Yumbel
Encyclopedia
Yumbel is a town and commune of the Province of Bío-Bío
in the region of the same name, Chile
.
Alonso de Sotomayor
, on the cerro del Centinela (Hill of the Sentinel). This fort was destroyed by the Mapuche
and replaced in 1603, by Governor Alonso de Ribera
as fort Santa Lucia de Yumbel. Destroyed in 1621 it was rebuilt the same year. It remained in use until 1648 when it was abandoned and its garrison sent to the fort of Nacimiento, Chile
. Governor Ángel de Peredo
again constructed it in 1663 as fort Nuestra Señora de Almudena. When Francisco de Meneses Brito
populated it three years later he renamed it San Carlos de Austria de Yumbel. During the term of Diego González Montero Justiniano
a town that had evolved was given the name of Santa Lucia de Yumbel. Governor Antonio de Guill y Gonzaga
gave it the recognition as a town in 1766. It grew little until the Chilean War of Independence when it was occupied by both sides at times and then was burned by the Spanish guerrilla Juan Manuel Picó and the end of 1820.
The town was reduced to ruins in the earthquake of February 20, 1835
, and was reestablished to the north of the old location on August 29, 1836. It alternated for some time with the town of San Luis Gonzaga
as the capital of the Department of Rere, until the decree of June 2, 1853 confirmed Yumbel as the capital. On March 19, 1871 Yumbel was made a city.
and Biobío rivers. The Biobío River marks boundary between two natural regions of Chile
, the Zona Central
to the north and the Zona Austral
to the south.
of the National Statistics Institute
, Yumbel spans an area of 727 sqkm and has 20,498 inhabitants (10,442 men and 10,056 women). Of these, 10,935 (53.3%) lived in urban area
s and 9,563 (46.7%) in rural areas. The population grew by 0.2% (38 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.
, headed by an alcalde
who is directly elected every four years. The 2008-2012 alcalde is Camilo Cabezas Vega (PH
).
Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Yumbel is represented in the Chamber of Deputies
by Jorge Sabag (PDC
) and Frank Sauerbaum (RN
) as part of the 42nd electoral district, (together with San Fabián
, Ñiquén
, San Carlos
, San Nicolás
, Ninhue
, Quirihue
, Cobquecura
, Treguaco
, Portezuelo
, Coelemu
, Ránquil
, Quillón
, Bulnes
and Cabrero). The commune is represented in the Senate
by Alejandro Navarro Brain (MAS) and Hosain Sabag Castillo (PDC
) as part of the 12th senatorial constituency (Biobío-Cordillera).
Biobío Province
Biobío Province is one of four provinces of the Chilean region of Biobío . Its capital is Los Ángeles . It is bounded on the north, west and south by the provinces of Concepción, Arauco and Malleco, respectively, and on the east by Argentina. It has an area of of well-wooded and mountainous...
in the region of the same name, Chile
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...
.
History
Yumbel originated from the small fort of San Felipe de Austria, raised in 1585 by GovernorRoyal Governor of Chile
The Royal Governor of Chile ruled over the Spanish colonial administrative district known as the Kingdom of Chile. This district was also called the Captaincy General of Chile, and as a result the Royal Governor also held the title of a Captain General...
Alonso de Sotomayor
Alonso de Sotomayor
Alonso de Sotomayor y Valmediano was a Spanish conquistador from Extremadura, and a Royal Governor of Chile.-Early life:He was born in Trujillo, in the province of Extremadura, the son of Gutiérrez de Sotomayor e Hinojosa and Beatriz de Valmediano...
, on the cerro del Centinela (Hill of the Sentinel). This fort was destroyed by the Mapuche
Mapuche
The Mapuche are a group of indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina. They constitute a wide-ranging ethnicity composed of various groups who shared a common social, religious and economic structure, as well as a common linguistic heritage. Their influence extended...
and replaced in 1603, by Governor Alonso de Ribera
Alonso de Ribera
Alonso de Ribera de Pareja was a Spanish soldier and twice Spanish royal governor of Chile .-Early life:...
as fort Santa Lucia de Yumbel. Destroyed in 1621 it was rebuilt the same year. It remained in use until 1648 when it was abandoned and its garrison sent to the fort of Nacimiento, Chile
Nacimiento, Chile
Nacimiento is a Chilean city situated in the Biobío Province, Biobío Region, south of Santiago, and from the closest major city in the region, Concepción....
