Chillán, Chile

Chillán
City and Commune
Clockwise, from top: Cathedral of Chillán, Nelson Oyarzún Arenas Stadium, puente ferroviario de Ñuble, Statue of Bernardo O'Higgins, panoramic view of the city at sunset.
Coat of arms Location of the Chillán commune in the Biobío Region Chillán Location in Chile
Coordinates: 36°36′S 72°07′W / 36.600°S 72.117°W / -36.600; -72.117Coordinates: 36°36′S 72°07′W / 36.600°S 72.117°W / -36.600; -72.117
Country	Chile
Region	Bio Bío
Province	Ñuble
Founded	1580
Founded by	Martín Ruiz de Gamboa
Government
• Type	Municipality
• Alcalde	Sergio Zarzar Andonie (ILE)
Area
• Total	511.2 km2 (197.4 sq mi)
Elevation	124 m (407 ft)
Population (2012 Census)
• Total	174,777
• Density	340/km2 (890/sq mi)
• Urban	148,015
• Rural	13,938
Demonym(s)	Chillanejo or Chillanense
Sex
• Men	77,007
• Women	84,946
Time zone	CLT (UTC−4)
• Summer (DST)	CLST (UTC−3)
Postal code	3780000
Area code(s)	country + city = 56 + 42
Website	Official website (in Spanish)

Chillán (Spanish pronunciation: [tʃiˈʎan] or [ʃiˈʝan]) is a city in the Bío Bío Region of Chile located about 400 km (249 mi) south of the country's capital, Santiago, near the geographical center of the country. It is the capital of Ñuble Province and, with a population of approximately 175,000 people (253,000 the Chillán Conurbation for 2012), the most populated urban center of this province. Within the city are a railway station, an inter-city bus terminal, an agricultural extension of the University of Concepción, and a regimental military base. The city includes a modern-style enclosed shopping mall in addition to the multi-block open-air street market where fruits, vegetables, crafts and clothing are sold. The nearby mountains are a popular skiing destination.

The zone where Chillán was built was previously habitated by indigenous people called Chiquillanes.

Chillán was founded in 1580 at the site of Chillán Viejo as San Bartolomé de Chillán by Martín Ruiz de Gamboa , who was campaigning against the local indigenous peoples at the time. However, this moniker did not fare well, and was replaced by the current name, which in the local Indian language means "where the Sun is sitting".

From its foundation, Chillán has been at the heart of Chile's rich agricultural region. It is also in a region of seismic activity, suffering from devastating earthquakes throughout its history; the 1939 Chillán earthquake left over 30,000 dead and mobilized international help.

Chile's national hero, Bernardo O'Higgins, was born in Chillán in 1778. He was the force behind Chile's Independence from Spain, being elected Supreme Director and declaring independence after the Battle of Chacabuco against the Spanish in 1817. His later victory at the Maipo battlefield cemented the country's freedom. He died in exile in Peru in 1842.