Castro, Chile
| Castro | |||
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| — City and Commune — | |||
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 Castro
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| Coordinates (city): 42°28′S 73°48′W / 42.467°S 73.8°WCoordinates: 42°28′S 73°48′W / 42.467°S 73.8°W | |||
| Country | Chile | ||
| Region | Los Lagos | ||
| Province | Chiloé | ||
| Founded as | Santiago de Castro | ||
| Founded | 12 February 1567 | ||
| Government[1] | |||
| • Type | Municipality | ||
| • Alcalde | Nelson Águila Serpa (PDC) | ||
| Area[2] | |||
| • Total | 427.5 km2 (165.1 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2002 Census)[2] | |||
| • Total | 39,366 | ||
| • Density | 92/km2 (240/sq mi) | ||
| • Urban | 29,148 | ||
| • Rural | 10,218 | ||
| Demonym | Castreño | ||
| Sex[2] | |||
| • Men | 19,325 | ||
| • Women | 20,041 | ||
| Time zone | CLT (UTC−4) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | CLST (UTC−3) | ||
| Area code(s) | 56 + 65 | ||
| Website | Municipality of Castro | ||
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Castro is a city and commune in the Chilean island of Chiloé Island. Castro is the capital of the Chiloé Province in the Los Lagos Region. It is Chile's third oldest city in continued existence. The city is located on Estero de Castro on the eastern coast of central Chiloé Island.
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[edit] History
Rodrigo de Quiroga as the temporary governor of Chile in 1567 launched a campaign led by his son in law Captain Martín Ruiz de Gamboa to conquer Chiloé Island, establishing the city of Castro there, and pacifying its inhabitants, the Cuncos. From its founding until 1767 Castro was the administrative centre of Chiloé Island. In 1767, during the time of the Bourbon Reforms that sought to modernize the Spanish Empire, Chiloé was separated from the General Captaincy of Chile to which it had previously belonged and made a direct subject of the Viceroyalty of Peru. To ease the communications with Lima the capital of the archipelago was moved from Castro to Ancud in the same year. Even after the incorporation of Chiloé of into the Republic of Chile Ancud remained the capital of the archipelago. Only in 1982 did Castro regain its role as capital in Chiloé Archipelago.
[edit] Demographics
According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Castro spans an area of 427.5 km2 (165 sq mi) and has 39,366 inhabitants (19,325 men and 20,041 women). Of these, 29,148 (74%) lived in urban areas and 10,218 (26%) in rural areas. The population grew by 31.5% (9,435 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.[2]
[edit] Administration
As a commune, Castro is a third-level administrative division of Chile administered by a municipal council, headed by an alcalde who is directly elected every four years. The 2008-2012 alcalde is Nelson Águila Serpa (PDC).[1]
Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Castro is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Gabriel Ascencio (PDC) and Alejandro Santana (RN) as part of the 58th electoral district, (together with Ancud, Quemchi, Dalcahue, Curaco de Vélez, Quinchao, Puqueldón, Chonchi, Queilén, Quellón, Chaitén, Hualaihué, Futaleufú and Palena). The commune is represented in the Senate by Camilo Escalona Medina (PS) and Carlos Kuschel Silva (RN) as part of the 17th senatorial constituency (Los Lagos Region).
[edit] References
- ^ a b (Spanish) "Municipality of Castro". http://www.municastro.cl/. Retrieved 1 January 2011.
- ^ a b c d (Spanish) "National Statistics Institute". http://www.ine.cl/canales/chile_estadistico/censos_poblacion_vivienda/censo_pobl_vivi.php. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
[edit] External links and references
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