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Quillota, Chile

Quillota
City and Commune
PlazadeArmasQuillota3.jpg
Coat of arms
Coat of arms
Location of the Quillota commune in the Valparaíso Region
Location in Chile
Location in Chile
Quillota
Location in Chile
Motto: City created with care
(Ciudad creada con cariño)
Coordinates: 32°52′S 71°15′W / 32.867°S 71.250°W / -32.867; -71.250Coordinates: 32°52′S 71°15′W / 32.867°S 71.250°W / -32.867; -71.250
Country Chile
Region Valparaíso
Province Quillota
Founded November 11, 1717
Government
 • Type Municipality
 • Alcalde Luis Alberto Mella Gajardo (DC)
Area
 • Total 302 km2 (117 sq mi)
Elevation 462 m (1,516 ft)
Population (2012 Census)
 • Total 85,262
 • Density 280/km2 (730/sq mi)
 • Urban 66,025
 • Rural 9,891
Demonym(s) Quillotan
Sex
 • Men 37,191
 • Women 38,725
Time zone CLT (UTC-4)
 • Summer (DST) CLST (UTC-3)
Postal code 2430000
Area code(s) 56 + 33
Climate Csb
Website Official website (in Spanish)

Quillota is a city located in the Aconcagua River valley of central Chile's Valparaíso Region. It is the capital and largest city of the Quillota Province where many inhabitants live in the surrounding farm areas of San Isidro, La Palma, Pocochay, and San Pedro. It is an important agricultural center, mainly because the plantations of avocado and cherimoya (custard apple) trees.

Quillota is connected with the city of La Calera by the small town of La Cruz. The area's agriculture and landscape was described by Charles Darwin in his book The Voyage of the Beagle. Nearby La Campana National Park holds a plaque at a viewpoint Darwin once visited.

Quillota is 120 kilometres (75 mi) from the national capital Santiago and 60 km (37 mi) from the regional capital Valparaíso.

The Quillota valley has been densely populated for about 2,000 years. At the outset, the area was inhabited by Native Americans of the Bato and Lleo-Lleo cultures, who had migrated to the valley because of the fertile land south of the Aconcagua River. These natives where later influenced by Mapuches and Diaguitas. The Diaguitas are credited with the evolution of the local culture of the Aconcagua zone and were well known for their pottery.


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