Casablanca, Chile facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Casablanca
Commune
Main square of Casablanca.
Flag Coat of arms Casablanca Location in Chile
Country	Chile
Region	Valparaíso
Province	Valparaíso
Founded	1753
Government
• Type	Municipality
Area
• Total	952.5 km2 (367.8 sq mi)
Elevation	293 m (961 ft)
Population
• Total	24,537
• Density	25.7606/km2 (66.720/sq mi)
• Urban	15,209
• Rural	6,665
Demonym(s)	Casablanquino, -a
Sex
• Men	11,127
• Women	10,747
Time zone	UTC-4 (CLT)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-3 (CLST)
Area code(s)	56 + 32
Website	Official website: http://www.municasablanca.cl/

Casablanca (which means "white house") is a city and a commune in Chile. A commune is like a local government area. It's located in the Valparaíso Province, which is part of the Valparaíso Region.

Where is Casablanca?

The city of Casablanca is found along Chile Route 68, a main road between Santiago and Valparaíso. If you travel by car, it's about 30 minutes southeast of Valparaíso and 50 minutes northwest of Santiago. This area is famous for its white wine grapes, especially Sauvignon blanc and Chardonnay. The entire Casablanca commune covers an area of about 952.5 square kilometers.

How Many People Live Here?

Based on a 2002 count, Casablanca had 21,874 people living there. This included 11,127 men and 10,747 women. Most of these people (about 15,209) lived in city areas, while 6,665 lived in the countryside. The number of people living in Casablanca grew by about 31.9% between 1992 and 2002.

How is Casablanca Managed?

As a commune, Casablanca has its own local government. It's run by a municipal council, which is like a city council. The head of this council is called an alcalde, who is chosen by the people. From 2008 to 2012, the alcalde was Manuel Jesús Vera Delgado. The council members at that time were:

• Rodrigo Martínez Roca
• Roberto Burgos González
• Pedro Caussade Pitté
• Ángel Poggi Saa
• Laura Reyes Salazar
• Enrique Heck Escalante

Casablanca is also part of a larger area for elections in Chile.

Casablanca Valley Wine Region

The Casablanca Valley is a well-known area for making wine. It's about 75 kilometers (47 miles) northwest of Santiago. This valley has a special status called a "Denomination of Origin" (DO). This means it's a legally protected area where grapes for wine are grown, ensuring their quality and origin. The valley gets its name from the Casablanca commune and stretches about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from east to west.

Winemaking started here in the mid-1980s. The region quickly became famous for its white wines, especially Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. It also produces great Pinot Noir, which grows well in its cooler weather. Even though the valley is quite close to the Equator, the Pacific Ocean helps keep it cool. This is thanks to cool morning fog and more clouds, which makes it possible to grow grapes here.

What Grapes Grow Here?

• Climate: It has a cool Mediterranean climate, meaning it's influenced a lot by the ocean. It gets about 540 millimeters (21.2 inches) of rain each year.
• Soils: The soil is mostly clay and sand.
• Main Grapes: The most common grapes grown are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Here's a look at some of the grapes planted in the valley:

In total, about 1,429 hectares (3531 acres) are planted with grapes.

Sister City

Casablanca has a "sister city" relationship with:

• – Napa, California, USA

See also

In Spanish: Casablanca (Chile) para niños