Ñiquén is a

commune A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to: Administrative-territorial entities * Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township ** Communes of ...

of the Punilla Province, located in the north of the

Ñuble Region The Ñuble Region ( es, Región de Ñuble), officially the Region of Ñuble ( es, Región de Ñuble), is — since 5 September 2018 – one of Chile's sixteen regions. It spans an area of , making it the smallest region in Chile in terms of area ...

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...

. Geographically, it is delimited by the Perquilauquén River to the north and the Ñiquén River in the south. Its boundary to the north is the commune of Parral and to the west that of

Cauquenes Cauquenes, a city and commune in Chile, is the capital of the Cauquenes Province and is located in the Maule Region. History According to the historical records of Alonso de Ercilla, Cauquenes was originally inhabited by an indigenous community o ...

both in the Maule Region, to the south with the commune of San Carlos, and to the east with San Fabian de Alico. The town of San Gregorio is the capital of this commune.

Demographics

According to the 2002

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...

of the National Statistics Institute, Ñiquén spans an area of and has 11,421 inhabitants (5,886 men and 5,535 women). Of these, 1,143 (10%) lived in

urban area An urban area, built-up area or urban agglomeration is a human settlement with a high population density and infrastructure of built environment. Urban areas are created through urbanization and are categorized by urban morphology as cities ...

s and 10,278 (90%) in

rural area In general, a rural area or a countryside is a geographic area that is located outside towns and cities. Typical rural areas have a low population density and small settlements. Agricultural areas and areas with forestry typically are descr ...

s. The population fell by 13.2% (1735 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.

Administration

As a commune, Ñiquén is a third-level administrative division of Chile administered by a

municipal council A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, rural counc ...

, headed by an alcalde who is directly elected every four years. The 2008-2012 alcalde is Domingo Garrido Torres ( PPD). Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Ñiquén is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Jorge Sabag ( PDC) and Frank Sauerbaum ( RN) as part of the 42nd electoral district, together with

San Fabián San Fabián is the easternmost of 21 communes in the Punilla Province of central Chile's. Ñuble Region. The capital is the town of San Fabián de Alico. The commune spans an area of . Administration As a commune, San Fabián is administered ...

, San Carlos, San Nicolás,

Ninhue Ninhue () is a Chilean commune and town in the Itata Province, Ñuble Region. Demographics According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Ninhue spans an area of and has 5,738 inhabitants (2,920 men and 2,818 women). Of the ...

Quirihue Quirihue () is a Chilean city in Quirihue, Itata Province, Ñuble Region. It is located about 72 kilometers northwest of Chillán and 410 km southwest of Santiago. Demographics According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Insti ...

, Cobquecura, Treguaco, Portezuelo,

Coelemu Coelemu is a Chilean commune and city in Itata Province, Ñuble Region. According to the 2002 census, the commune population was 16,082 and has an area of . Demographics According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Coele ...

Ránquil Ránquil is a Chilean commune in Itata Province, Ñuble Region. The communal capital is the town of Ránquil. Demographics According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute Ránquil had 5,683 inhabitants (2,896 men and 2,787 ...

, Quillón, Bulnes, Cabrero and

Yumbel Yumbel is a city and commune of the Province of Bío Bío in the region of the same name, Chile. History Yumbel originated from the small fort of ''San Felipe de Austria'', raised in 1585 by Governor Alonso de Sotomayor, on the cerro del Centin ...

. The commune is represented in the Senate by Alejandro Navarro Brain ( MAS) and Hosain Sabag Castillo (PDC) as part of the 12th senatorial constituency (Biobío-Cordillera).

References

External links

*
Municipality of Ñiquén
{{DEFAULTSORT:Niquen Geography of Ñuble Region 1891 establishments in Chile