Villa Alegre, Chile
Encyclopedia
Villa Alegre a commune and city located in Linares Province
, Maule Region
of Chile
. With 189.8 sqkm, Villa Alegre is the smallest commune by area in the Maule Region. It sits 92 m (302 ft) above sea level.
of the National Statistics Institute
, Villa Alegre spans an area of 189.8 sqkm and has 14,725 inhabitants (7,332 men and 7,393 women). Of these, 5,456 (37.1%) lived in urban area
s and 9,269 (62.9%) in rural areas.Between the 1992 and 2002 censuses, the population fell by 2.8% (425 persons).
way service, in 1915.
are traditional winemaking
areas. The Loncomilla
valley, which includes these two communes, is endowed with some of the better vineyard
s and quality wines of the bountiful Maule Valley
, in the Chile's central valley
viticultural
regions
or appellation
s.
, headed by an alcalde
who is directly elected every four years. The 2008-2012 alcalde is Arturo Palma Vilches (PPD
), and the councilors are:
Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Villa Alegre is represented in the Chamber of Deputies
by Jorge Tarud (PDC
) and Romilio Gutiérrez (UDI) as part of the 39th electoral district, (together with Linares, Colbún
, San Javier
and Yerbas Buenas
). The commune is represented in the Senate
by Hernán Larraín
(UDI) and Ximena Rincón González (PDC) as part of the 11th senatorial constituency (Maule-South).
Linares Province
Linares is one of four provinces of the central Chilean region of Maule . The provincial capital and most populous center is the city of Linares.-Administration:...
, 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...
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...
. With 189.8 sqkm, Villa Alegre is the smallest commune by area in the Maule Region. It sits 92 m (302 ft) above sea level.
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...
, Villa Alegre spans an area of 189.8 sqkm and has 14,725 inhabitants (7,332 men and 7,393 women). Of these, 5,456 (37.1%) 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 9,269 (62.9%) in rural areas.Between the 1992 and 2002 censuses, the population fell by 2.8% (425 persons).
History
Villa Alegre was founded on May 6, 1891 and was one of the first places in Chile to have an electric tramTram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
way service, in 1915.
Economy
Villa Alegre and its neighbor San JavierSan Javier, Chile
San Javier is a Chilean city and commune located in the Province of Linares, Maule Region. The city lies in the geographical center of the country, some south of Santiago, to the northwest of the provincial capital, Linares, and to the south of Talca, the regional capital...
are traditional winemaking
Winemaking
Winemaking, or vinification, is the production of wine, starting with selection of the grapes or other produce and ending with bottling the finished wine. Although most wine is made from grapes, it may also be made from other fruit or non-toxic plant material...
areas. The Loncomilla
Loncomilla River
Loncomilla River is a tributary to the Maule river in Linares Province, Maule Region, Chile. Two rivers join to form the Loncomilla River: the Perquilauquén river and Longaví river.-External links:...
valley, which includes these two communes, is endowed with some of the better vineyard
Vineyard
A vineyard is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice...
s and quality wines of the bountiful Maule Valley
Maule river
The 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...
, in the Chile's 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...
viticultural
Viticulture
Viticulture is the science, production and study of grapes which deals with the series of events that occur in the vineyard. When the grapes are used for winemaking, it is also known as viniculture...
regions
Chilean wine
Chilean wine is wine made in the South American country of Chile. The region has a long viticultural history for a New World wine region dating to the 16th century when the Spanish conquistadors brought Vitis vinifera vines with them as they colonized the region. In the mid-19th century, French...
or appellation
Appellation
An appellation is a legally defined and protected geographical indication used to identify where the grapes for a wine were grown; other types of food often have appellations as well...
s.
Government
As a commune, Villa Alegre 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 Arturo Palma Vilches (PPD
Party for Democracy
The Party for Democracy is a political party in Chile; it is social democratic in its political orientation. It was founded in December 1987 by Ricardo Lagos, who aimed at forming a legal social democratic party . The party continued to function after the defeat of Pinochet...
), and the councilors are:
- María Ignacia González Torres (PDCChristian Democrat Party of ChileThe Christian Democratic Party is a political party in Chile and governs as part of the Coalition of Parties for Democracy coalition. In the 2009 election it won 19 congress seats and 9 senate seats....
) - Héctor Del Tránsito Manosalva González (PRSDSocial Democrat Radical PartyThe Social Democratic Radical Party is a social democratic party in Chile.The party is a member of Socialist International....
) - Manuel Muñoz Bastias (PRSD)
- Justo Rebolledo Araya (PSSocialist Party of ChileThe 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...
) - Eduardo Bustamante Maureira (RN)
- Edgardo Bravo Rebolledo (RN)
Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Villa Alegre 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 Tarud (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 Romilio Gutiérrez (UDI) as part of the 39th electoral district, (together with Linares, Colbún
Colbún
Colbún is a Chilean town and commune in Linares Province, Maule Region. The commune has a population of over 17,000 inhabitants and covers an area of , making it the province's largest. Its capital, the town of Colbún, has 3,679 inhabitants...
, San Javier
San Javier, Chile
San Javier is a Chilean city and commune located in the Province of Linares, Maule Region. The city lies in the geographical center of the country, some south of Santiago, to the northwest of the provincial capital, Linares, and to the south of Talca, the regional capital...
and Yerbas Buenas
Yerbas Buenas
Yerbas Buenas is a Chilean town and commune in Linares Province, Maule Region. It lies in the geographical center of the country, on the fertile central plain, some south of the national capital of Santiago, south of Talca, the regional capital and north of Linares, the provincial...
). 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 Hernán Larraín
Hernán Larraín
Hernán Larraín Fernández is a conservative Chilean lawyer, university lecturer, and politician; he is a current Senator and former President of the Senate, and is also currently serving as the president of the Independent Democrat Union. Larraín was elected to the Senate representing the 11th...
(UDI) and Ximena Rincón González (PDC) as part of the 11th senatorial constituency (Maule-South).
Famous People born in Villa Alegre
- Juan Ignacio MolinaJuan Ignacio MolinaFr. Juan Ignacio Molina was a Chilean Jesuit priest, naturalist, historian, botanist, ornithologist and geographer...
, (Abate Molina): Jesuit priestPriestA priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
, naturalistNatural historyNatural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
and scholar of the 18th and 19th centuries. - Malaquías Concha Ortiz, politicianPoliticianA politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and social reformerReform movementA reform movement is a kind of social movement that aims to make gradual change, or change in certain aspects of society, rather than rapid or fundamental changes...
. - Ismael FuentesIsmael FuentesIsmael Ignacio Fuentes Castro is Chilean football defender, who currently plays for the Mexican club Jaguares de Chiapas.He began his career with Chilean club Rangers in 2001. He also spent one season with Colo-Colo....
, footballer, current member of the Chile national football teamChile national football teamThe Chilean national football team represents Chile in all major international football competitions. The team is controlled by the Federación de Fútbol de Chile which was established in 1895. They have appeared in eight World Cup tournaments and were hosts of the 1962 FIFA World Cup finishing in...
External links
Municipality of Villa Alegre- Tourism in Villa Alegre
- The Silver Orange Festival in Villa Alegre
- Tourism
- The Tramways of Chile
- Google Map I of Villa Alegre
- Google Map II of Villa Alegre and River Loncomilla
- Internacional Artist's Residence SOCIAL SUMMER CAMP february 2010 (in spanish).
- Hostal La Casona Solariega http://lacasonasolariega.net/, Av. Francisco Antonio Encina paradero 21, Villa Alegre. Hostel and Popular Library