| Official Name: | La Unión |
| Settlement Type: | city and commune |
| Map Alt: | Location of La Unión commune in Los Ríos Region |
| Pushpin Map: | Chile |
| Pushpin Map Narrow: | yes |
| Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
| Pushpin Map Alt: | Location in Chile |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Chile |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Chile |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Los Ríos |
| Subdivision Type2: | Province |
| Subdivision Name2: | Ranco |
| Leader Name: | Aldo Pinuer Solís (2016-2020)--> |
| Government Type: | Municipality |
| Leader Title: | Alcalde |
| Leader Name: | Aldo Pinuer Solís |
| Established Title: | Founded as |
| Established Date: | Villa de San José de La Unión |
| Established Title2: | Founded |
| Established Date2: | 13 February 1821 |
| Coordinates: | -40.2833°N -78°W |
| Coor Pinpoint: | city |
| Government Footnotes: | [1] |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Area Footnotes: | [2] |
| Area Total Km2: | 2136.7 |
| Elevation M: | 28 |
| Population Total: | 36,447 |
| Population As Of: | 2012 census |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Population Demonym: | unionino |
| Population Blank1 Title: | Urban |
| Population Blank1: | 25,615 |
| Population Blank2 Title: | Rural |
| Population Blank2: | 13,832 |
| Demographics Type1: | Sex |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Men |
| Demographics1 Info1: | 20,125 |
| Demographics1 Title2: | Women |
| Demographics1 Info2: | 19,322 |
| Timezone: | CLT |
| Utc Offset: | −4 |
| Timezone Dst: | CLST |
| Utc Offset Dst: | −3 |
| Area Code: | 56 + 63 |
| Blank Name: | Climate |
| Blank Info: | Cfb |
| Website: | Official website |
La Unión is a city and commune of the Ranco Province in the Los Ríos Region in Chile. It is situated approximately 40 km north of Osorno and 80 km southeast of Valdivia. Covering an area of 2,136.7 km2, it has a population of 36,447, of which 25,615 are considered part of the urban population, according to the 2012 census. The commune derived its name from the confluence of the Llollelhue and Radimadi rivers.
La Unión was founded in 1821 during the government of Bernardo O'Higgins, to secure sovereignty over the Central Valley south of Valdivia. It is a major centre for milk production; COLUN is the main milk and dairy product producer in the zone. The commune is covered in forest to the west of the city and the east is dominated by agricultural landscapes spanning Los Llanos. Alerce Costero National Park lies in the western mountains.
The city served until 2001 as a dormitory town for the coal mines of Catamutún.[3] [4]
According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, La Unión spans an area of 2136.7sqkm and has 39,447 inhabitants (20,125 men and 19,322 women). Of these, 25,615 (64.9%) lived in urban areas and 13,832 (35.1%) in rural areas. The population grew by 1.8% (707 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.[2]
As a commune, La Unión 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 2012-2016 alcalde is María Angelica Astudillo Mautz.[1]
Within the electoral divisions of Chile, La Unión is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Mr. Enrique Jaramillo (PDC) and Mr. Gastón Von Mühlenbrock (UDI) as part of the 54th electoral district, together with Panguipulli, Los Lagos, Futrono, Lago Ranco, Río Bueno and Paillaco. The commune is represented in the as part of the 16th senatorial constituency (Los Ríos Region).
Deutsche Schule La Unión was at one time recognized as an overseas German school by the West German government.[5]