. Governor Ángel de Peredo
Ángel de Peredo
Ángel de Peredo was born in 1623, in the small town of Queveda in Cantabria, Spain, and was a Knight of the Order of Santiago.He was the President of the Real Audiencia of Chile and then temporary Royal Governor of Chile from May 1662 to February of 1664...
again constructed it in 1663 as fort Nuestra Señora de Almudena. When Francisco de Meneses Brito
Francisco de Meneses Brito
Francisco de Meneses Brito was Royal Governor of Chile between 1664 and 1667.-Sources:...
populated it three years later he renamed it San Carlos de Austria de Yumbel. During the term of Diego González Montero Justiniano
Diego González Montero Justiniano
Diego González Montero Justiniano was interim Royal Governor of Chile twice, from February to May 1662 following the death of Pedro Porter Casanate and again from February to October 1670 succeeding the Diego Dávila, 1st Marquis of Navamorcuende until the arrival of Juan Henríquez de...
a town that had evolved was given the name of Santa Lucia de Yumbel. Governor Antonio de Guill y Gonzaga
Antonio de Guill y Gonzaga
Antonio de Guill y Gonzaga was a Spanish colonial administrator who served as Royal Governor of Panama and Royal Governor of Chile.-Arauco War:...
gave it the recognition as a town in 1766. It grew little until the Chilean War of Independence when it was occupied by both sides at times and then was burned by the Spanish guerrilla Juan Manuel Picó and the end of 1820.
The town was reduced to ruins in the earthquake of February 20, 1835
1835 Concepción earthquake
The 1835 Concepción earthquake occurred near the neighboring cities of Concepción and Talcahuano in Chile on February 20 at 15:30 local time and has an estimated magnitude of 8.2 Mfa or 8.1 Ml. The earthquake triggered a tsunami which caused the destruction of Talcahuano. A total of at least 50...
, and was reestablished to the north of the old location on August 29, 1836. It alternated for some time with the town of San Luis Gonzaga
Rere, Chile
Rere is a town in the commune of Yumbel, Province of Biobío, in the Biobío Region of Chile. It takes its name from the Moluche aillarehue that occupied both sides of the Claro River and was part of the Butalmapu between the Itata and Bio Bio Rivers...
as the capital of the Department of Rere, until the decree of June 2, 1853 confirmed Yumbel as the capital. On March 19, 1871 Yumbel was made a city.
Geography
The city lies a few kilometers northeast of the confluence of the LajaLaja River (Chile)
Laja River is a river in Chile, along which can be found the Laja Falls. It is located in the Bío-Bío Region. The source of the river is Laguna del Laja in the Andes, then flows westward through the Chilean Central Valley and terminates into the Bío-Bío River, being an important tributary of...
and Biobío rivers. The Biobío River marks boundary between two natural regions of Chile
Natural regions of Chile
Because Chile extends from a point about 625 kilometers north of the Tropic of Capricorn to a point hardly more than 1,400 kilometers north of the Antarctic Circle, within its territory can be found a broad selection of the Earth's climates...
, the Zona Central
Zona Central, Chile
Zona central is one of the five natural regions into which CORFO divided continental Chile in 1950. It is home to a majority of the Chilean population and includes the three largest metropolitan areas- Santiago, Valparaíso, and Concepción...
to the north and the Zona Austral
Zona Austral
The Zona Austral is one of the five natural regions into which CORFO divided continental Chile in 1950 corresponding to the Chilean portion of Patagonia. It is surrounded by the Southern Zone and the Chacao Channel to the north, the Pacific Ocean and Drake's Passage to the south and west, and the...
to the south.
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...
