Vichuquén facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vichuquén
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| Country | Chile | ||||
| Region | Maule | ||||
| Province | Curicó | ||||
| Government | |||||
| • Type | Municipality | ||||
| Area | |||||
| • Total | 425.7 km2 (164.4 sq mi) | ||||
| Elevation | 72 m (236 ft) | ||||
| Population
(2012 Census)
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| • Total | 4,335 | ||||
| • Density | 10.1832/km2 (26.374/sq mi) | ||||
| • Urban | 1,368 | ||||
| • Rural | 3,548 | ||||
| Sex | |||||
| • Men | 2,596 | ||||
| • Women | 2,320 | ||||
| Time zone | UTC-4 (CLT) | ||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-3 (CLST) | ||||
| Area code(s) | 56 + 75 | ||||
Vichuquén is a town and a special area (called a commune) in the Curicó Province of Chile. It's part of the Maule Region.
Contents
A Look Back: History of Vichuquén
The area around Vichuquén has a long history. In 1585, Spanish explorers arrived near the Lico rivers. They found that the Mapuche and Inca people already lived there.
Later, in 1865, the town of Vichuquén was officially founded. It became the main town for the commune. In 1987, the older part of Vichuquén was given a special title: "Typical Zone Vichuquén." This was because of its beautiful old buildings, which show a special style from the colonial times.
Where is Vichuquén?
Vichuquén is located in the northwest part of the Curicó Province. It's a place with interesting natural features.
Lakes and Reserves
Within its borders, you'll find the lovely Vichuquén Lake. There's also the Laguna Torca National Reserve, which is a protected area. The whole commune covers about 425.7 square kilometers (about 164.4 square miles).
People of Vichuquén
Let's look at the people who live in Vichuquén. In 2002, the National Statistics Institute counted 4,916 people living here.
Population Details
Out of these residents, 2,596 were men and 2,320 were women. About 1,368 people (27.8%) lived in the main town area. The rest, 3,548 people (72.2%), lived in the countryside. The total number of people living in Vichuquén changed only a little between 1992 and 2002. It went down by just 15 people.
How Vichuquén is Run
Vichuquén is a commune, which means it's a local area with its own government.
Local Government
The commune is managed by a municipal council. The leader of the council is called an alcalde (which is like a mayor). The people of Vichuquén vote for their alcalde every four years. From 2008 to 2012, the alcalde was Román Pavez López, who belonged to the PPD.
Representing Vichuquén
Vichuquén is also part of larger areas for voting in Chile.
- In the Chamber of Deputies: This is like one part of the national parliament. Vichuquén is in the 36th electoral district. This district also includes other towns like Curicó and Molina. The people from this district choose representatives like Roberto León and Celso Morales.
- In the Senate: This is the other part of the national parliament. Vichuquén is part of the 10th senatorial area, called Maule-North. Senators like Juan Antonio Coloma Correa and Andrés Zaldívar Larraín represent this area.
See also
- In Spanish: Vichuquén para niños
