Santa Juana, Chile
Encyclopedia
Santa Juana is a city and commune of the Concepción Province
in the Biobío Region of Chile
. It lies south and west of the Biobío River in the valley of Catirai and is 48 kilometers from Concepcion, Chile
.
originally named the valley where Santa Juana is now located the Valley of Catirai
, and the inhabitants Catirayen. This town originated with a fort and town in established March 1626 by Governor Luis Fernandez de Cordova
with title of Santa Juana de Guadalcázar, in memory of the name of wife of the viceroy of Peru Diego Fernández de Córdoba, Marquis of Guadalcázar
. Evacuated in 1641, it was repaired and expanded in 1648 by the governor Martín de Mujica y Buitrón
. It was destroyed by the Mapuches in 1722, but restored two years later.
In 1739 the Governor José Antonio Manso de Velasco
made important adjustments, improving and properly supplying the fortress and constructing between the river and the small Laguna de Rayenantú behind it, deep ditches, that turned the enclosure into an island, and increasing its population to serve as its garrison for the defense of the region and the wooded valleys of the southern mountainous area. Governor Antonio de Guill y Gonzaga
obtained the title of "Villa" for the town in 1765, but the wars with the Indians did not allow it to make any progress even though it constituted the refuge of the extinguished towns of Coya, Monterey and San Jerónimo. It was also one of the towns that was burned in 1821 at the order of Vicente Benavides
the rebellious royalist guerrilla. It was later ruined in the earthquake
of February 20, 1835. As a result of this last disaster the town was six years later moved to its present more suitable location.
Santa Juana was head of the Department of Lautaro between 1841 and 1865. On May 30, 1865, Coronel
became the new capital of the department. With the Law of Independent Communes, December 22, 1891, the Decree of Creation of Municipalities was promulgated, with which created the Municipality of Santa Juana, in which Santa Juana administers Santa Juana, Santo Domingo and San Jerónimo, whose boundaries were determined by the decrees of November 13, 1885, March 29 and December 1, 1886.
of the National Statistics Institute
, Santa Juana spans an area of 731.2 sqkm and has 12,713 inhabitants (6,357 men and 6,356 women). Of these, 7,095 (55.8%) lived in urban area
s and 5,618 (44.2%) in rural areas. The population grew by 6.3% (756 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.
, headed by an alcalde
who is directly elected every four years. The 2008-2012 alcalde is Angel Castro Medina (PDC
).
Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Santa Juana is represented in the Chamber of Deputies
by Sergio Bobadilla (UDI) and Clemira Pacheco (PS
) as part of the 45th electoral district, (together with Tomé
, Penco
, Florida
, Hualqui
, Coronel). 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).
Concepción Province, Chile
Concepción Province is one of four provinces of the Chilean region of Biobío . Its capital, Concepción, is part of the Greater Concepción conurbation, the nation's second largest metropolitan area after Santiago.-Administration:...
in the Biobío Region of 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...
. It lies south and west of the Biobío River in the valley of Catirai and is 48 kilometers from Concepcion, Chile
Concepción, Chile
Concepción is a city in Chile, capital of Concepción Province and of the Biobío Region or Region VIII. Greater Concepción is the second-largest conurbation in the country, with 889,725 inhabitants...
.
History
The MapucheMapuche
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...
originally named the valley where Santa Juana is now located the Valley of Catirai
Catirai
Catirai or Catiray is the region of the Moluche Aillarehue of Catiray in old Araucanía. It is now the Santa Juana commune of the Concepción Province and the Nacimiento commune of the Biobío Province of the Biobío Region, of Chile...
, and the inhabitants Catirayen. This town originated with a fort and town in established March 1626 by Governor Luis Fernandez de Cordova
Luis Fernández de Córdova
Luis Fernández de Córdova was a Spanish military general and diplomat.Hhe was the elder brother of Fernando Fernández de Córdova...
with title of Santa Juana de Guadalcázar, in memory of the name of wife of the viceroy of Peru Diego Fernández de Córdoba, Marquis of Guadalcázar
Diego Fernández de Córdoba, Marquis of Guadalcázar
Diego Fernández de Córdoba y López de las Roelas, Marquis of Guadalcázar and Count of Posadas , was Viceroy of Mexico from October 18, 1612 to March 14, 1621 and Viceroy of Peru from July 25, 1622 to January 14, 1629.-Early life:He was born in Seville.In 1598, aged 20, he was in Central Europe,...
