Yerbas Buenas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yerbas Buenas
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Town and Commune
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| Country | Chile | |||||
| Region | Maule | |||||
| Province | Linares | |||||
| Founded | 1744 | |||||
| Government | ||||||
| • Type | Municipality | |||||
| Area | ||||||
| • Total | 262.1 km2 (101.2 sq mi) | |||||
| Elevation | 136 m (446 ft) | |||||
| Population
(2012 Census)
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| • Total | 16,738 | |||||
| • Density | 63.861/km2 (165.40/sq mi) | |||||
| • Urban | 1,595 | |||||
| • Rural | 14,539 | |||||
| Demonym(s) | Yerbabuenino | |||||
| Sex | ||||||
| • Men | 10,007 | |||||
| • Women | 10,028 | |||||
| Time zone | UTC-4 (CLT) | |||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-3 (CLST) | |||||
| Area code(s) | 56 + 73 | |||||
| Website | Municipality of Yerbas Buenas | |||||
Yerbas Buenas is a charming Chilean town and commune. A commune is like a local district that includes a main town and the surrounding countryside. It is located in the Linares Province, within the Maule Region of Chile. This area is right in the middle of the country, nestled in the very fertile central plain. Yerbas Buenas is about 300 kilometers south of Santiago, which is Chile's capital city. It's also about 50 kilometers south of Talca, the capital of the Maule Region, and just 12 kilometers north of Linares, the capital of its own province.
Contents
Discover Yerbas Buenas: A Chilean Town
Yerbas Buenas is a special place in Chile. It's known for its rich history and beautiful old buildings. Let's explore what makes this town unique!
People and Population in Yerbas Buenas
Understanding how many people live in a place helps us learn about it.
How Many People Live Here?
According to a census taken in 2002, Yerbas Buenas had a total population of 16,134 people. This included 8,380 men and 7,754 women. Most of these residents, about 14,539 people (90.1%), lived in rural areas, which means they lived in the countryside or smaller villages outside the main town. Only 1,595 people (9.9%) lived in the urban area of Yerbas Buenas town itself. Between 1992 and 2002, the population of Yerbas Buenas grew by 634 people, showing a 4.1% increase.
Exploring the Geography of Yerbas Buenas
Yerbas Buenas is located in a beautiful part of Chile.
Where is Yerbas Buenas Located?
The commune of Yerbas Buenas covers an area of 262.1 square kilometers. Its entire area is part of the central plain, also known as the "depresión intermedia" in Chile. This is a flat, fertile land perfect for farming. Yerbas Buenas shares its borders with several other communes:
- To the west: San Javier and Villa Alegre
- To the north: San Clemente (in Talca Province)
- To the east: Colbún
- To the south: Linares
The town itself is located at an altitude of 139 meters above sea level. Its geographic coordinates are 35°45′00″S latitude and 71°34′00″W longitude.
Yerbas Buenas: A Glimpse into History and Culture
Yerbas Buenas is a town full of history and unique cultural heritage. It has a distinctive Spanish-style architecture that tells stories of the past. The town is a great example of preserved rural colonial architecture. This style is often found in small towns and large haciendas (which were like big estates or farms) across Latin America. It's quite rare in Chile to find entire streets made up of Spanish-style buildings from the colonial period, but Yerbas Buenas has them!
The Historic Museum of Yerbas Buenas
One of the most important historical places in Yerbas Buenas is its Historical Museum. This museum is located in a very old, well-preserved colonial building. This building saw the very beginning of Chilean independence. On the night of April 26, 1813, a Spanish general named Antonio Pareja, who led the royalist army, stayed in this house. The next day, the first major battle between the royalist and patriot armies happened. This was a key moment in the Chilean War of Independence. Sadly, Colonel Juan de Dios Puga, who led the patriot forces, and many of his soldiers lost their lives in this battle. Because of its importance, this building was declared a National Historic Monument on August 22, 1984. The area around the building is also recognized as a "Typical Zone" (Zona típica), meaning it has special historical and architectural value.
How Yerbas Buenas is Governed
Like all communes in Chile, Yerbas Buenas has a local government that helps run the town and its services.
Who Leads the Town?
Yerbas Buenas is managed by a municipal council. This council is led by an alcalde, which is like a Mayor in other countries. The mayor is chosen directly by the people every four years. As of 2024, the mayor of Yerbas Buenas is Jonathan Norambuena, who is an independent leader. The municipal council also includes several members who help make decisions for the commune. These members are:
- José Parra Parada (UDI)
- Rodrigo González Villalobos (RN)
- Flavio Hernán Ramos Gutiérrez (PPD)
- Cristina Zehender Soto (DC)
- Michael Mendez Gonzalez (UDI)
- Cristián Patricio Fuentealba Retamal (PR)
Representing Yerbas Buenas in Government
Yerbas Buenas is also part of larger government groups that represent its people at a national level. In the Chamber of Deputies, which is like one part of Chile's parliament, Yerbas Buenas is represented by Jorge Tarud (PDC) and Romilio Gutiérrez (UDI). They represent a district that includes Yerbas Buenas, Linares, Colbún, San Javier, and Villa Alegre. In the Senate, the other part of Chile's parliament, Yerbas Buenas is represented by Hernán Larraín (UDI) and Ximena Rincón González (PDC). They represent the Maule-South area.
See also
In Spanish: Yerbas Buenas para niños
