Talca
Encyclopedia
Talca is a city and commune in Chile
located about 255 km (158 mi) south of Santiago
, and is the capital of both Talca Province
and Maule Region
(7th Region of Chile). As of the 2002 census
, the city had a population of 193,755.
The city is an important economic center, with agricultural (wheat
) and manufacturing activities, as well as wine production. It is also the location of the Universidad de Talca
and the Catholic University of Maule, among others. The Catholic Church of Talca has held a prominent role in the history of Chile.
The inhabitants of Talca have a saying, Talca, Paris
& London
, born from a hat shop which had placed a ribbon stating that it had branches in Paris and London. The shop was owned by a French immigrant named Jean-Pierre Lagarde.
of the National Statistics Institute
, Talca spans an area of 231.5 sqkm and has 201,797 inhabitants (96,810 men and 104,987 women). Of these, 193,755 (96%) lived in urban area
s and 8,042 (4%) in rural areas. The population grew by 17.8% (30,510 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.
and refounded as Villa San Agustín de Talca in 1742 by José Antonio Manso de Velasco
. It was partially destroyed by the 1928 Talca earthquake
and the 2010 Chile earthquake
, being rebuilt both times. It sits near the epicenter of the 2010, magnitude 8.8 earthquake
and suffered severe shaking causing the collapse of much of the historic town centre. The city played a role in Chile's independence. Here, Bernardo O'Higgins
signed the Chilean independence declaration in 1818.
As a commune, Talca 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 Juan Castro Prieto (Independent Democratic Union, centre-right).
Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Talca is represented in the Chamber of Deputies
by Sergio Aguiló (PS
) and Germán Verdugo (RN
) as part of the 37th electoral district, which consists entirely of the Talca commune. The commune is represented in the Senate
by Juan Antonio Coloma Correa (UDI) and Andrés Zaldívar Larraín (PDC
) as part of the 10th senatorial constituency (Maule-North).
, south of the confluence of the rivers Lircay
and Claro
, in the Central Valley
. The city is bisected by the Pan-American Highway
.
Talca has a Mediterranean climate
with dry summers and wet winters. Average annual rainfall is 749 mm (29 in) and the annual temperature average is 13 °C (55.4 °F).
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
located about 255 km (158 mi) south of Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
, and is the capital of both Talca Province
Talca Province
Talca Province is one of four provinces of the central Chilean region of Maule . Its capital is the city of Talca.-Administration:As a province, Talca is a second-level administrative division of Chile, governed by a provincial governor who is appointed by the president.-Communes:The province...
and Maule Region
Maule Region
The VII Maule Region is one of Chile's 15 first order administrative divisions. Its capital is Talca. The region takes its name from the Maule River which, running westward from the Andes, bisects the region and spans a basin of about 20,600 km2...
(7th Region of Chile). As of the 2002 census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, the city had a population of 193,755.
The city is an important economic center, with agricultural (wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
) and manufacturing activities, as well as wine production. It is also the location of the Universidad de Talca
Universidad de Talca
The University of Talca is a Chilean university located in the cities of Talca, Curicó, and Santiago. It is a derivative university, one of the most important universities of the southern-central region of Chile, and it's part of the Chilean Traditional Universities.- History :The Universidad de...
and the Catholic University of Maule, among others. The Catholic Church of Talca has held a prominent role in the history of Chile.
The inhabitants of Talca have a saying, Talca, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
& London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, born from a hat shop which had placed a ribbon stating that it had branches in Paris and London. The shop was owned by a French immigrant named Jean-Pierre Lagarde.
Demographics
According to the 2002 censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of the National Statistics Institute
National Statistics Institute (Chile)
The National Statistics Institute of Chile is a state-run organization of the Government of Chile, created in the second half of the 19th century and tasked with performing a general census of population and housing, then collecting, producing and publishing official demographic statistics of...
, Talca spans an area of 231.5 sqkm and has 201,797 inhabitants (96,810 men and 104,987 women). Of these, 193,755 (96%) lived in urban area
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
s and 8,042 (4%) in rural areas. The population grew by 17.8% (30,510 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.
History
The city was founded in 1692 by Tomás Marín de PovedaTomás Marín de Poveda
Tomás López Marín y González de Poveda, 1st Marquis of Cañada Hermosa was a Spanish colonial administrator who served as Royal Governor of Chile.-Early life:...
and refounded as Villa San Agustín de Talca in 1742 by José Antonio Manso de Velasco
José Antonio Manso de Velasco
José Antonio Manso de Velasco y Sánchez de Samaniego, 1st Count of Superunda was a Spanish soldier and politician who served as governor of Chile and viceroy of Peru.-As Governor of Chile:...
. It was partially destroyed by the 1928 Talca earthquake
1928 Talca earthquake
The 1928 Talca earthquake was the 1 December 1928 at 00:06 local time . Its epicenter was near Curepto, Maule Region, Chile, and their magnitudes were 7,6 MW, 8,3 MS and 7,9 ML. In Talca, it lasted 1 minute 45 seconds....
and the 2010 Chile earthquake
2010 Chile earthquake
The 2010 Chile earthquake occurred off the coast of central Chile on Saturday, 27 February 2010, at 03:34 local time , having a magnitude of 8.8 on the moment magnitude scale, with intense shaking lasting for about three minutes. It ranks as the sixth largest earthquake ever to be recorded by a...
