Retiro, Chile

Retiro is a town and municipality ("comuna") in Chile, located in Linares Province, in the Seventh Region or Maule Region.

Retiro is located 335 km to the south of Santiago, 27 km to the south of the city of Linares (the provincial capital), and 15 km to the north of the city of Parral. The municipality has a surface of 827 km² and is bordered by San Javier and Longaví on the north, by Parral on the south, by Cauquenes (Province of Cauquenes), on the west and by Longaví on the east.

History

The comuna was founded officially on December 22, 1891. President Ramón Barros Luco owned a manor house in this area. Retiro was, therefore, visited frequently by well-known politicians and statemen of the time, and in general by those that contributed to the decision-making process in the country affairs. The name of “Retiro" ("Retirement") was given to the commune on account of being the place of retirement - leisure - of President Barros Luco.

Demography

The population of the comuna of Retiro is 18,235, of whom, 8,920 are female and 9,315, male. Three quarters of the population live in rural areas and one quarter inhabit urban centers (2002 INE Census). The town of Retiro, has 3,300 inhabitants, whereas Copihue, the second most populated locality in the comuna has 1,300 and the village of Villaseca, slightly more than 300. Between 1992 and 2002, the communal population dropped by 6.2%, which in absolute terms corresponds to around 1,200 people. During the same period of time, the population of the town of Retiro grew only marginally (70 people).

Economy

Agriculture, in particular wine producing and cereals cultivation constitutes the main economic activity of Retiro. The comuna lies within the Maule Valley subregion of the Viticultural Region of the Central Valley of Chile.

Local Administration

The mayor of the comuna is Mr. Patricio Contreras Contreras (PDC) and the municipal councillors are:

* Udelio Parra Orellana: UDI
* Elena Maldonado Verga: RN
* Rodrigo Ramirez Parra: RN
* Jose Aravena Jara: PDC
* Viviana Landaeta Parra: PS
* Agustín Millar Bravo: Independent PPDSource: SUBDERE, Chile (Mayors and councillors of Chile) [http://www.subdere.gov.cl/1510/article-67514.html]

Environs

In the area of Copihue (in the southern border of the comuna, next to the Pan-American Highway or Ruta 5 Sur), lies the larger poplar wood of the country. It is owned by the "Compañía Chilena de Fósforos".