Country Chile Elevation 103 m (338 ft) Area code(s) +56 45 251 Local time Thursday 11:04 PM Named for Galvarino | Region Araucanía Time zone CLT (UTC-3) Area 568.2 km² Province Cautín Province | |
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Website Municipality of Galvarino Weather 11°C, Wind NW at 6 km/h, 85% Humidity | ||
Galvarino is a Chilean town and commune (Spanish: comuna), part of Cautín Province, in the Araucanía Region.
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Map of Galvarino, Araucania, Chile
The town, named for the Mapuche warrior Galvarino, was founded on April 22, 1882 within the frame of the occupation of Araucanía by general Gregorio Urrutia, next to river Quillem as a fort of 2,500 m2 (26,910 sq ft). Its population come eminently from original Mapuche indigenous people. The area was colonized fundamentally by Swiss colonizers. The main economic activity is forestal activity, shown as great amount of the territory dedicated to production of forestal trees, like eucalyptus and pines.
Demographics
According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Galvarino spans an area of 568.2 km2 (219 sq mi) and has 12,596 inhabitants (6,500 men and 6,096 women). Of these, 3,539 (28.1%) lived in urban areas and 9,057 (71.9%) in rural areas. The population fell by 10.5% (1480 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.
Administration
As a commune, Galvarino 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 Miguel Hernandez Saffirio (PDC).
Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Galvarino is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Enrique Estay (UDI) and Fuad Chahín (PDC) as part of the 49th electoral district, (together with Victoria, Curacautín, Lonquimay, Melipeuco, Vilcún, Lautaro and Perquenco). The commune is represented in the Senate by Alberto Espina Otero (RN) and Jaime Quintana Leal (PPD) as part of the 14th senatorial constituency (Araucanía-North).