Pitrufquén

Pitrufquén
City and Commune


Coat of arms
Coat of arms
Map of Pitrufquén commune in the Araucanía Region
Map of Pitrufquén commune in the Araucanía Region
Location in Chile
Location in Chile
Pitrufquén
Location in Chile
Coordinates (city): 38°59′S 72°39′W / 38.983°S 72.650°W / -38.983; -72.650
CountryChile
RegionAraucanía
ProvinceCautín
Government
[1][2]
 • TypeMunicipality
 • AlcaldeJorge Jaramillo Hott (PPD)
Area
[3]
 • Total
580.7 km2 (224.2 sq mi)
Elevation
74 m (243 ft)
Population
 (2012 Census)[3]
 • Total
21,981
 • Density38/km2 (98/sq mi)
 • Urban
13,420
 • Rural
8,568
Sex
[3]
 • Men10,902
 • Women11,086
Time zoneUTC−4 (CLT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−3 (CLST)
Area codecountry 56 + city 45
WebsiteMunicipality of Pitrufquén

Pitrufquén (Spanish pronunciation: [pitɾufˈken]) is a Chilean city and commune in Cautín Province, Araucanía Region. The city is located 30 km south of Temuco and lies immediately south of the Toltén River, along Chile Highway 5.

History

Pitrufquén was initially founded as Lisperguer, name that honors the creator of the plane of the urban area, the French engineer Lisperguer.

Demographics

According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Pitrufquén spans an area of 580.7 km2 (224 sq mi) and has 21,988 inhabitants (10,902 men and 11,086 women). Of these, 13,420 (61%) lived in urban areas and 8,568 (39%) in rural areas.[3]

Population of the Pitrufquén commune[3]
Census 1992 20,026
Census 2002 21,988
Census 2008 24,586[failed verification]

Pitrufquén's population is characterized as varied because its members have different culture backgrounds, highlighting the historical legacy Spanish and immigrants principally from: France, Italy, Germany, The Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland and Hungary. Currently, the largest foreign colony is in "Faja Maisan" composed mostly of descendants of Germans, Dutchmen and Swiss, whose ancestors arrived in La Araucanía between 1905 and 1912.[4]

Since 1898, Pitrufquén begins its development under the impetus of its people and its agricultural potential. Besides immigrants mostly Dutchmen and Germans.

Administration

As a commune, Pitrufquén 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 Humberto Catalán Candia (PS).[1][2]

Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Pitrufquén is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by José Manuel Edwards (RN) and Joaquín Tuma (PDC) as part of the 51st electoral district, together with Carahue, Nueva Imperial, Saavedra, Teodoro Schmidt, Freire and Cholchol. The commune is represented in the Senate by José Garcia Ruminot (RN) and Eugenio Tuma Zedan (PPD) as part of the 15th senatorial constituency (Araucanía-South).

References

  1. ^ a b "Asociación Chilena de Municipalidades" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 19 April 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Municipality of Pitrufquén" (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d e "National Statistics Institute" (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 December 2010.
  4. ^ (in Spanish) Historia de Faja Maisan