Chanco was founded on 1889 in an old settlement populated by the indigenous people known as promaucaes. Chanco had begun as a seaside settlement. However, in the 19th century the coastal dunes advanced eastward and buried the old village and the surrounding crops. At the beginning of the 20th century, thanks to the efforts of the German botanist and naturalist Federico Albert the town was saved from being buried again, when Albert started a large-scale project by planting an extense forest west to Chanco and relocating the town eastwards. The forest would be declared a national reserve in 1979 and today it constitutes a frequented touristic attraction in the province of Cauquenes.

Traditions and tourism

Chanco was declared "typical zone" in 1999, due to its neo-colonial style. A very popular annual celebration that takes place every February is a festival honoring the late singer Guadalupe of the Carmen (original name Esmeralda González), born in Quilhuiné, near Chanco, who was hugely popular in the region and, in general among Chilean peasants in the 'fifties and 'sixties as an interpreter of Mexican music. The festival, a true tribute to popular Mexican music, represents a major regional event.

Administration

As a commune, Chanco 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 Viviana Díaz Mesa (RN).The municipal council has the following members:[1] [2]

Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Chanco is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Guillermo Ceroni (PPD) and Ignacio Urrutia (UDI) as part of the 40th electoral district, together with Longaví, Retiro, Parral, Cauquenes and Pelluhue. The commune is represented in the Senate by Hernán Larraín (UDI) and Ximena Rincón González (PDC) as part of the 11th senatorial constituency (Maule-South).

References

  1. Web site: Asociación Chilena de Municipalidades . 7 February 2011. es.
  2. Web site: Municipality of Chanco . 7 February 2011. es.
  3. Web site: National Statistics Institute . 1 September 2010. es.
  4. Web site: Chile Time . 2010-09-01 . WorldTimeZones.org . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070911130719/http://www.world-time-zones.org/zones/chile-time.htm . 2007-09-11 .
  5. Web site: Chile Summer Time . 2010-09-01 . WorldTimeZones.org . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070911130451/http://www.world-time-zones.org/zones/chile-summer-time.htm . 2007-09-11 .

External links