| Linares | |
| Native Name: | Linarense |
| Native Name Lang: | es |
| Settlement Type: | City and Commune |
| Flag Alt: | Flag |
| Shield Alt: | Coat of arms |
| Map Alt: | Location in the Maule Region |
| Pushpin Map: | Chile |
| Pushpin Map Narrow: | yes |
| Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
| Pushpin Map Alt: | Location in Chile |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Chile |
| Coordinates: | -35.85°N -107°W |
| Established Title: | Founded |
| Established Date: | May 23, 1794 |
| Established Title1: | Founded as |
| Established Date1: | Villa de San Ambrosio de Linares |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Chile |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Maule |
| Subdivision Type2: | Province |
| Subdivision Name2: | Linares |
| Government Footnotes: | [1] |
| Government Type: | Municipality |
| Leader Title: | Alcalde |
| Leader Name: | Rolando Rentería Molina |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Area Footnotes: | [2] |
| Area Total Km2: | 1456.7 |
| Elevation M: | 165 |
| Population Footnotes: | . |
| Population Total: | 120716 |
| Population As Of: | 2012 census |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Population Blank1 Title: | Urban |
| Population Blank1: | 10000 |
| Population Blank2 Title: | Rural |
| Population Blank2: | 20716 |
| Demographics Type1: | Sex |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Men |
| Demographics1 Info1: | 55000 |
| Demographics1 Title2: | Women |
| Demographics1 Info2: | 65000 |
| Population Demonym: | Linarense |
| Timezone: | CLT[3] |
| Utc Offset: | -4 |
| Timezone Dst: | CLST[4] |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -3 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 3580000 |
| Area Code: | 56 + 73 |
| Blank Name: | Climate |
| Blank Info: | Csb |
| Website: | Official website |
Linares is a Chilean city and commune located in the Maule Region and lies in the fertile Chilean Central Valley, 303km (188miles) south of Santiago and 50km (30miles) south of Talca, the regional capital. Linares is the capital city of the province of Linares.
According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Linares spans an area of 1456.7sqkm and has 83,249 inhabitants (40,518 men and 42,731 women). Of these, 68,224 (82%) lived in urban areas and 15,025 (18%) in rural areas. The population grew by 7.7% (5,933 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.[2]
The municipality covers an area of 1466sqkm and the city proper, 16sqkm. The rivers Ancoa, Putagán and Achibueno are the main rivers that pass through the municipality or form its natural borders.
Most of the territory of the municipality is located within the central plain or "depresión intermedia" (Valle Central de Chile). Some low altitude hills are located in the westernmost part of the municipality, while its easternmost part is marked by the presence of the foothills of the Andes mountains. The municipality of Linares is bordered on the west by San Javier; on the north by Villa Alegre, Yerbas Buenas and Colbún; on the east, by Colbún, and on the south, by Longaví. The municipality of Colbún occupies the easternmost strip of the province, where some of the highest provincial peaks are located, as are the sources of several of the main rivers.
The city of Linares contains a large urban wetland known as Ayüwün, of which 1.1 hectares are protected under the Urban Wetlands Law.[5] [6]
Linares has a mild mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csb). The summers are hot and mainly dry (November to March) with temperatures reaching up to 32 -33 degrees Celsius on the hottest days. The winters (late May to mid September) tend to be rather humid and rainy, with typical maximum daily temperatures of 14-15 degrees Celsius, and minimum just above freezing.
Linares was founded on May 23, 1794, as the "Villa de San Ambrosio de Linares" by Ambrosio O'Higgins, the then Viceroy of Peru and Bernardo O'Higgins's father. The city counts among its natives important statesmen, politicians, poets, writers, and musicians and is an active commercial, agricultural, industrial, and service center.
The city of Linares houses the artillery school of the Chilean Army.
From 1913 to 1954 Linares had a station on the narrow gauge Putagán—Colbún railway line between Linares and Colbún.
According to the 2002 census of the municipality of Linares, 75.41% (or 45,987 persons) of the total population aged 15 and older identified themselves as Roman Catholic; 15.74% described themselves as evangelical Protestants; and 0.61% as Jehovah's Witnesses. Additionally, 2.00% of the total population aged 15 and older identified themselves as Mormons, approximately 2.59% declared themselves followers of other religions, and 4.95% of the population declared themselves atheist or agnostic.
Linares is a see of a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church, with nine active parishes and many chapels in the comuna. There are also many churches that serve the various Protestant denominations and places of worship for Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormons.
The city and its surroundings have many attractions, for example:
Some natural attractions in the surrounding area include the piedmont of the Andes mountains, with forests of pines and other trees; lakes (the artificial Colbún lake); rivers, and good camping and hiking areas.
Other cities and towns in the province include: Colbún, Panimávida, Longaví, Parral, Retiro, San Javier, Villa Alegre and Yerbas Buenas.
As a commune, Linares 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 2021-2025 alcalde is Mario Meza.[1]
Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Linares is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Jorge Tarud (PPD) and Romilio Gutiérrez (UDI) as part of the 39th electoral district, together with Colbún, San Javier, Villa Alegre and Yerbas Buenas. 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).
In August 2021 the Brigade against Economic Crime PDI in investigating embezzlement and fraud.[7]
In August 2021 the Comptroller General of the Republic indicated disproportional costs for over CLP$73million, currently under investigation for chlorine and rapid antigen test during the Covid pandemic.[8]
Linares is an important agricultural, industrial and financial center of the region.