Constitución, Chile

Constitución

City and Commune

Coat of arms

Map of the Constitución commune in the Maule Region

Constitución

Location in Chile

Coordinates (city): 35°20′S 72°25′W / 35.333°S 72.417°WCoordinates: 35°20′S 72°25′W / 35.333°S 72.417°W

Founded

1794

Government

• Type

Municipality

• Alcalde

Carlos Valenzuela Gajardo (UDI)

Area

• Total

1,343.6 km² (518.8 sq mi)

Elevation

75 m (246 ft)

Population (2012 Census)

• Total

41,207

• Density

31/km² (79/sq mi)

• Urban

37,202

• Rural

8,879

Demonym(s)

Maulino/a

Sex

• Men

23,389

• Women

22,692

Time zone

CLT (UTC-4)

• Summer (DST)

CLST (UTC-3)

Area code(s)

56 + 71

Website

www.constitucion.cl (Spanish)

Constitución (Spanish pronunciation: [konstituˈsjon]) is a city and commune of Talca Province, Maule Region, Chile. It was historically a popular seaside resort, however following the growth of the industrial sector(paper and pulp) tourism has since declined. Constitucion is minor port in Chile.

Before the arrival of the Spanish, the area that would later be the city of Constitución was inhabited by the Chango people and the Mapuche tribe. Both indigenous groups used the area for fishing and seasonal habitation. When the Spaniards came to the region, the European explorers, and those who followed, used the area as a port for their galleons and merchant ships on their voyages to South American and other Pacific ports.

While numerous attempts were made to establish a permanent settlement in the area, Santiago Oñederra was the first successful colonizing pioneer, circa 1791. The founding of the settlement was proposed by Oñederra to the Chilean government, and authorized by Governor Ambrosio O'Higgins in 1794. The settlement was originally named New Bilbao (Spanish: Nueva Bilbao) after the Basque city in Northern Spain.

In 1828, New Bilbao was renamed Constitución. On 4 August 1828, Congress approved the designation of Constitución as a major Chilean port. Four days later, Vice President Jose Antonio Pinto signed the decree.

Beginning in 1828, Constitución was designated as part of Maule Region and later included in the Talca Province.

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Wikipedia