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Concepcion, Chile
Concepcion is a city in Chile, capital of Concepcion Province and of the Bio-Bio Region. Greater Concepcion is the second-largest conurbation in the country, with 889,725 inhabitants (2002 census). Individually, it is the 11th largest commune in the country, with a population of 212,003.
History
Concepcion was founded by Pedro de Valdivia in 1550 north of the Bio-Bio River, at the site which is today known as Penco. At that time it was given the name Concepcion 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 Chile but was still overrun and destroyed on several occasions by Mapuche armies during the early period of Spanish colonialism.
Concepcion was the home of the Real Audiencia from 1565 to 1573, the most important government organization during Spanish colonial times. When the First National Government Board met in Santiago on September 18 1810, citizens of Concepcion 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. Concepcion 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 Concepcion further from the sea to its present location in the Mocha Valley. The new site for the city of Concepcion became the head city of the Intendancy of Concepcion, whose jurisdiction extended from the Maule River to La Frontera. The first Intendant of Concepcion was the Irishman Ambrose O'Higgins, Marquis of Osorno, who later became Royal Governor of Chile and Viceroy of Peru. 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 Concepcion, 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.
Today Concepcion is the second largest city of the country. The Universidad de Concepcion, 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.
Cultural life
To an outsider, there may be confusion between the demonyms of the in habitants of Concepcion and the nearby city of Penco. Due to the previous location of Concepcion being where Penco currently stands, inhabitants of Concepcion are called penquistas while inhabitants of Penco are known as pencones.
Concepcion is one of the most active cities in rock music and many famous rock groups in Chile started up in Concepcion.
Concepcion has the second largest concentration of universities in Chile, and is home to three major universities. Concepcion currently has four traditional universities:
Universidad de Concepcion
Universidad Catolica de la Santisima Concepcion
Universidad Tecnica Federico Santa Maria
Universidad del Bio-Bio
Sports
Concepcion is home of five professional football teams:
Club Deportivo Universidad de Concepcion, currently in the Chilean top division, [[Liga Chilena de Futbol: Primera Division]]
Club Deportivo Ferroviario Almirante Arturo Fernandez Vial, currently in the Chilean second division, [[Liga Chilena de Futbol: Primera B]]
Club de Deportes Concepcion, currently in the top division, Liga Chilena de Futbol: Primera Division
Lota Schwager, currently in the top division, Liga Chilena de Futbol: Primera Division
Club Deportivo Huachipato, currently in the top division, Liga Chilena de Futbol: Primera Division
Basketball is also played at a high professional level. The most notable team is:
Club Deportivo Universidad de Concepcion, currently in DIMAYOR, Division Mayor del Basquetbol de Chile
Twin cities
- Cascavel, Brazil
- Bethlehem, Palestinian National Authority
- Guayaquil, Ecuador
- Rosario, Argentina
- La Plata, Argentina
External links
Concepcion municipality (in Spanish)
El Sur, newspaper of Concepcion (in Spanish)
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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Concepcion, Chile
