Paine, Chile facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paine
Torris
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| Country | Chile | |||||
| Region | Santiago Metro. | |||||
| Province | Maipo | |||||
| Founded | 1927 | |||||
| Government | ||||||
| • Type | Municipality | |||||
| Area | ||||||
| • Total | 678 km2 (262 sq mi) | |||||
| Elevation | 409 m (1,342 ft) | |||||
| Population
(2017 Census)
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| • Total | 72,759 | |||||
| • Density | 107.31/km2 (277.94/sq mi) | |||||
| Demonym(s) | Painino | |||||
| Time zone | UTC-4 (CLT) | |||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-3 (CLST) | |||||
| Area code(s) | 56 + | |||||
| Website | Municipality of Paine | |||||
Paine (pronounced Pie-nay) is a city and commune in Chile. It is part of Greater Santiago and is located in the Maipo Province, within the Santiago Metropolitan Region. Its name comes from the Mapudungun language, where payne means 'celestial'.
Contents
Discovering Paine's History
Paine was officially recognized as a city in 1885. However, the land it covers today was home to native groups long before that. The Picunche people lived here, and their language, Mapudungun, gave Paine its name.
Early Days and Land Ownership
When the Spanish arrived, they divided the land into large farms called encomiendas. These farms changed owners many times over the years. A famous farm in the area once belonged to Mrs. Paula Jaraquemada. Back then, the name Paine referred to a much larger area. You can still see this in names like Angostura de Paine and Valdivia de Paine.
Becoming a Commune
The Paine subdelegation was created on November 2, 1885. It was part of the department of Maipo. At first, its main office was in the local hospital. But by 1900, it moved to the city of Paine.
A Chilean geographer, Luis Risopatrón, described Paine as a "lugarejo" (a small, quiet place) in his 1924 book, Diccionario Jeográfico de Chile. On December 30, 1927, Paine became its own independent commune. It included parts of the former communes of Linderos and Valdivia de Paine.
Paine's Location and Landscape
Paine covers a total area of about 678 square kilometers. It's a place with diverse natural features.
Surrounding Areas
Paine shares its borders with several other communes:
- To the north: Buin
- To the northwest: Isla de Maipo (in Talagante Province)
- To the south: Mostazal (in the VI Region of Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins)
- To the west: Melipilla (in Melipilla Province)
- To the southwest: Alhué (also in Melipilla Province)
- To the east: Pirque (in Cordillera Province)
Natural Wonders
Paine was home to the Aculeo Lagoon, which was a popular spot for people from Santiago. It was the only natural lagoon in the region. The area also has the Altos de Cantillana, a natural reserve with tall mountains. This reserve is known for its interesting plants and animals. Paine is also famous for its huasas traditions, which are part of Chilean cowboy culture.
Getting Around and Connecting
Paine is well-connected to other parts of Chile.
- Roads: Route 5 connects Paine to the north and central areas of Chile.
- Trains: The Rancagua-Central Station Train connects Paine to Santiago, San Bernardo, Buin, Rancagua, and San Fernando.
Paine's Economy
Paine's economy is mostly based on farming. The watermelons from Paine are very famous in Chile because they are large and taste great. In recent years, many food processing companies have also set up businesses here.
How Paine is Governed
Paine is run by its local government, called the Illustrious Municipality of Paine.
Local Government Leaders
The mayor of Paine is Rodrigo Contreras Gutiérrez (from the UDI party). He works with a Municipal Council to make decisions for the commune. The current council members are:
- Marco San Martin Zdrazil (PS)
- Jorge Molina Silva (Ind.)
- Cecilia Altamirano Vivanco (EVOP)
- Esteban Calderon Salas (RN)
- Claudia Ahumada Arias (UDI)
- Paulina Calderón Jara (CCP)
National Representation
Paine is part of Electoral District No. 14. This means its citizens vote for representatives in the Chamber of Deputies (one part of Chile's National Congress). Paine is also part of the 7th Senatorial District, which elects members to the Senate.
Culture and Community Life
Paine has a rich culture, especially its peasant traditions.
Celebrating National Holidays
During the National Holidays in mid-September, Paine truly comes alive. It's one of the few places near Santiago that still has ramadas. These are special food and drink stalls covered with tree branches. People also enjoy traditional activities like hopscotch, threshing (separating grain), greasy pole climbing, and rope throwing.
Champa Cultural Corporation
The Little Town of Champa Cultural Corporation started in 2019. Its goal is to promote arts and culture in the rural areas of Paine. This group has become very popular because of their hard work and quality projects. They are currently working to build a Cultural Center and Theater. This new center will be in the old Elías Sánchez de Champa School, which was damaged in the 2010 earthquake.
Expo Paine Rural
Every January, Paine hosts two big traditional events. The first is the Expo Paine Rural. This event used to be called the Watermelon Festival. It brings together local farmers, craftspeople, and cooks. More than 100 stands show off the best of the area. For three days, visitors can experience the traditions of the Chilean countryside.
The Expo Paine Rural helps tourists discover the beauty and traditions of Paine. It highlights the important farming work that is still a big part of the commune. A fun part of the Expo is the contest for the Best Watermelon of the season. Experts judge the watermelons based on taste, color, texture, and sweetness.
Watermelon Festival
A week after the Expo, the Watermelon Festival takes place. This is a singing competition for local talent. People from Paine can compete in different music styles like international, folk, and ranchero-Mexican. There are local qualifying festivals before the main event. The big Watermelon Festival usually happens on a Friday and Saturday in the third week of January at the municipal stadium.
Famous national artists like Los Jaivas, Américo, and Los Bunkers have also performed at the festival. For many local artists, performing here is a great step before possibly going to bigger events like the Viña del Mar Festival.
Important Memorials
The Paine Memorial to the Detained, Disappeared and Executed is a special tribute. It honors the seventy people who suffered during a difficult time in Chile's history between 1973 and 1990. The artist Alejandra Ruddoff created it, and it was opened on May 25, 2008.
Local Media
Paine has several local radio stations that keep the community informed and entertained:
- 103.7 MHz - Caramelo
- 106.1 MHz - Golondrina
- 106.3 MHz - Fantasía
- 107.3 MHz - Jemima
- 107.9 MHz - La Voz de Paine
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Paine para niños
