Villarrica | |
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 Coat of arms  Map of the Villarrica commune in Araucanía Region   Villarrica Location in Chile | |
| Coordinates (city):39°16′S72°13′W / 39.267°S 72.217°W /-39.267; -72.217 | |
| Country | Chile |
| Region | Araucanía |
| Province | Cautín |
| Founded | 1552 |
| Founded as | Santa María de Magdalena de Villa Rica |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipality |
| • Alcalde | Pablo Astete Mermoud (RN) |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,291.1 km2 (498.5 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 227 m (745 ft) |
| Population (2012 Census)[3] | |
• Total | 49,184 |
| • Density | 38.095/km2 (98.665/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 30,859 |
| • Rural | 14,672 |
| Demonym | Villarrican |
| Sex | |
| • Men | 22,694 |
| • Women | 22,837 |
| Time zone | UTC−4 (CLT) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−3 (CLST) |
| postal code | 493 0000 (assigned but not in use as of 2006) |
| Area code | country + city = 56 + 45 |
| Website | www |
| postal code precedes City name, e.g. 493 0000 Villarrica | |
Villarrica is acity andcommune in southernChile located on the western shore ofVillarrica Lake in theProvince of Cautín,Araucanía Region 746 km (464 mi) south ofSantiago and close to theVillarrica Volcano ski center to the south east. Residents of Villarrica are known asVillarricences.
Tourism, grain and dairy farming, and forestry are the main economic activities of the community. The climate is mild and humid with the greatest rainfall experienced between May and July (autumn and winter). The dry season is between December and February (Summer).
Other lakes found nearby includeCalafquén,Caburgua, Huilipilún andColico. In the summer water sports and sunbathing are popular activities in the warm temperatures experienced at the low altitudes ranging from 200 to 500m above sea level.
Fishing and rafting are popular activities in the various rivers in the area, which include theToltén, Voipir,Trancura, Llancahue and Lincura. Popular waterfalls include León, La China, Palguín,Ojos del Caburga. Thanks to the numerous volcanos, hot springs with temperatures ranging from 48 °C to 90 °C, are found nearby. Included areCoñaripe (48 °C),San Luis (43 °C),Huife (49 °C),Palguín (57 °C) andLiquiñe (87 °C).
Villarrica National Park is 36 km (22 mi) away, and was created to preserve the natural beauty of the volcano. The area is noted for using wood as its principal building material.
Villarrica was founded asSanta María Magdalena de la Villa Rica (Saint Mary Magdalene of the Rich Town) in 1552 byJerónimo de Alderete. The site of foundation was likely near that of present-dayPucón.[4] During its early years Villarrica was an importantgold and silver mining centre.[4] However mining activity declined likely as consequence of burial ofplacer deposits beneathlahars ofVillarrica Volcano. This burial would have prompted settlers to move the city westward to its modern site, a place less prone tovolcanic hazards.[4] Gold mined in Villarrica was known, together with gold fromOsorno and other localities, as "gold fromValdivia" (Spanish:oro de Valdivia) as themint where gold was sent was in that city.[5]
Abandoned after his death in 1554, it was refounded five years later byGarcía Hurtado de Mendoza. It grew into a small city, despite suffering destruction by agreat earthquake on December 16, 1575. It had opened communications withBuenos Aires in its last years.
Following theBattle of Curalaba in theArauco War, the last Spanish city to the south of theBío Bío River was destroyed after a three-year-long siege, surrendering on February 7, 1603. Before its destruction it had more than 600 Spanish inhabitants, not counting its Indian servants. At its surrender only 11 men and 13 women were taken captive.
The city was refounded on the site of the old city in the 1880s during theoccupation of Araucanía. The population in 2002 was 45,531. Population growth and economic development has increased, due to a global reputation as a tourist destination for nature lovers, summer recreation and winter sports enthusiasts.[citation needed]
After the city's refounding, the Chilean government established a land sale program to encourage settlement and invited European, esp.Swiss,German andAustrian immigrants in the last half of the 19th century to populate an area.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1895 | 1,887 | — |
| 1907 | 4,551 | +7.61% |
| 1920 | 7,732 | +4.16% |
| 1930 | 11,598 | +4.14% |
| 1940 | 20,842 | +6.04% |
| 1952 | 21,541 | +0.28% |
| 1970 | 27,691 | +1.41% |
| 1982 | 32,973 | +1.47% |
| 1992 | 35,867 | +0.84% |
| 2002 | 45,531 | +2.41% |
| 2017 | 55,478 | +1.33% |
| 2024 | 67,737 | +2.89% |
| Source:"Censo de Población y Vivienda". National Statistics Institute. | ||
According to the 2002census of theNational Statistics Institute, Villarrica spans an area of 1,291.1 km2 (498 sq mi) and has 45,531 inhabitants (22,694 men and 22,837 women). Of these, 30,859 (67.8%) lived inurban areas and 14,672 (32.2%) inrural areas. The population grew by 26.9% (9,664 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.[3]
As a commune, Villarrica is a third-leveladministrative division of Chile administered by amunicipal council, headed by analcalde who is directly elected every four years. The 2021 alcalde is Germán Vergara Lagos (independent).[1][2]
Within theelectoral divisions of Chile, Villarrica is part of the 23rd District in theChamber of Deputies (Araucanía South). The commune is represented in theSenate as part of the Araucanía Senate Constituency.
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