Curacautín


Curacautín, which means "Gathering Stone" in Mapudungun, is a commune and city in the Chilean province of Malleco. Curacautín is located 90 kilometres northeast of Temuco, in a valley near the volcanoes Tolhuaca, Lonquimay and Llaima, all of which can be seen from the city. Historically, it served as a highway of sorts for the Pehuenches that lived on either side of the Andes mountain range.

Volcanic origin

This area is known for its natural environment, and the Conguillío and Tolhuaca National Parks, and Malleco and Malalcahuello-Nalcas National Reserves are close by.

History

The fort at Curacautín was founded on March 12, 1882 by Gregorio Urrutia.
Between 1913 and 1915, two important structures were built. In 1938, Mosso plywood factory began production, being the first in Chile to export plywood. This, coupled with the railroad, allowed products to be shipped all over Chile as well as internationally. This factory was one of the main employers of the commune, having a big impact in every aspect of the city. In 2000, FOCURA its declares in bankruptcy, ending an era in Curacautín.

Demographics

According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Curacautín spans an area of and has 16,970 inhabitants. Of these, 12,412 lived in urban areas and 4,558 in rural areas. Between the 1992 and 2002 censuses, the population fell by 6.4%.

Administration

As a commune, Curacautín 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 Jorge Saquel Albarran.
Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Curacautín is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Enrique Estay and Fuad Chahín as part of the 49th electoral district,. The commune is represented in the Senate by Alberto Espina Otero and Jaime Quintana Leal as part of the 14th senatorial constituency.