Valparaíso Province facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Valparaíso Province
Provincia de Valparaíso
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| Country | Chile | ||||
| Region | Valparaíso | ||||
| Named for | Valparaíso de Arriba, Spain | ||||
| Capital | Valparaíso | ||||
| Communes |
List of 7:
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| Government | |||||
| • Type | Provincial | ||||
| Area | |||||
| • Total | 2,146.6 km2 (828.8 sq mi) | ||||
| Area rank | 4 | ||||
| Population
(2012 Census)
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| • Total | 713,065 | ||||
| • Rank | 1 | ||||
| • Density | 332.183/km2 (860.351/sq mi) | ||||
| • Urban | 639,255 | ||||
| • Rural | 12,566 | ||||
| Sex | |||||
| • Men | 315,785 | ||||
| • Women | 336,036 | ||||
| Time zone | UTC-4 (CLT) | ||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-3 (CLST) | ||||
| Area code(s) | country 56 + area 32 | ||||
| Website | Governorate of Valparaíso | ||||
Valparaíso Province (Spanish: Provincia de Valparaíso) is a part of Chile, located in the central Valparaíso Region. It is one of eight provinces in this region. The main city and capital of the province is Valparaíso, which is a coastal city.
Contents
How Valparaíso Province is Governed
Valparaíso Province is an administrative division in Chile. Until 2021, it was led by a provincial governor. This person was chosen by the President of Chile.
Now, a regional presidential delegate directly governs the province. This delegate is also appointed by the President. This change happened because Valparaíso city, which is in this province, is the capital of the whole Valparaíso Region.
Communes: Smaller Local Areas
The province is made up of seven smaller areas called communes (in Spanish, comunas). Each commune has its own local government. This government includes an alcalde (like a mayor) and a municipal council.
History of Valparaíso Province
A province named Valparaíso was first created a long time ago, on October 27, 1842. Back then, it included three main areas called departments: Valparaíso, Casablanca, and Quillota.
Over the years, the borders and parts of the province changed. For example, in 1857, two new departments were created: Ferrocarril and Juan Fernández. These were later removed in 1925. In the same year, the Limache department was added.
Later, in 1966, the Isla de Pascua Department (Easter Island) became part of the province. Finally, in 1976, the Valparaíso Province became part of the larger Valparaíso Region.
More recently, on March 11, 2010, some parts of the province moved. The communes of Quilpué and Villa Alemana became part of a new province called Marga Marga Province. This change happened because of a special law.
Geography and People of Valparaíso Province
Valparaíso Province covers a coastal area of about 2,146.6 square kilometers (828.8 square miles). This makes it the fourth largest province in the Valparaíso Region.
According to a census taken in 2002, Valparaíso was the most populated province in its region. It had about 651,821 people living there. Most of these people, about 639,255, lived in urban areas (cities and towns). A smaller number, about 12,566 people, lived in rural areas (the countryside).
The census also showed that there were about 315,785 men and 336,036 women living in the province at that time.
See also
In Spanish: Provincia de Valparaíso para niños
