Villa Alegre, Chile facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Villa Alegre
|
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
||||||
| Country | Chile | |||||
| Region | Maule | |||||
| Province | Linares | |||||
| Founded | May 6, 1891 | |||||
| Government | ||||||
| • Type | Municipality | |||||
| Area | ||||||
| • Total | 189.8 km2 (73.3 sq mi) | |||||
| Elevation | 67 m (220 ft) | |||||
| Population
(2012 Census)
|
||||||
| • Total | 14,695 | |||||
| • Density | 77.424/km2 (200.53/sq mi) | |||||
| • Urban | 5,456 | |||||
| • Rural | 9,269 | |||||
| Demonym(s) | Villalegrino | |||||
| Sex | ||||||
| • Men | 7,332 | |||||
| • Women | 7,393 | |||||
| Time zone | UTC-4 (CLT) | |||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-3 (CLST) | |||||
| Area code(s) | 56 + 73 | |||||
Villa Alegre is a city and a commune (which is like a local government area) in Chile. Its name means "joyous town" in Spanish. It is located in the Linares Province of the Maule Region.
Villa Alegre covers an area of about 189.8 square kilometers. This makes it the smallest commune in the Maule Region. The city is located about 67 meters (220 feet) above sea level.
Contents
People of Villa Alegre
In 2002, a study showed that Villa Alegre had 14,725 people living there. This included 7,332 men and 7,393 women.
Most people, about 62.9%, lived in the countryside (rural areas). The rest, about 37.1%, lived in the city (urban areas). Between 1992 and 2002, the number of people living in Villa Alegre went down by a small amount, about 2.8%.
History of Villa Alegre
Villa Alegre was officially started on May 6, 1891. It was one of the first places in Chile to have an electric tram (a type of streetcar). This tram service began in 1915.
Economy and Wine Production
Villa Alegre and its nearby city, San Javier, are well-known for making wine. The area around the Loncomilla River has some of the best vineyards (places where grapes are grown) in the Maule Valley.
The Maule Valley is famous for producing high-quality wines in Chile. This region is part of Chile's central valley, which is a very important area for growing grapes and making wine.
Famous People from Villa Alegre
Many notable people were born in Villa Alegre:
- Juan Ignacio Molina: He was a Jesuit priest, a naturalist (someone who studies nature), and a scholar (a person who studies a lot) in the 1700s and 1800s.
- Malaquías Concha Ortiz: He was a politician and worked to make social changes.
- Ismael Fuentes: He is a footballer (soccer player) who has played for the Chile national football team.
See also
In Spanish: Villa Alegre para niños
