Macul

Macul
City and Commune
Vásquez Palace, the town hall for the Municipality of Macul.
Coat of arms Map of Macul commune in Greater Santiago Macul Location in Chile
Coordinates (city): 32°39′30″S 70°36′00″W / 32.65833°S 70.60000°W / -32.65833; -70.60000Coordinates: 32°39′30″S 70°36′00″W / 32.65833°S 70.60000°W / -32.65833; -70.60000
Country	Chile
Region	Santiago Metro.
Province	Santiago
Government
• Type	Municipality
• Alcalde	Sergio Puyol Carreño (PDC)
Area
• Total	12.9 km2 (5.0 sq mi)
Population (2002 Census)
• Total	112,535
• Density	8,700/km2 (23,000/sq mi)
• Urban	112,535
• Rural	0
Sex
• Men	53,667
• Women	58,868
Time zone	CLT (UTC-4)
• Summer (DST)	CLST (UTC-3)
Area code(s)	56 +
Website	Municipality of Macul

Macul (Quechua: "to stretch out right hand") is a commune (smallest administrative subdivision in Chile) of Chile located in the central-eastern part of the Greater Santiago area, bordered by the communes of Ñuñoa to the north, San Joaquín to the west, Peñalolén to the east and La Florida to the south.

It is a predominantly residential and industrial zone, but its activities have been increasing and diversifying, which has forced a gradual change in terms of infrastructure and equipment.

Macul was one of five indigenous villages located in the region of Ñuñohue prior to the arrival of the Spaniards. Its economy was heavily based on agriculture due to the fertile soil in the area.

By the seventeenth century, the Ñuñoa area kept its agricultural character, however the development of a road system that had strengthened its ties with the city of Santiago began. During the nineteenth century there were a number of changes and developments that modified the purely rural character of Ñuñoa and Macul, some of the more prevalent changes were the construction of railways, housing developments and the enactment of the Autonomous Commune Law.

Since 1930, Ñuñoa has been strengthening its residential character, and due to its very accessible infrastructure for transportation and communications with the rest of the city, it has now developed as a largely industrialized settlement, with a good number of factories making their home in Ñuñoa.

Beginning in 1960, the territory of Macul seizes to be an urban expansion area to the city of Santiago, reaching critical mass and the maximum for developing land as an urban area, reaching its 100% developed status. This proclamation ended in the early 1970s with the opening of the Américo Vespucio Ringroad, allowing for further development.

In 1981, Ñuñoa was subdivided into three communes: Ñuñoa, Peñalolén and Macul. It wasn't until 1984 when Macul officially became a munincipality and began to operate. The munincipality is now allowed to exercise its authority over the fully urbanized territory of all three communes. Macul had a significant industrial sector before combining with the commune of Ñuñoa.