Rancagua, Chile
| Rancagua | |||||
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| City and Commune | |||||
| Ciudad de Rancagua | |||||
Buildings sorrounding Los Héroes Square, Rancagua. Top: Southern view of the plaza, Middle: Cachapoal Province Governorate, Bottom left. Sagrario Cathedral, Bottom right: Bernardo O'Higgins monument.
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| Coordinates (city): 34°10′S 70°45′W / 34.167°S 70.750°WCoordinates: 34°10′S 70°45′W / 34.167°S 70.750°W | |||||
| Country |
 Chile
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| Region |
 O'Higgins Region
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| Province | Cachapoal Province | ||||
| Foundation | October 5, 1743 | ||||
| Government | |||||
| • Type | Municipality | ||||
| • Alcalde | Eduardo Soto | ||||
| Area | |||||
| • Total | 260.3 km2 (100.5 sq mi) | ||||
| Elevation | 572 m (1,877 ft) | ||||
| Population (2012 Census) | |||||
| • Total | 232,211 | ||||
| • Density | 890/km2 (2,300/sq mi) | ||||
| • Urban | 206,971 | ||||
| • Rural | 7,373 | ||||
| Demonym(s) | Ranquigüian | ||||
| Sex | |||||
| • Men | 104,879 | ||||
| • Women | 109,465 | ||||
| Time zone | CLT (UTC−4) | ||||
| • Summer (DST) | CLST (UTC−3) | ||||
| Postal code | 2820000 | ||||
| Area code(s) | 56 (country) + 72 (city) | ||||
| Police | Carabineros de Chile | ||||
| International airports | Rancagua de la Independencia | ||||
| Climate | Csb | ||||
| Website |
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Rancagua (Spanish pronunciation: [raŋˈkaɣwa]) is a city and commune in central Chile and part of the Rancagua conurbation. It is the capital of the Cachapoal Province and of the O'Higgins Region, located 87 km (54 mi) south of the national capital of Santiago.
Its first name was Santa Cruz de Triana. In 2012, its population was 232,211. The main economic activities range from mining, tourism, agriculture, timber, food production and services to minor industrial activities. The city also serves as the administrative and legal center of the region.
Next to Machalí and Gultro forms the Rancagua conurbation; and next to Curicó, Talca and Concepción, is one of the most important and populated cities of the south central zone of Chile.
Rancagua was founded by José Antonio Manso de Velasco, who founded several cities in the central area of Chile. The city's original name was Villa Santa Cruz de Triana. However, before the Spaniards arrived the area was inhabited by local Picunche tribes and had also fallen briefly under the control of the Inca Empire, whose traces can still be found near the city today.
The city is famous in Chilean history as the scene of the Disaster of Rancagua of 1814, when Chilean forces fighting for independence from Spain were defeated, marking the beginning of the period known as the Reconquista (Reconquest, an attempt by Spain to regain control of Chile).
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