San Rafael, Chile facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
San Rafael
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Town and Commune
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| Country | Chile | ||||
| Region | Maule | ||||
| Province | Talca | ||||
| Government | |||||
| • Type | Municipality | ||||
| Area | |||||
| • Total | 263.5 km2 (101.7 sq mi) | ||||
| Elevation | 127 m (417 ft) | ||||
| Population
(2012 Census)
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| • Total | 7,964 | ||||
| • Density | 30.224/km2 (78.280/sq mi) | ||||
| • Urban | 3,482 | ||||
| • Rural | 4,192 | ||||
| Sex | |||||
| • Men | 3,903 | ||||
| • Women | 3,771 | ||||
| Time zone | UTC-4 (CLT) | ||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-3 (CLST) | ||||
| Area code(s) | 56 + 71 | ||||
| Website | Municipality of San Rafael | ||||
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San Rafael is a town and a special type of area called a commune in Chile. It is located in the Talca Province, which is part of the Maule Region. The town of San Rafael is the main center, or 'capital,' for its commune.
Who Lives in San Rafael?
Let's talk about the people of San Rafael! In 2002, a big count called a census happened. This census found that 7,674 people lived in San Rafael. The area of San Rafael is about 263.5 square kilometers. More men lived there than women: 3,903 men and 3,771 women. Almost half of the people (3,482) lived in the town itself. This is called an urban area. The rest (4,192) lived in the countryside. This is known as rural areas. Between 1992 and 2002, the number of people living in San Rafael grew by 6.5%. That's 465 more people!
How San Rafael is Governed
San Rafael is a 'commune,' which is like a local government area in Chile. It is a third-level administrative division of Chile. The commune is managed by a municipal council. This council is led by an alcalde or alcaldesa. An alcalde is like a mayor. The alcalde is chosen by the people in an election every four years. From 2008 to 2012, the alcaldesa (female mayor) was Claudia Alejandra Diaz Bravo.
Representing San Rafael
The people of San Rafael also have representatives in the national government. They are part of an electoral district that chooses members for the Chamber of Deputies of Chile. Currently, Pablo Lorenzini and Pedro Pablo Alvarez-Salamanca represent this district. San Rafael is also part of a larger area that chooses members for the Senate of Chile. Juan Antonio Coloma Correa and Andrés Zaldívar Larraín represent this area in the Senate.
