Chonchi | |
|---|---|
 Location of Chonchi commune in Los Lagos Region   Chonchi Location in Chile | |
| Coordinates:42°37′19″S73°46′27″W / 42.62194°S 73.77417°W /-42.62194; -73.77417 | |
| Country | Chile |
| Region | Los Lagos |
| Province | Chiloé |
| Founded | 1767 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipality |
| • Alcalde | Fernando Oyarzún Macías (RN) |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,362.1 km2 (525.9 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 26 m (85 ft) |
| Population (2012 Census)[2] | |
• Total | 12,959 |
| • Density | 9.5/km2 (25/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 4,588 |
| • Rural | 7,984 |
| Sex | |
| • Men | 6,453 |
| • Women | 6,119 |
| Area code | 56 + 65 |
| Website | Municipality of Chonchi |
Chonchi is aChileantown andcommune located inLos Lagos Region. The commune consists of the town of Chonchi and the following villages:
According to the 2002census of theNational Statistics Institute, Chonchi spans an area of 1,362.1 km2 (526 sq mi) and has 12,572 inhabitants (6,453 men and 6,119 women). Of these, 4,588 (36.5%) lived inurban areas and 7,984 (63.5%) inrural areas. The population grew by 18.3% (1,945 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.[2]
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Originally Chonchi was a Jesuit mission station with a school which had 150 pupils in 1755, and the town itself was founded in 1767 by order of Don Guil y Gonzaga, the Governor of Chiloé.[3] In 1787 Chonchi had 315 inhabitants. Unification with Chile increased the economic importance of the region and promoted population growth. The 1833 census in Chonchi demonstrated that it was the most important town in south of the island. It became a parish in 1836, resuming its traditional religious significance within the area. A good anchorage made Chonchi a natural stopping place for traffic in the canals and timber exploitation transformed it into a hub for development of the region. The economic activity centred upon Chonchi reached its zenith at the beginning of the 20th century creating an opulent society with an active social circle. The influence of external ideas (Europeans) is clearly apparent in the town.[4]
The piratePedro Ñancúpel was a native of Chonchi, being born in Terao 1837.[5]
The nickname of Chonchi isCiudad de los Tres Pisos which means "Town of three floors". The ground floor corresponds to the harbour and the marine drive with the picturesque marketFeria Artesanal, the second floor consists of the urban architecture around the museum, and the third floor is the main square with the church.[6]
Nearby attractions includeChiloé National Park and several lakes:Huillinco,Tarahuín,Natri andTepuhueico.
Huillinco, onLago Huillinco, is a village of 943 inhabitants (2002), most of whom are Huilliche with an interesting cemetery.[8]
Cucao is one of the very few settlements on Chiloé on the west coast. It is a village with 424 inhabitants (2000) at the entrance of Chiloé National Park.[9]
As a commune, Chonchi is a third-leveladministrative division of Chile administered by amunicipal council, headed by analcalde who is directly elected every four years. The 2008-2012 alcalde is Pedro Andrade Oyarzún (PDC).[1]
Within theelectoral divisions of Chile, Chonchi is represented in theChamber of Deputies by Gabriel Ascencio (PDC) and Alejandro Santana (RN) as part of the 58th electoral district, together withCastro,Ancud,Quemchi,Dalcahue,Curaco de Vélez,Quinchao,Puqueldón,Queilén,Quellón,Chaitén,Hualaihué,Futaleufú andPalena. The commune is represented in theSenate by Camilo Escalona Medina (PS) and Carlos Kuschel Silva (RN) as part of the 17th senatorial constituency (Los Lagos Region).
