Concepción, Chile

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Concepción

Image:Flag of Concepcion, Chile.svg	Image:Coat of arms of Concepcion, Chile.svg
City flag and seal

City motto: "La Capital del Sur de Chile"

The Capital of the South of Chile</small>
Also called "Biobio's Pearl"

Founded

October 5, 1550

Original Name

La Concepción de María Purísima del Nuevo Extremo

Region

Bío-Bío Region

Area
- City Proper

222 km²

Population
- City (2005)
- Density (city proper)

216.061 Inhabitants
975 /km²

Time zone

Santiago Time Zone, UTC- 4

Telephone Prefix

Postal code

3349001

Gentilic

Penquista

Day

October 5

Mayor

Jacqueline van Rysselberghe (UDI)
(2000-2008)

Official site

http://www.concepcion.cl

Image:Comuna Concepción.png
The map of the Concepción in the Bio-Bío Region.

Concepción is a city in Chile, capital of the province of the same name and of the Bío Bío Region. Greater Concepción (including Talcahuano, San Pedro de La Paz, Hualpén and Chiguayante) is the second-largest conurbation in the country, with over one million inhabitants.

Concepción is the second financial, demographic, administrative, political and commercial nucleus of Chile.

1 History
2 Cultural life
3 Sports
4 External link

[edit] History

Concepción was founded by Pedro de Valdivia in 1550 north of the Bío-Bío River, at the site which is today known as Penco. At that time it was given the name Concepción del Nuevo Extremo. The new settlement of Concepcion was just a few kilometers north of La Frontera (The Frontier), the limit between the Chilean-Spanish territory and the land of the Mapuche, an ethnic group that was not subjugated until the 1870s. The settlement was formally recognized by the Spanish authorities as a city two years later by a royal decree and given its coat of arms which is still in existence today. The city was a significant military settlement for the Viceroyalty of Peru but was still overrun and destroyed on several occasions by Mapuche armies during the early period of Spanish colonialism.

Concepción was the home of the Real Audiencia, the most important government organization during Spanish colonial times. When the First National Government Board met in Santiago on September 18, 1810, citizens of Concepción joined up. Concepcion was used as the point of entry by the Spanish Army in the attempt by the Viceroyalty of Peru to re-conquer Chile. Concepción politicians and soldiers became a significant political force in the newly-independent country.

More than once the city has been destroyed by earthquakes and tsunamis. One in 1570, another on 25 May, 1751, at which point it was decided to move Concepción further from the sea to its present location in the Mocha Valley. The new site for the city of Concepción became the head city of the Intendancy of Concepción, whose jurisdiction extended from the river Maule to La Frontera. The first Intendant of Concepción was the Irishman Ambrosio O'Higgins, Marquis of Osorno, who later became Governor of Chile and Viceroy of Perú. On 1 January 1818, his son, Bernardo O'Higgins proclaimed and solemnly took the oath of the Independence of Chile in the main square of Concepción, which since then is known as "Plaza de la Independencia". On February 20, 1835, the city was largely destroyed by earthquake and had to be rebuilt.

Image:Concepcion-Chile(001).jpg

Today Concepción is the second largest city of the country. The Universidad de Concepción, founded in 1919, and with its main campus in the city became the first private university in Chile. The neighbouring harbour of Talcahuano holds the largest naval base in the country.

[edit] Cultural life

To an outsider, there may be confusion between the demonyms of the in habitants of Concepción and the nearby city of Penco. Due to the previous location of Concepción being where Penco currently stands, inhabitants of Concepción are called penquistas while inhabitants of Penco are known as pencones.

Image:Mercado Central de Concepción.jpg

Concepción is one of the most active cities in rock music activities. Many famous rock groups in Chile started up in Concepción.

Concepción currently has four traditional universities: