Punitaqui

Punitaqui is a town and commune of Chile in the Limarí Province.

Punitaqui
Town and Commune
Coat of arms
Punitaqui
Location in Chile
Coordinates (city): 30°54′S 71°16′W
Country Chile
Region Coquimbo
ProvinceLimarí
Founded1785
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • AlcaldeCarlos Araya Bugueño
Area
 • Total1,339.3 km2 (517.1 sq mi)
Elevation
450 m (1,480 ft)
Population
 (2012)[1]
 • Total10,418
 • Density7.8/km2 (20/sq mi)
 • Urban
3,615
 • Rural
5,924
Demonym(s)Punitaquino
Sex
 • Men4,791
 • Women4,748
Time zoneUTC-4 (CLT[2])
 • Summer (DST)UTC-3 (CLST[3])
Postal code
04304
Area code(s)+(56) 5
WebsiteMunicipality of Punitaqui

History

Punitaqui was once part of the Ovalle Department before the administrative restructuring of 1976.[4]

1997 earthquake
Main article: 1997 Punitaqui earthquake

On October 15, 1997 the town was nearly demolished by an estimated 7.1 Mw earthquake. Damage ranged from as far north as the Antofagasta Region to the southern Araucanía Region. Both Santiago and Valparaíso Region lost telephone service and radio transmissions. The quake left 8 people dead, 360 injured and 59,913 homeless, concentrating most of those in the provinces of Elqui and Limarí.[5]

Demographics

According to the 2002 census by the National Statistics Institute, the commune covers an area of 1,339.3 km2 (517 sq mi) with a population of 9,539 inhabitants (4,791 male and 4,748 female). The population grew 9.4% (816 persons) between 1992 and 2002. There are 3,615 inhabitants in urban areas and 5,924 in rural areas.

Administration

As a commune, Punitaqui 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 2016-2020 alcalde is Carlos Araya Bugueño.

Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Punitaqui is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Mr. Miguel Alvarado (PDC) and Mr. Luis Lemus (Ind.) as part of the 9th electoral district, (together with Combarbalá, Monte Patria, Illapel, Salamanca, Los Vilos, Canela). The commune is represented in the Senate by Adriana Muños (PDC) and Jorge Pizarro Soto (PDC) as part of the 4th senatorial constituency (Coquimbo Region).

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References
  1. (in Spanish) Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas
  2. "Chile Time". WorldTimeZones.org. Archived from the original on 13 July 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
  3. "Chile Summer Time". WorldTimeZones.org. Archived from the original on 11 September 2007. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
  4. Francisco Solano Asta-Buruaga y Cienfuegos (1899). Geographical Dictionary of the Republic of Chile (in Spanish). New York: Imp. de F. A. Brockhaus. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  5. Disaster-info.net Archived 2009-04-25 at the Wayback Machine Earthquake details.
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