Río Negro, Chile

For the river in Chile, see Negro River (Chile).
Río Negro
City and Commune
Location of Río Negro commune in Los Lagos Region
Location of Río Negro commune in Los Lagos Region
Location in Chile
Río Negro
Location in Chile
Coordinates (city): 40°47′S 73°12′W / 40.783°S 73.200°W / -40.783; -73.200Coordinates: 40°47′S 73°12′W / 40.783°S 73.200°W / -40.783; -73.200
Country Chile
Region Los Lagos
Province Osorno Province
Government[1]
 • Type Municipality
 • Alcalde Carlos Schwalm Urzúa (RN)
Area[2]
 • Total 1,265.7 km2 (488.7 sq mi)
Population (2002 Census)[2]
 • Total 14,732
 • Density 12/km2 (30/sq mi)
 • Urban 6,583
 • Rural 8,149
Demonym(s) Rionegrino
Sex[2]
 • Men 7,528
 • Women 7,204
Time zone CLT (UTC−4)
 • Summer (DST) CLST (UTC−3)
Area code(s) 56 + 64
Website Municipality of Rio Negro

Río Negro (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈri.o ˈneɣɾo], English: Black River) is a Chilean city and commune in Osorno Province, Los Lagos Region. The city is located 38 km south of Osorno and 6 km west of Route 5. It has an area of 1,266 km² and a population of 14,732 inhabitants (7,204 women and 7,528 men according to census 2002).

The commune is bordered on the north by Osorno and San Juan de la Costa, on the east by Puerto Octay, on the west by the Pacific Ocean, and on the south by Purranque.

Downtown
Río Negro exports Blueberries mainly

History

In the 19th century, the commune was a property located between Chahuilco and Purranque called Curileufu by the natives. It was founded on lands donated by Jose Miguel Alderete in the year 1896. The first inhabitants were indigenous to the area.

The first alcalde (mayor) was Pedro González.

Demographics

According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Río Negro spans an area of 1,265.7 km2 (489 sq mi) and has 14,732 inhabitants (7,528 men and 7,204 women). Of these, 6,583 (44.7%) lived in urban areas and 8,149 (55.3%) in rural areas. The population fell by 8.1% (1294 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.[2]

Administration

As a commune, Río Negro 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 Carlos Schwalm Urzúa (RN). The council has the following members:[1]

Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Río Negro is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Mr. Fidel Espinoza (PS) and Mr. Carlos Recondo (UDI) as part of the 56th electoral district, (together with Puyehue, Purranque, Puerto Octay, Fresia, Frutillar, Llanquihue, Puerto Varas and Los Muermos). The commune is represented in the Senate by Camilo Escalona Medina (PS) and Carlos Kuschel Silva (RN) as part of the 17th senatorial constituency (Los Lagos Region).

Localities and Sectors

Climate

The climate is temperate rainy, with average temperatures of 11.4 °C.

References

  1. 1 2 "Municipality of Río Negro" (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 December 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "National Statistics Institute" (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 December 2010.
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