Curicó

According to the 2012 census of the National Statistics Institute, Curicó spans an area of 1,328.4 km² (513 sq mi) and has 147,017 inhabitants (68,768 men and 70,817 women). Of these, 130,506 (84%) lived in urban areas and 19,079 (16%) in rural areas. Between the 1992 and 2002 censuses, the population grew by 14.9% (15,472 persons).[2]

Curicó is on the Guaiquillo River, 183 km (114 mi) south of Santiago along the route of the Chilean Central Railway. The city is situated in the fertile Chilean Central Valley, 228 m (748 ft) above sea-level, in the midst of a comparatively well-cultivated region.[5] The eastern and western sides are mountainous, separated by the Chilean Central Valley. A volcano called Descabezado Grande can be seen from most parts at a distance of eighty kilometers. The commune spans an area of1,328.4 km² (513 sq mi).[2]

The main rivers are the Lontué River and Teno River, which surround the city. The landscape is dominated by the Andes and Chilean Coastal Range.

Curicó has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csb), relatively hot dry summers (November to March) with temperatures reaching 32 °C (90 °F) on the hottest days. Winters (June to August) are more humid, with typical maximum daily temperatures of 15 °C (59 °F). Mean rainfall is 855.98 mm (34 in) per year. In August 2007, Curicó experienced snowfall for the first time in over 60 years.

In the southern part of the valley the climate is more temperate and rainfall more abundant; the effects of this are to be seen in better pasturage. Irrigation is used to a large extent.[5]

The central square of Curico in 1901, the most famous image of Curico.

Curicó was founded in 1743 by Jose Manso de Velasco during the Spanish reign in the Americas (see Captaincy General of Chile).

In 1747, Governor Domingo Ortiz de Rozas decided to move it about 5 km (3 mi) to the north, where it is now located, because of the humidity in its original location.

The oldest and most valuable building of the city is La Iglesia San Francisco (San Francisco's Church), built in 1734, and came to its current location in 1759.

Curicó gained the title of "city" in 1830.

The city's hero is Luis Cruz Martínez, a Chilean soldier from the War of the Pacific, who died in 1882 in Perú.

The city was destroyed by an earthquake in 1928 and rebuilt during the following year.

The city was badly damaged in the February 2010 earthquake. An Argentine Air Force Mobile Field Hospital, similar to the one deployed in Haiti was deployed to the city [10] and remained on site until September [11]

Mall Center Curico

The city's economy is based mainly on agriculture. The Mediterranean-type climate encourages crops of orchard fruit and viticulture.

Other industries are cement and sugar production.

In human development the city had 0.716 (UNDP, Chile 2000), reaching the 97th position in the municipalities of Chile .

Between March 15 and 20 each year, the city celebrates a wine celebration: the Fiesta de la Vendimia (Wine Harvest Festival). The region has a La Ruta del Vino (The Wine Route), in Curicó Valley. It is also known as "the city of cakes" (made from manjar, meringue and fruit).

Plaza de Armas

The Plaza de Armas (Main Square) is the most visited public place (declared a "Typical Zone"). There is a monument to Lautaro carved on the trunk of a beech tree, created by the craftsman of Vichuquén, Heraclio "Kako" Calquín. Located around Plaza de Armas are the mayor's house (alcaldía) and the governor's house.

A few blocks from the plaza, the Alameda Antonio Manso de Velasco avenue crosses the city with its gardens and leafy trees. There is also the Condell hill, a place which offers a panoramic view of the city and the San Francisco church.

Potrero Grande is a mountainous area with large forests and waterfalls, popular for hiking, located about 30 km (19 mi) from Curicó.

• 
  The main parish church around main square.
• 
  Luis Cruz Martínez, hero from Curicó.
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  San Francisco Church, before being destroyed in the 2010 earthquake
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  Curicó, Alameda, 2012
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  Cerro Condell, Curicó
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  Correos de Chile (Post office) and Curicó's Municipalidad (City hall)
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  Kiosk in Curicó's Plaza de Armas

The city has two universities:

• Universidad de Talca (Traditional-Public),
• Universidad Católica del Maule (Traditional-Religious),

Higher-education institutions:

• Instituto Profesional DuocUC of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
• Instituto Profesional AIEP of the Universidad Andrés Bello

The city has one of the oldest newspapers in Chile, La Prensa de Curicó (Press of Curico), founded in 1898.[12] Before the earthquake of 2010, its offices were located in front of the central square, but have been relocated since because the building collapsed.

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  Victoria Theatre
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  Diario La Prensa

• Jorge Eduardo Álvarez (born 1990), Chilean footballer

Curicó is known for its bicycle culture. Many Chilean cyclists of international level started riding in the city, such as Marco Arriagada, Marcelo Arriagada and Luis Fernando Sepúlveda.

The local football team is Club Provincial Curicó Unido.

As a commune, Curicó is a third-level administrative division of Chile administered by a municipal council, headed by an alcalde who is directly elected every four years. Currently, the 2012-2016 alcalde is Javier Muñoz Riquelme.[1]

Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Curicó is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Roberto León (PDC) and Celso Morales (UDI) as part of the 36th electoral district, together with Teno, Romeral, Molina, Sagrada Familia, Hualañé, Licantén, Vichuquén and Rauco. The commune is represented in the Senate by Juan Antonio Coloma Correa (UDI) and Andrés Zaldívar Larraín (PDC) as part of the 10th senatorial constituency (Maule-North).

• (in Spanish) History of Curicó by Tomás Guevara
• Information about cultural life and tourism.
• Report about urbanization in Latin American cities.

• (in German) Census of Population in Chile

• (in Spanish) Official Website
• (in Spanish) News about Curico
• Information about Wine Route
• Satellite Images of Curico by Google Maps

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Curicó.