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Río Negro
City and Commune
Top: Volcán Osorno, Middle left: Plaza de Armas, Middle right: Negro River seen from Chapaco Bridge, Bottom left: Locality of La Toma Bottom right: Remains of the Río Negro-Osorno railroad
Top: Volcán Osorno, Middle left: Plaza de Armas, Middle right: Negro River seen from Chapaco Bridge, Bottom left: Locality of La Toma Bottom right: Remains of the Río Negro-Osorno railroad
Location of Río Negro commune in Los Lagos Region
Location of Río Negro commune in Los Lagos Region
Location in Chile
Location in Chile
Río Negro
Location in Chile
Country Chile
Region Los Lagos
Province Osorno Province
Founded March 12, 1896
Government
 • Type Municipality
Area
 • Total 1,265.7 km2 (488.7 sq mi)
Population
 (2002 Census)
 • Total 14,732
 • Density 11.6394/km2 (30.1459/sq mi)
 • Urban
6,583
 • Rural
8,149
Demonym(s) Rionegrino
Sex
 • Men 7,528
 • Women 7,204
Time zone UTC−4 (CLT)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−3 (CLST)
Area code(s) 56 + 64
Climate Cfb
Website Municipality of Rio Negro

Río Negro (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈri.o ˈneɣɾo], English: Black River) is a Chilean city and commune in Osorno Province, Los Lagos Region. The city is located 38 km south of Osorno and 6 km west of Route 5. It has an area of 1,266 km² and a population of 14,732 inhabitants (7,204 women and 7,528 men according to census 2002).

The commune is bordered on the north by Osorno and San Juan de la Costa, on the east by Puerto Octay, on the west by the Pacific Ocean, and on the south by Purranque.

Rionegro1
Cóndor Beach, Coastal zone of Río Negro, on the Pacific Ocean
Vaccinium corymbosum a2
Río Negro exports Blueberries mainly

History

In the 19th century, the commune was a property located between Chahuilco and Purranque called Curileufu by the Huilliche. The town was founded on lands donated by Jose Miguel Alderete in the year 1896. The first alcalde (mayor) was Pedro González.

Demographics

According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Río Negro spans an area of 1,265.7 km2 (489 sq mi) and has 14,732 inhabitants (7,528 men and 7,204 women). Of these, 6,583 (44.7%) lived in urban areas and 8,149 (55.3%) in rural areas. The population fell by 8.1% (1294 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.

Administration

As a commune, Río Negro is a third-level administrative division of Chile administered by a municipal council, headed by an alcalde who is directly elected every four years. The 2008-2012 alcalde is Carlos Schwalm Urzúa (RN). The council has the following members:

  • Carlos Kusch (UDI)
  • Pedro Carreño (PDC)
  • Jaime Ramos (Ind.-PS)
  • Patricio Alvarado (Ind.-RN)
  • Juan Saldivia Quintullanca (Ind.-PRI)
  • Rosiel del Río (Ind.-UDI)

Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Río Negro is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Fidel Espinoza (PS) and Carlos Recondo (UDI) as part of the 56th electoral district, together with Puyehue, Purranque, Puerto Octay, Fresia, Frutillar, Llanquihue, Puerto Varas and Los Muermos. The commune is represented in the Senate by Camilo Escalona Medina (PS) and Carlos Kuschel Silva (RN) as part of the 17th senatorial constituency (Los Lagos Region).

Localities and sectors

  • Riachuelo
  • Chifin
  • Huellelhue Beach
  • Huilma
  • Millantué
  • Chan-Chan
  • Chahuilco
  • Ñancuan
  • Tres Esteros
  • Río Blanco
  • El Bolsón

Climate

The climate is oceanic (Köppen: Cfb), with average temperatures of 11.4 °C.

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