Arauco Province
Arauco Province
Provincia de Arauco | |
|---|---|
 General view of Lebu | |
 Seal | |
 Location in Biobío Region | |
  Arauco Province Location in Chile | |
| Coordinates: 37°46′S 73°20′W / 37.767°S 73.333°W | |
| Country | Chile |
| Region | Bío Bío |
| Capital | Lebu |
| Communes | |
| Government | |
| • Type | Provincial |
| Area | |
• Total | 5,643.3 km2 (2,178.9 sq mi) |
| Population (2024 Census)[1] | |
• Total | 166,231 |
| • Density | 29.456/km2 (76.292/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−4 (CLT[2]) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-3 (CLST[3]) |
| Area code | 56 + 41 |
| Website | www |
Arauco Province (Spanish: Provincia de Arauco) is one of three provinces of the Bío Bío Region in Chile. It spans an area of 5,643.3 km2 (2,178.9 sq mi). Its capital is Lebu. It had a population of 166,231 inhabitants as per the 2024 Chilean census.
History
[edit]The Biobio Region was established on 10 July 1974, by Law No. 575, which reorganised Chile into thirteen regions.[4] The region is divided into three provinces–Arauco, Biobío, and Concepción, which are further divided into 33 communes.[5]
Geography
[edit]Arauco Province is one of the three provinces of the Biobio Region in Chile.[5][6] It covers an area of 5,643.3 km2 (2,178.9 sq mi).[1] It borders the provinces of Concepción to the north, Biobío to the east, Cautin to the south and borders the Pacific Ocean to the west.[7] Almost half of the land area consists of coastal plains, and roughly quarter of them are made up of offshore islands, with the remaining forming part of the Carampangue and Lebu River basins.[8]
The province consists of plain surrounded by the Nahuelbuta Mountains to the east, and low lying hills that slope towards the coast on the west. The region has significant forest cover, with a number of lakes, the major of which are the Lleu-lleu and Lanalhue lakes.[7] Its capital is at Lebu, located along the coast.[9]
The province has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification: Csb) with an average annual temperature of 17.14 °C (62.85 °F). The region receives approximately 14.02 cm (5.52 in) of rainfall annually on average.[10]
Administration
[edit]As a province, Arauco is a second-level administrative division of Chile, governed by a provincial governor.[11] It is further subdivided into seven communes (comunas)–Arauco, Cañete, Contulmo, Curanilahue, Lebu, Los Álamos, and Tirúa.[6][12]
Demographics
[edit]According to the 2024 Chilean census, the province had a population of 166,231 inhabitants. The population consisted of 85,512 females (51.4%) and 80,719 males (48.6%). About 19.1% of the population was below the age of 15 years, 66.4% belonged to the age group of 15–64 years, and 14.5% was aged 65 years or older. The province had an urban population of 118,792 inhabitants (71.5%) and a rural population of 47,439 inhabitants (28.5%).[13][14]
Most of the residents were born in Chile, accounting for 164,774 inhabitants (99.1%). Non-indigenous people formed the majority of the population with 121,533 inhabitants (73.1%), while 44,684 inhabitants (26.9%) identified themselves as belonging to indigenous groups. Evangelicals or Protestants formed the largest religious group with 73,889 adherents (55%), followed by 29,115 Roman Catholics (21.7%), and 28,132 inhabitants (20.9%) indicating no religious affiliation.[13] The region has a high rate of poverty and unemployment. This Province has historically high poverty levels. According to a 2013 survey, 16.7% of the population were in poverty, higher than the regional (12.3%) and national average (7.8%).[12][7]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "Territorial division of Chile" (PDF) (in Spanish). National Statistics Institute. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 November 2010. Retrieved 18 March 2011.
- ↑ "Chile Time". World Time Zones. Archived from the original on 11 September 2007. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
- ↑ "Chile Summer Time". World Time Zones. Archived from the original on 11 September 2007. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
- ↑ "Decreto Ley 575 del 14 de julio de 1974" [Decree Law 575 of 14 July 1974]. Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 May 2026.
- 1 2 "Biobío Region" [Biobío Region]. Ministry of the Interior (Chile) (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 April 2026.
- 1 2 "Administrative division of Chile". City Population.de. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 Arauco Province (PDF). Forests dialogue (Report). Retrieved 1 April 2026.
- ↑ "Provincia details, Arauco Provincia" [Details of the Province, Arauco Province]. Ministry of the Interior (Chile) (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 April 2026.
- ↑ One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Arauco". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 2 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 322.
- ↑ "Arauco province". Weather and Climate. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ↑ "Gobierno de Chile: Gobernadores". Government of Chile (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2011.
- 1 2 "Conozca la provincia" [Know the Province]. Ministry of the Interior (Chile) (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 April 2026.
- 1 2 "Arauco Province". City Population.de. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
- ↑ Chilean Census 2024, Results. National Statistics Institute (Chile) (Report). Retrieved 1 April 2026.
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