Santa Juana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Santa Juana
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| Country | Chile | |||||
| Region | Bío Bío | |||||
| Province | Concepción | |||||
| Government | ||||||
| • Type | Municipality | |||||
| Area | ||||||
| • Total | 731.2 km2 (282.3 sq mi) | |||||
| Elevation | 50 m (160 ft) | |||||
| Population
(2012 Census)
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| • Total | 13,228 | |||||
| • Density | 18.0908/km2 (46.855/sq mi) | |||||
| • Urban | 7,095 | |||||
| • Rural | 5,618 | |||||
| Sex | ||||||
| • Men | 6,357 | |||||
| • Women | 6,356 | |||||
| Time zone | UTC-4 (CLT) | |||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-3 (CLST) | |||||
| Area code(s) | 56 + 41 | |||||
| Website | Municipality of Santa Juana | |||||
Santa Juana is a city and a commune (which is like a local government area) in the Concepción Province of Chile's Bío Bío Region. It's located southwest of the Biobío River in the Catirai valley, about 48 kilometers (30 miles) from Concepción, Chile.
Contents
History of Santa Juana
Early Days and Founding
The area where Santa Juana is now located was originally called the Valley of Catirai by the Mapuche people. They called the people living there Catirayen.
The town of Santa Juana started as a fort. It was built in March 1626 by Governor Luis Fernández de Córdoba y Arce. He named it Santa Juana de Guadalcázar. This name was given in honor of the wife of the viceroy of Peru, Diego Fernández de Córdoba, Marquis of Guadalcázar. A viceroy was like a governor who ruled a colony for the king.
Fort Repairs and Challenges
The fort was left empty in 1641, but it was fixed and made bigger in 1648 by Governor Martín de Mujica y Buitrón. Later, in 1722, the Mapuches destroyed it, but it was rebuilt just two years later.
In 1739, Governor José Antonio Manso de Velasco made important changes. He improved the fort and made sure it had enough supplies. He also built deep ditches between the river and a small lake behind the fort. These ditches turned the fort into an island, making it harder to attack. More people moved there to help protect the area.
Becoming a Town and Later Disasters
In 1765, Governor Antonio de Guill y Gonzaga helped the settlement get the official title of "Villa" (a type of town). However, wars with the local Indigenous groups meant the town couldn't grow much. It became a safe place for people from other nearby towns that had been destroyed.
In 1821, Santa Juana was burned down by Vicente Benavides. He was a rebellious royalist guerrilla leader, fighting against those who wanted Chile to be independent. The town was also badly damaged by a big earthquake on February 20, 1835. Because of this disaster, the town was moved to its current, safer location six years later.
Modern Administration
Santa Juana was the main town for the Department of Lautaro from 1841 to 1865. Then, on May 30, 1865, Coronel became the new capital of that department.
On December 22, 1891, a new law created independent communes. This led to the creation of the Municipality of Santa Juana. This municipality managed Santa Juana, Santo Domingo, and San Jerónimo. Their borders were set by official decrees in 1885 and 1886.
Population of Santa Juana
Demographics and Growth
According to the 2002 census (a count of all people) by the National Statistics Institute, Santa Juana covers an area of about 731.2 square kilometers (282.3 square miles). It had 12,713 people living there at that time. Out of these, 6,357 were men and 6,356 were women.
Most of the people, 7,095 (55.8%), lived in urban areas (cities or towns). The remaining 5,618 people (44.2%) lived in rural areas (the countryside). Between 1992 and 2002, the population of Santa Juana grew by 6.3%, which means 756 more people moved there.
How Santa Juana is Governed
Local Government
As a commune, Santa Juana is a third-level administrative division of Chile. This means it's a local area with its own government. It is managed by a municipal council. The head of this council is an alcalde (mayor), who is chosen directly by the people every four years. From 2008 to 2012, the alcalde was Angel Castro Medina from the PDC.
National Representation
Santa Juana is also part of Chile's national government system.
- Chamber of Deputies: In the Chamber of Deputies (which is like one part of the country's parliament), Santa Juana is represented by Sergio Bobadilla (UDI) and Clemira Pacheco (PS). They are part of the 45th electoral district, which also includes towns like Tomé, Penco, and Coronel.
- Senate: In the Senate (the other part of the parliament), Santa Juana is represented by Alejandro Navarro Brain (MAS) and Hosain Sabag Castillo (PDC). They are part of the 12th senatorial area, known as Biobío-Cordillera. These representatives help make laws for the whole country.
See also
In Spanish: Santa Juana (Chile) para niños