, Yumbel spans an area of 727 sqkm and has 20,498 inhabitants (10,442 men and 10,056 women). Of these, 10,935 (53.3%) 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 9,563 (46.7%) in rural areas. The population grew by 0.2% (38 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.
Administration
As a commune, Yumbel is a third-level administrative division of Chile administered by a municipal councilMunicipal 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 Camilo Cabezas Vega (PH
Humanist Party (Chile)
The Humanist Party is a progressive left-wing political party in Chile, founded in 1984.In December 1990, Laura Rodríguez became the first elected representative of any Humanist Party in the world after winning a seat as part of the Concertación coalition, after Augusto Pinochet handed over...
).
Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Yumbel 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 Jorge Sabag (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...
) and Frank Sauerbaum (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 42nd electoral district, (together with San Fabián
San Fabián
San Fabián is one of 21 communes in the Ñuble Province of central Chile's Biobío Region. The capital is the town of San Fabián de Alico. The commune spans an area of .-Administration:...
, Ñiquén
Ñiquén
Ñiquén is a commune of the Ñuble province, located in the north of the of Biobío Region of Chile. Geographically, it is delimited by the Perquilauquén River to the north and the Ñiquén River in the south...
, San Carlos
San Carlos, Chile
San Carlos is the name of a city and commune of Ñuble Province in the Biobío Region of Chile.-Geography and agriculture:...
, San Nicolás
San Nicolás, Chile
San Nicolás is a Chilean town and commune in Ñuble Province, Biobío Region.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, San Nicolás spans an area of and has 9,741 inhabitants . Of these, 3,428 lived in urban areas and 6,313 in rural areas...
, Ninhue
Ninhue
Ninhue is a Chilean commune and town in Ñuble Province, Biobío Region.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Ninhue spans an area of and has 5,738 inhabitants . Of these, 1,433 lived in urban areas and 4,305 in rural areas...
, Quirihue
Quirihue
Quirihue is a Chilean city in Quirihue, Ñuble Province, Bío-Bío Region.It is located about 72 kilometers northwest of Chillán, 82 kilometers north of Concepción and 398 kilometers south of Santiago-27 February 2010 tsunami and quake:...
, Cobquecura
Cobquecura
Cobquecura is a town and commune in the Ñuble Province of Chile's eighth region of Biobío . The town is located on the northwest Pacific coast of the Ñuble Province about southwest of the national capital of Santiago.On February 27, 2010 Cobquecura was the epicenter of the huge earthquake and...
, Treguaco
Treguaco
Treguaco, also spelled as Trehuaco, is a Chilean town and commune in Ñuble Province, Biobío Region. The commune spans an area of .-Demographics:...
, Portezuelo
Portezuelo
Portezuelo is a Chilean town and commune located in the Ñuble Province, Biobío Region.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Portezuelo spans an area of and has 5,470 inhabitants . Of these, 1,750 lived in urban areas and 3,720 in rural areas...
, Coelemu
Coelemu
Coelemu is a Chilean commune and city in Ñuble Province, Biobío Region. According to the 2002 census, the commune population was 16,082 and has an area of .-Demographics:...
, Ránquil
Ránquil
Ránquil is a Chilean commune in Ñuble Province, Biobío Region. The communal capital is the town of Ñipas.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute Ránquil had 5,683 inhabitants . Of these, 1,337 lived in urban areas and 4,346 in rural areas...
, Quillón
Quillón
Quillón is a Chilean city and commune and Ñuble Province, Biobío Region.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Quillón spans an area of and has 15,146 inhabitants . Of these, 7,536 lived in urban areas and 7,610 in rural areas...
, Bulnes
Bulnes, Chile
Bulnes is a Chilean city and commune in Ñuble Province, Biobío Region.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Bulnes spans an area of and has 20,595 inhabitants . Of these, 12,514 lived in urban areas and 8,081 in rural areas...
and Cabrero). 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 Alejandro Navarro Brain (MAS) and Hosain Sabag Castillo (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 12th senatorial constituency (Biobío-Cordillera).