Quilaco facts for kids
Quilaco is a small town and a special kind of local government area called a 'commune' in Chile. It's found in the Bío Bío Province, which is part of the Bío Bío Region. This area covers about 1,123.7 square kilometers (about 434 square miles).
Quick facts for kids
Quilaco
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Town and Commune
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| Country | Chile | |||
| Region | Bío Bío | |||
| Province | Bío Bío | |||
| Mission built | 13 December 1760 | |||
| Government | ||||
| • Type | Municipality | |||
| Area | ||||
| • Total | 1,123.7 km2 (433.9 sq mi) | |||
| Elevation | 399 m (1,309 ft) | |||
| Population
(2012 Census)
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| • Total | 3,850 | |||
| • Density | 3.426/km2 (8.874/sq mi) | |||
| • Urban | 1,612 | |||
| • Rural | 2,409 | |||
| Sex | ||||
| • Men | 2,110 | |||
| • Women | 1,911 | |||
| Time zone | UTC-4 (CLT) | |||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-3 (CLST) | |||
| Area code(s) | 56 + 43 | |||
| Website | Municipality of Quilaco | |||
Contents
History of Quilaco
The name Quilaco has two possible meanings. It could mean "Three waters" or it might mean "Quila in the water." "Quila" is a type of bamboo plant.
Founding the Town
The town of Quilaco began with a mix of Mapuche people and Spanish settlers. This happened when Franciscan missionaries arrived in the 1700s.
The town was officially started on December 13, 1760. A friar, who is a type of religious brother, named Juan Matud created a mission. He called it "Purest Conception of Quilaco."
Growth and Development
Over time, a town grew around this mission. More people settled there and in the areas nearby. Many people came to work on big projects. These included building the South Bío Bío Canal.
They also worked on farming projects and dividing up old large farms. This mix of people and their backgrounds is still seen in Quilaco today. It shows up in their local traditions and customs.
Population and Demographics
According to a count of people called a census from 2002, Quilaco covers about 1,123.7 square kilometers. At that time, 4,021 people lived there.
Urban and Rural Living
Of these people, 2,110 were men and 1,911 were women. About 1,612 people (40.1%) lived in urban areas, which are like towns or cities. The other 2,409 people (59.9%) lived in rural areas, which are more like the countryside.
Population Changes
Between the 1992 and 2002 censuses, the number of people living in Quilaco went down. The population dropped by 8.2%, which means 358 fewer people lived there.
How Quilaco is Governed
As a commune, Quilaco is a local government area in Chile. It is managed by a group of people called a municipal council.
Local Leadership
The council is led by an alcalde, who is like a mayor. The people of Quilaco vote directly for their alcalde every four years. From 2008 to 2012, the alcalde was Fredy Barrueto Viveros. He was a member of the PRI political party.
National Representation
Quilaco is also part of larger areas for national elections. In the Chamber of Deputies, which is like one part of the country's parliament, Quilaco is in the 47th electoral district. This district includes many other towns.
The commune is also part of the 13th senatorial constituency for the Senate. The Senate is the other part of Chile's parliament.
See also
In Spanish: Quilaco para niños
