Rancagua


Rancagua is a city and commune in central Chile and part of the Rancagua conurbation. It is the capital of the Cachapoal Province and of the O'Higgins Region, located south of the national capital of Santiago.
It was originally named Santa Cruz de Triana by Spanish colonists. In 2012, its population was 232,211. The main economic activities range from mining, tourism, agriculture, timber, food production and services to minor industrial activities. The city also serves as the administrative and legal center of the region.
Together with Machalí and Gultro, it forms the Rancagua conurbation. After Curicó, Talca and Concepción, it is one of the most important and densely populated cities of the south central zone of Chile.

History

Foundation period

The Rancagua Valley was occupied by the local Picunche. They fell briefly under the control of the Inca Empire in the 15th century. Its remains in structures can still be found near the city today. Through their civil engineering, the Inca accomplished expeditions to the south of their empire.
Rancagua was founded by Spanish explorer José Antonio Manso de Velasco, who founded several cities in the central area of Chile. The settlement was first called Villa Santa Cruz de Triana.
The city is notable in Chilean history as the scene of the Disaster of Rancagua of 1814, when Chilean forces fighting for independence from Spain were defeated. This marked the beginning of the period known as the Reconquista, an attempt by Spain to regain control of Chile.

Today

In recent years the city has become one of the most attractive cultural and tourist centers in the O'Higgins Region, largely because of the vineyards that have been developed in the area. Rancagua also offers sports centers and easy access to smaller villages and towns.
Other visitors are attracted to the archeological sites, such as Pukara de La Compañia and the nearby Rio Cipreses nature reserve. Both can be visited by private vehicle or with local tour companies.
The city is connected to the capital, Santiago, by the Panamerican Highway. In addition, the Metrotren connects the metro service in Santiago to Rancagua by train.
Rancagua is home of the University of Rancagua, the first private university to be established in the O'Higgins Region.
The region is known for El Teniente in the nearby Andes mountain range: it is the "largest underground copper mine in the world." It is located about to the east of the city. El Teniente is a division of the state-owned mining enterprise, Codelco.
The city's Braden Copper Stadium, named for the American company that developed the mine through the first half of the 20th century, was one of the four venues of the 1962 FIFA World Cup. More recently, it houses the O'Higgins professional football club, one of the leading teams in Chilean professional football. Every year, the National Championship of Chilean rodeo is held in the Medialuna Monumental de Rancagua. In 2015, the city hosted the 2015 Copa América, receiving two matches of the tournament.

Demographics

The population of Rancagua is primarily either of Spanish descent or mestizo, with a particularly strong Basque influence. There are also residents of German, Croatian, Italian, Greek, Levantine Arab, Swiss, French, English or Irish ancestry living in the city. Indigenous Mapuche workers migrate from the south and there are also some Roma gypsies.
In addition, there has been increasing immigration to the city from neighbouring South American countries such as Bolivia, Colombia and Peru. According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Rancagua spans an area of and has 214,344 inhabitants. Of these, 206,971 lived in urban areas and 7,373 in rural areas. The population grew by 14.4% between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.

Notable people born in Rancagua

Municipality

The administration of the commune of Rancagua corresponds to the Illustrious Municipality of Rancagua, led for the 2024–2028 term by Mayor Raimundo Agliati Marchant, who is advised by the Municipal Council, composed of:
  • Graciela Reinoso Jara
  • María Sagredo Palacios
  • Danilo Jorquera Vidal
  • Arturo Jara Carrasco
  • Edwin Perrett Rojas
  • María Orueta de Val
  • Cristián Toledo Ponce
  • Patricio Henríquez Henríquez
  • Rómulo Burgos Pissani
  • Luis Guerra Pino

    Parliamentary representation

Rancagua is one of the thirteen communes that make up District No. 15, in force since the LV legislative period of the National Congress of Chile, represented by five deputies. It also belongs to the 8th senatorial constituency, which since 2022 has been represented by three seats in the Senate.
In Congress, the commune is represented by senators Alejandra Sepúlveda, Javier Macaya and Juan Luis Castro. It is also represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Raúl Soto, Diego Schalper, Marcela Riquelme, Natalia Romero and Marta González.
It is the only commune in the Cachapoal I district of the Regional Council of O’Higgins. It is currently represented by regional councilors Pedro Hernández, Paula Muñoz, Germán Arenas, Lennin Arroyo and Mauricio Valderrama.