. Evacuated in 1641, it was repaired and expanded in 1648 by the governor Martín de Mujica y Buitrón
Martín de Mujica y Buitrón
Martin de Mujica y Buitrón, also known as Martin de Mogica or Muxica ; Spanish Basque military man who was named by king Philip IV of Spain, to be Captain General and Royal Governor of Chile, besides president of its Real Audiencia. His government was from May 1646 and April 1649, when he died,...
. It was destroyed by the Mapuches in 1722, but restored two years later.
In 1739 the Governor 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:...
made important adjustments, improving and properly supplying the fortress and constructing between the river and the small Laguna de Rayenantú behind it, deep ditches, that turned the enclosure into an island, and increasing its population to serve as its garrison for the defense of the region and the wooded valleys of the southern mountainous area. 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:...
obtained the title of "Villa" for the town in 1765, but the wars with the Indians did not allow it to make any progress even though it constituted the refuge of the extinguished towns of Coya, Monterey and San Jerónimo. It was also one of the towns that was burned in 1821 at the order of Vicente Benavides
Vicente Benavides
Vicente Benavides Llanos was a Chilean soldier who fought in the Chilean War of Independence. He initially sided with the patriots but changed sides later to side with the royalists. He then led the resistance during the so called Guerra a muerte...
the rebellious royalist guerrilla. It was later ruined in the earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
of February 20, 1835. As a result of this last disaster the town was six years later moved to its present more suitable location.
Santa Juana was head of the Department of Lautaro between 1841 and 1865. On May 30, 1865, Coronel
Coronel
Coronel is a Chilean city and commune, located in the Concepción Province of the eighth region of Biobío.-Geography:The city of Coronel is located in a sandy platform that goes from the mouth of the Biobío River to the Arauco Gulf bay, a muddy landscape, full of forests, typical of the region.This...
became the new capital of the department. With the Law of Independent Communes, December 22, 1891, the Decree of Creation of Municipalities was promulgated, with which created the Municipality of Santa Juana, in which Santa Juana administers Santa Juana, Santo Domingo and San Jerónimo, whose boundaries were determined by the decrees of November 13, 1885, March 29 and December 1, 1886.
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...
, Santa Juana spans an area of 731.2 sqkm and has 12,713 inhabitants (6,357 men and 6,356 women). Of these, 7,095 (55.8%) 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 5,618 (44.2%) in rural areas. The population grew by 6.3% (756 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.
Administration
As a commune, Santa Juana 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 Angel Castro Medina (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...
).
Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Santa Juana 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 Bobadilla (UDI) and Clemira Pacheco (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...
) as part of the 45th electoral district, (together with Tomé
Tomé
Tomé is a port city and commune in the Biobío Region of Chile. It is bordered by Coelemu to the north, Ránquil and Florida to the east, Penco to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west...
, Penco
Penco
Penco is a Chilean city and commune in Concepción Province, Biobío Region on the Bay of Concepción. Founded as the city of Concepción del Nuevo Extremo on February 12, 1550 by Pedro de Valdivia, it is the third oldest city in the country after Santiago founded first in 1541 and La Serena second...
, Florida
Florida, Chile
Florida is a Chilean town and commune located in the Concepción Province, Biobío Region.-Demographics:According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Florida spans an area of and has 10,177 inhabitants . Of these, 3,875 lived in urban areas and 6,302 in rural areas...
, Hualqui
Hualqui
Hualqui is a Chilean city and commune in the Concepción Province, Biobio Region. It is also part of the Greater Concepcion conurbation, although it maintains a rural profile. It had a population of 18,768 inhabitants according to the 2002 census....
, Coronel). 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) as part of the 12th senatorial constituency (Biobío-Cordillera).