, being rebuilt both times. It sits near the epicenter of the 2010, magnitude 8.8 earthquake
2010 Chile earthquake
The 2010 Chile earthquake occurred off the coast of central Chile on Saturday, 27 February 2010, at 03:34 local time , having a magnitude of 8.8 on the moment magnitude scale, with intense shaking lasting for about three minutes. It ranks as the sixth largest earthquake ever to be recorded by a...
and suffered severe shaking causing the collapse of much of the historic town centre. The city played a role in Chile's independence. Here, Bernardo O'Higgins
Bernardo O'Higgins
Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme was a Chilean independence leader who, together with José de San Martín, freed Chile from Spanish rule in the Chilean War of Independence. Although he was the second Supreme Director of Chile , he is considered one of Chile's founding fathers, as he was the first holder...
signed the Chilean independence declaration in 1818.
Administration
Municipal council
A municipal council is the local government of a municipality. Specifically the term can refer to the institutions of various countries that can be translated by this term...
, headed by an alcalde
Alcalde
Alcalde , or Alcalde ordinario, is the traditional Spanish municipal magistrate, who had both judicial and administrative functions. An alcalde was, in the absence of a corregidor, the presiding officer of the Castilian cabildo and judge of first instance of a town...
who is directly elected every four years. The 2008-2012 alcalde is Juan Castro Prieto (Independent Democratic Union, centre-right).
Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Talca is represented in the Chamber of Deputies
Chamber of Deputies of Chile
The Chamber of Deputies of the Republic of Chile is the lower house of Chile's bicameral Congress. Its organisation and its powers and duties are defined in articles 42 to 59 of Chile's current constitution....
by Sergio Aguiló (PS
Socialist Party of Chile
The Socialist Party of Chile is a political party, that is part of the center-left Coalition of Parties for Democracy coalition. Its historical leader was the late President of Chile Salvador Allende Gossens, who was deposed by General Pinochet in 1973...
) and Germán Verdugo (RN
National Renewal (Chile)
National Renewal , is a liberal conservative political party belonging to the Chilean right-wing political coalition Coalition for Change in conjunction with the Independent Democratic Union and the Chile First movement...
) as part of the 37th electoral district, which consists entirely of the Talca commune. The commune is represented in the Senate
Senate of Chile
The Senate of the Republic of Chile is the upper house of Chile's bicameral National Congress, as established in the current Constitution of Chile.-Composition:...
by Juan Antonio Coloma Correa (UDI) and Andrés Zaldívar Larraín (PDC
Christian Democratic Party
Christian democratic parties are those political parties that seek to apply Christian principles to public policy. The underlying Christian democracy movement emerged in 19th-century Europe, largely under the influence of Catholic social teaching, and it continues to be influential in Europe and...
) as part of the 10th senatorial constituency (Maule-North).
Geography and climate
The commune of Talca spans an area of 231.5 sqkm.. The city of Talca is located 250 km (155 mi) south of SantiagoSantiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
, south of the confluence of the rivers Lircay
Lircay River
-References:*...
and Claro
Claro River (Maule)
-References:*...
, in the Central Valley
Chilean Central Valley
The Central Valley , Intermediate Depression or Longitudinal Valley is the depression between the Chilean Costal Range and the Andes Mountains. The central valley should not be confused with Central Chile that encompasses part of the valley...
. The city is bisected by the Pan-American Highway
Pan-American Highway
The Pan-American Highway is a network of roads measuring about in total length. Except for an rainforest break, called the Darién Gap, the road links the mainland nations of the Americas in a connected highway system. According to Guinness World Records, the Pan-American Highway is the world's...
.
Talca has a Mediterranean climate
Mediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate is the climate typical of most of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, and is a particular variety of subtropical climate...
with dry summers and wet winters. Average annual rainfall is 749 mm (29 in) and the annual temperature average is 13 °C (55.4 °F).
See also
- Maule RiverMaule riverThe Maule river is one of the most important rivers of Chile and is inextricably linked to this country's pre-Hispanic times, the country's conquest, colonial period, wars of Independence, modern history, agriculture , culture , religion, economy and politics...
- Descabezado GrandeDescabezado GrandeDescabezado Grande is a stratovolcano located in the Maule Region of central Chile. It is capped by a ice-filled caldera and named for its flat-topped form, as descabezado means "headless" in Spanish...
- Radal Siete Tazas National ReserveRadal Siete Tazas National ReserveRadal Siete Tazas National Park is a national park straddling the border between the provinces of Curicó and Talca, Maule Region, Chile. It lies in a pre-Andean area close to Descabezado Grande volcano....
- Altos de Lircay National ReserveAltos de Lircay National ReserveAltos de Lircay National Reserve is a nature reserve located in Talca Province, Maule Region, Chile. It lies in a pre-Andean area close to Radal Siete Tazas National Reserve and Descabezado Grande volcano....