Economy

Primary sector

In the field of agriculture, Rancagua serves as a central hub where most of the region's agricultural products are gathered before being exported through the ports of San Antonio or Valparaíso.
In the Cachapoal Valley, the sharp climatic contrasts between the slopes of the Andes and the warmer plains of the central valley favor the production of generous red wines. Vines occupy around 80% of the planted area. The largest number of hectares are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, followed by Merlot and Carménère. For white wines, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay predominate.
About 50 minutes from the city, in the Andes Mountains, lies the El Teniente copper mine, currently operated by Codelco Chile. This deposit is an important source of employment for the inhabitants of the Rancagua conurbation. The Braden Copper Company, the mine's former owner, played a fundamental role in the city's development up to the 1960s, in both material and cultural aspects. There is also small-scale mining activity in the Chancón mining district, in the northwest area of the Rancagua commune.

Secondary and tertiary sectors

Since the late, Rancagua has developed a wide range of commercial activities. The main commercial hubs are the axis formed by Paseo Independencia and Brasil Street, and in recent years, Eduardo Frei Montalva Avenue — also known as the Carretera del Cobre — which leads to the El Teniente copper deposits. This major city thoroughfare has seen remarkable commercial growth since the late 1990s, with the construction of several shopping centers, hypermarkets, commercial premises, services, and medical institutions, which have significantly increased the real estate value of the city's eastern sector.
The city stands out nationally in the agro-food industry. It is also home to the automotive company Reborn Electric Motors, and the metallurgical company ME-Elecmetal. It features industrial parks along the Travesía Route and in the northern area of the city.

International relations

The city of Rancagua hosts a number of institutions dedicated to international relations, such as the Regional Unit for International Affairs of the O’Higgins Regional Government, responsible for analyzing and managing the region's bilateral and multilateral relations with entities in Latin America and the rest of the world; the Bi-oceanic Corridor and Internationalization Commission of the O’Higgins Regional Council; the Regional Office for Investment Promotion and Attraction; the regional office of the National Migration Service; the regional office of the General Directorate for Export Promotion ; the Department of Migration and International Police of the Investigations Police of Chile; and the Municipal Migration Office of Rancagua.
In matters of international relations and higher education, the main actor in Rancagua is the Directorate of Internationalization at the University of O’Higgins, responsible for student mobility and global cooperation. Furthermore, UOH has launched internationalization initiatives with a territorial focus, such as the Foreign Direct Investment Academy.
The Municipality of Rancagua has implemented internationalization initiatives such as the International University of Rancagua and, since 2002, has been a member of the Mercosur network of municipalities, Mercociudades.

Consulates

  • Culture

This area is known as the "huaso province" after the name of the Chilean cowboy, the huaso. The population is a mixture of both European and indigenous races and cultures. The region has a homogeneous culture known as Chileanidad and a mestizo influence is evident.
Rancagua and the Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins Region was settled by Spaniards and other Europeans. French and Italian families established agriculture, including the important wine industry: the Wine Route is one of the main tourist attractions of the Colchagua valley. Breweries can be found as well, the legacy of German and Swiss immigration. Livestock development and herding was especially influenced by British, Greek and Yugoslavian settlers.
Because the city is relatively close to Santiago, there has led to a growing urban influence in the local culture. Rancagua is fast becoming a suburb of Santiago's upper-class professional workforce.