Penco facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Penco
City and Commune
Center of Penco
Coat of arms Location of Penco commune in the Bío Bío Region Penco Location in Chile
Country	Chile
Region	Bío Bío
Province	Concepción
Founded	February 12, 1550
Founded as	Concepción del Nuevo Extremo
Founded by	Pedro de Valdivia
Government
• Type	Municipality
Area
• Total	107.6 km2 (41.5 sq mi)
Elevation	115 m (377 ft)
Population  (2012 Census)
• Total	46,176
• Density	429.14/km2 (1,111.5/sq mi)
• Urban	45,361
• Rural	655
Demonym(s)	Pencones
Sex
• Men	22,366
• Women	23,650
Time zone	UTC−4 (CLT)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−3 (CLST)
Area code(s)	56 + 41
Website	Official website: http://www.penco.cl/

Penco is a city and a commune (a local government area) in Chile. It is located in the Bío Bío Region on the Bay of Concepción. The name Penco comes from the Mapudungun language, meaning 'See Water'.

Penco was first founded on February 12, 1550, by Pedro de Valdivia. It was originally named Concepción del Nuevo Extremo. This makes it the third oldest city in Chile. The capital city, Santiago, was founded in 1541, and La Serena was founded in 1544.

People from Penco are called pencones. This is different from people from the nearby city of Concepción, who are called penquistas. This difference helps avoid confusion because Concepción used to be located where Penco is now.

The History of Penco

Penco has a long and interesting history. The area where Penco is today was once the first location of the city of Concepción. Concepción is now the capital of the Bío Bío Region.

Early Challenges and Rebuilding

• The original city of Concepción was destroyed in 1554 by a Mapuche leader named Lautaro.
• It was rebuilt but then destroyed again by Lautaro in 1555.
• In 1557, the city was reestablished by García Hurtado de Mendoza, 5th Marquis of Cañete. He built a fort there.
• The city was officially reestablished on January 6, 1558, by Captain Jerónimo de Villegas.

Growth and Natural Disasters

• For the next two centuries, Penco became an important military base. Soldiers fought against the native Mapuche people in Araucanía from here.
• The city grew to have about 10,000 people. It survived a siege (when an army surrounds a place to cut it off) in 1564 and other attacks by Mapuche tribes.
• In 1603, the first bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Concepción moved his church headquarters to Penco.

Moving the City

• Penco faced many challenges from earthquakes and tsunamis. These natural disasters destroyed the city several times, including in 1570, 1657, 1687, 1730, and 1751.
• Because of these repeated disasters, the government decided to move the city of Concepción.
• It was moved to its current location in the Valle de la Mocha, next to the Bío Bío River.
• The old location, which is now Penco, was left empty for many years.
• The modern city of Penco was officially founded on March 29, 1842.

Penco Today: Facts and Figures

Penco is a lively city with a growing population.

Population and Area

• According to a 2002 census (a count of the population), Penco covers an area of 107.6 square kilometers (about 41.5 square miles).
• It had 46,016 people living there at that time.
• Most of the people, 45,361 (98.6%), lived in urban areas (cities and towns).
• Only 655 people (1.4%) lived in rural areas (the countryside).
• The population of Penco grew by 14% between 1992 and 2002.

How Penco is Governed

Penco is managed by a local government called a municipal council.

Local Leadership

• The head of the municipal council is an alcalde (mayor).
• The alcalde is chosen by the people in an election every four years.
• From 2012 to 2016, the alcalde was Víctor Hugo Figueroa.

Political Representation

• Penco is part of a larger area for national elections.
• In the Chamber of Deputies (similar to a House of Representatives), Penco is represented by Sergio Bobadilla and Clemira Pacheco.
• In the Senate (similar to a Senate in other countries), Penco is represented by Alejandro Navarro Brain and Hosain Sabag Castillo.

Villages and Places in Penco

Besides the main town of Penco, the commune also includes several smaller villages:

• Cerro Verde 36°44′0″S 72°59′0″W / 36.73333°S 72.98333°W / -36.73333; -72.98333
• Cosmito 36°46′7″S 73°0′52″W / 36.76861°S 73.01444°W / -36.76861; -73.01444
• El Rosal 36°46′5″S 73°2′15″W / 36.76806°S 73.03750°W / -36.76806; -73.03750
• Lirquén 36°42′48″S 72°58′29″W / 36.71333°S 72.97472°W / -36.71333; -72.97472
• Tucapel 36°46′37″S 73°1′14″W / 36.77694°S 73.02056°W / -36.77694; -73.02056

Famous People from Penco

• Patricio Renán

See also

In Spanish: Penco para niños