Ercilla is a Chilean town and commune in the Malleco Province, Araucanía Region. Its name is a tribute to Alonso de Ercilla, who wrote La Araucana.

Ercilla



Location of the Ercilla commune in the Araucanía Region
Location in Chile
Location in Chile
Ercilla
Location in Chile
Coordinates: 38°03′S 72°23′W / 38.050°S 72.383°W / -38.050; -72.383
CountryChile
RegionAraucanía
ProvinceMalleco
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • AlcaldeRamón Vilches Álvarez (Ind.)
Area
 • Total499.7 km2 (192.9 sq mi)
 As of 2002
Elevation
306 m (1,004 ft)
Population
 (2012 Census)
 • Total8,466
 • Density17/km2 (44/sq mi)
 • Urban
3,238
 • Rural
5,803
DemonymErcillano
Sex
 • Men4,633
 • Women4,408
Time zoneUTC-4 (CLT[3])
 • Summer (DST)UTC-3 (CLST[4])
Area code56 + 45
Websitewww.muniercilla.cl

Demographics edit

According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Ercilla spans an area of 499.7 km2 (193 sq mi) and has 9,041 inhabitants (4,633 men and 4,408 women). Of these, 3,238 (35.8%) lived in urban areas and 5,803 (64.2%) in rural areas. Between the 1992 and 2002 censuses, the population grew by 2.3% (199 persons).[2]

Administration edit

As a commune, Ercilla 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 Ramón Vilches Álvarez (Ind.).[1]

Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Ercilla is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Gonzalo Arenas (UDI) and Mario Venegas (PDC) as part of the 48th electoral district, together with Angol, Renaico, Collipulli, Los Sauces, Purén, Lumaco and Traiguén. 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 edit

  1. ^ a b "Asociación Chilena de Municipalidades" (in Spanish). {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  2. ^ a b c "National Statistics Institute" (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 September 2010.
  3. ^ "Chile Time". WorldTimeZones.org. Archived from the original on 2007-09-11. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
  4. ^ "Chile Summer Time". WorldTimeZones.org. Archived from the original on 2007-09-11. Retrieved 2010-07-29.