Hijuelas

Hijuelas (Spanish pronunciation: [iˈxwelas]) is a city and commune in the Quillota Province of central Chile's fifth region of Valparaíso.

Hijuelas
City and Commune
Hijuelas
Location in Chile
Coordinates: 32°47′55″S 71°08′38″W
CountryChile
RegionValparaíso
ProvinceQuillota
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • AlcaldeVerónica Rossat Arriagada
Area
 • Total267.2 km2 (103.2 sq mi)
 As of 2002
Elevation
257 m (843 ft)
Population
 (2012 Census)[2]
 • Total15,876
 • Density59/km2 (150/sq mi)
 • Urban
8,196
 • Rural
7,818
Demonym(s)Hijuelense
Sex
 • Men8,161
 • Women7,853
Time zoneUTC-4 (CLT [3])
 • Summer (DST)UTC-3 (CLST [4])
Area code(s)country 56 + city 33
WebsiteMunicipality of Hijuelas

Geography

Hijuelas spans an area of 267.2 km2 (103 sq mi)[2] in Chile's Zona Central. It is known as The Capital of the Flowers (Spanish: La Capital de los Flores) as it is the largest producer of flowers in Chile, contributing more than 49% of the nation's total production.

Demographics

According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Hijuelas has 16,014 inhabitants (8,161 men and 7,853 women). Of these, 8,196 (51.2%) lived in urban areas and 7,818 (48.8%) in rural areas. The population grew by 14.9% (2,076 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.[2] Hijuelas hosts 1.04% of the region's population.

Economy

The principal economic activities in Hijuleas are agronomy and agriculture, especially in the cultivation of flowers, plants, trees, and fruits such as avocados and citruses. Its cultivated land, irrigated by the Aconcagua River, provides a high quality microclimate for exporting agricultural products. Also in Hijuelas exists a world-leading company in the production of ornamental bulbs and seeds, whose products are exported to various countries such as Japan, the Netherlands, and others.

Administration

As a commune, Hijuelas is a third-level administrative division of Chile, administered by a municipal council, which is headed by a directly elected alcalde. The current alcalde is Verónica Rossat Arriagada. The communal council has the following members:[1]

  • Germán Vicencio Vargas (UDI)
  • Luis Frez Naranjo (UDI)
  • Viviana Hernández Troncoso (Ind./RN)
  • Manuel Arévalo Díaz (PRI)
  • Omar Olivares Seura (DC)
  • Roxana Saavedra Pimentel (PS)

Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Hijuelas is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Mr. Eduardo Cerda (PDC) and Mrs. Andrea Molina (UDI) as part of the 10th electoral district, (together with La Ligua, Petorca, Cabildo, Papudo, Zapallar, Puchuncaví, Quintero, Nogales, Calera, La Cruz and Quillota). The commune is represented in the Senate by Ignacio Walker Prieto (PDC) and Lily Pérez San Martín (RN) as part of the 5th senatorial constituency (Valparaíso-Cordillera).

References
  1. "Municipality of Hijuelas" (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  2. "National Statistics Institute" (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  3. "Chile Time". WorldTimeZones.org. Archived from the original on September 11, 2007. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
  4. "Chile Summer Time". WorldTimeZones.org. Archived from the original on September 11, 2007. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
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