Vilcún

Vilcún (Mapudungun for "lizard") is a Chilean town and commune in Cautín Province, Araucanía Region. The town is an important gateway for tourists visiting Conguillío National Park and Llaima volcano.

Vilcún
Town and Commune
Map of Vilcún commune in the Araucanía Region
Vilcún
Location in Chile
Coordinates (town): 38°39′S 72°14′W
CountryChile
RegionAraucanía
ProvinceCautín
Founded18 October 1926
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • AlcaldePatricio Villanueva Rubilar (PPD)
Area
 • Total1,420.9 km2 (548.6 sq mi)
Elevation
326 m (1,070 ft)
Population
 (2012 Census)[3]
 • Total22,499
 • Density16/km2 (41/sq mi)
 • Urban
9,024
 • Rural
13,467
Sex
 • Men11,392
 • Women11,099
Time zoneUTC-4 (CLT [4])
 • Summer (DST)UTC-3 (CLST [5])
Area code(s)country 56 + city 45
WebsiteMunicipality of Vilcún

The commune also includes the localities of Cherquenco, San Patricio, General López and Cajón.

Demographics

According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Vilcún spans an area of 1,420.9 km2 (549 sq mi) and has 22,491 inhabitants (11,392 men and 11,099 women). Of these, 9,024 (40.1%) lived in urban areas and 13,467 (59.9%) in rural areas. The population grew by 7.7% (1,604 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.[3]

Administration

As a commune, Vilcún 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 Patricio Villanueva Rubilar (PPD).[1][2]

Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Vilcún 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, Lautaro, Perquenco and Galvarino). 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).

References
  1. "Asociación Chilena de Municipalidades" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on April 19, 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  2. "Municipality of Vilcún" (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  3. "National Statistics Institute" (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 December 2010.
  4. "Chile Time". WorldTimeZones.org. Archived from the original on September 11, 2007. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  5. "Chile Summer Time". WorldTimeZones.org. Archived from the original on September 11, 2007. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
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