Pitrufquén
Pitrufquén (Mapudungún: Place of Ashes) is a city and commune in southern Chile, in the Province of Cautín in the Araucanía Region. Its surface is 580.7 km². It is located at 38º 59' south latitude, and 72º 38' west longitude. Its origin is in the fortress founded in 1898, in the middle course of the Toltén river.
The population of Pitrufquén is characterized by having multiple origins, due to the fact that its members have backgrounds of different cultures, highlighting the Spanish and Mapuche historical legacy, and immigrants mainly from France, Italy, Germany, Holland, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland and Hungary, who came during the historical period of the European colonization of Araucanía. Currently, the largest population of foreign origin resides in Faja Maisan and is made up mostly of German, Dutch and Swiss descendants, whose ancestors arrived in La Araucanía between 1903 and 1912.[citation required].
History
The first population settled in 1836, when 290 people lived in this area stimulated by the donation of land from the lonco Ambrosio Paillalef.
According to the Diccionario Histórico de Chile, Pitrufquén was officially founded by supreme decree on January 2, 1897 under the name of Lisperguer. However, the Diccionario Histórico Geográfico de La Araucanía, by Juan Valderrama, indicates that the year of foundation would be 1892, coinciding with Lisperguer as its first name.
The current land where the city is located was donated by the lonco Ambrosio Paillalef, on January 3, 1836. Later, they were planned by the engineer Lisperguer who obtained on January 1, 1896 the urban planning charter of the city.
Documents belonging to the municipality indicate that on December 15, 1898, according to supreme decree 01, the commune of Pitrufquén was officially founded. In turn, the Illustrious Municipality of Pitrufquén was established on May 3, 1902, being its first mayor Federico Altamirano.
Two versions are known about the origin of the word Pitrufquén. One of them affirms that it derives from the Mapuche words "piti", small, and "lafken", sea or lake. The other that means between ashes or many ashes, as a derivation of "piti" and "trick".
From 1898, Pitrufquén began a stage of economic development thanks to its agricultural potential and the boost of its population of mixed origin. Settlers from Germany and Switzerland between 1903 and 1912 formed the current Faja Maisan. At that time, the works of the railway that arrives in the city are finished, once the Toltén railway bridge over the river of the same name is finished, along with the train station. Its inhabitants, who lived in the upper part of the town, begin to descend to the plain, building their houses near the railway station.
Result of the political administration established by the Federal Laws of 1826, the territory of Pitrufquén belonged to the Old Province of Valdivia, which was originally integrated by the Delegations of Valdivia, La Unión and Osorno. In 1910, and by virtue of Law 2364, the Department of Villa-Rica was established, whose capital was the town of Pitrufquén, from the territory resulting from a division of the Department of Valdivia. Later, by virtue of DFL 8583 of 1928, Pitrufquén ceased to be the capital of the department of Villarrica, to make way for Loncoche. This decree also establishes that the sub-delegation temporarily renames itself Lisperguer. Finally, by virtue of Law 5960 of 1937, the Department of Pitrufquén was created, with its capital in the city of the same name, to whose administration the sub-delegation of Gorbea, Toltén and Pitrufquén belonged, depending on the province of Cautín. The department of Pitrufquén was suppressed in the 1970s, with the implementation of the New Political-Administrative Division. The former Departmental Government was located on Andrés Bello street, between Bilbao and Barros Arana.
Demographics
This commune, according to population projections, would have around 26,096 inhabitants in 2020, which represents 2.4% of the projected population for the La Araucanía region and 0.1% of the projected population in the country.
Commercial activities are carried out in the main streets of the city, such as Francisco Bilbao, 2 de Enero, 12 de Febrero, Andrés Bello and Manuel Rodríguez. Mornings and afternoons on weekdays, the main streets are usually more crowded by residents who usually buy groceries and vegetables. In the ultra-station sector or Pitrufquén Poniente, commerce takes place in streets such as Casanova and Balmaceda. The proximity of several educational establishments to the main square Pedro Montt, makes it regularly visited by young people who enjoy it either passing through or to practice urban sports or chat.
The inhabitants of the rural sectors are found in various neighborhood centers scattered throughout the communal territory, in addition to the practice of fishing and hunting being common in such sectors. For the purposes of the Census, the rural territory of the commune is divided into the census districts of Nueva Etruria, Comuy, Quilquilco, Millahuín and Polul.
Urban planning aspects
Four diagonal streets converge at its central square, made up of Avenida 2 de Enero and Avenida 12 de Febrero. French in style, the design of the plan offers special appeal, since Pedro León Gallo avenue provides a bypass of its blocks maintaining an oval aspect of the communal plan, a shape that has been transformed due to the growth of new populations outside this bypass.
The railway line and the Ruta 5 sur highway divide the city longitudinally, creating a central and larger sector, where a large part of the public services are housed and another called "Ultra station" or Pitrufquén Poniente, where there has been a large housing development, but not services. To address this deficit, in recent years a new Gymnasium and a Family Health Center have been built on the initiative and municipal administration. In addition, the private initiative has set up educational centers such as the Monsignor Guillermo Hart School (formerly located in the center of the city), and the recent Forest School, as well as industries such as Molco and various businesses.
Most of the shops and public services are located in the downtown area of the city. Around Pedro Montt Square, are the Illustrious Municipality, the Pitrufquén Guarantee Court, the State Bank and the Local Prosecutor's Office. Very close to it, the Court of First Instances, the Guarantee Court and the Notary, as well as the Cultural Center and Municipal Public Library are housed.
In streets such as Francisco Bilbao there are branches of large supermarket chains, pharmacies and mini-markets that supply residents with food longitudinally.
The city has an Investigative Police Headquarters, a Carabineros Police Station, a Detention Center managed by the Gendarmerie, and a Fire Department made up of seven companies. The old hospital, damaged by the earthquake on February 27, 2010, was replaced with a large hospital complex that was inaugurated in 2017.
In terms of sports, the Municipal Stadium, the Swimming Pool and the recently reconditioned Hospital field, together constitute a sports center on the outskirts of the city that is complemented by the two municipal gyms, one on Andrés Bello street and the other in the ultra-station sector, in addition to several neighborhood courts. In 2013, Pitrufquén hosted the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy, temporarily adapting the Municipal Stadium to the practice of Rugby. It also has a rodeo croissant, which will be reconditioned.
Immediately to the east side of the Ruta 5 Sur highway, the Plaza de Los Héroes is located, where civic-military acts are held, as it has busts of some of the main military heroes of the country, such as Ignacio Carrera Pinto, Arturo Prat Chacón, Hernán Merino Correa and Dagoberto Godoy. This square constitutes the main green area within the urban plan, attended mainly by families on weekends. In addition, separated from the city, the Municipal Island is constituted as the main spa of fluvial origin. In this place it is possible to practice sport fishing.
With a marked residential tone and tertiary services in the city, however, Pitrufquén has several industrial complexes within the urban area such as Surlat (dairy products), and Molco (wood and furniture).
Administration
Pitrufquén integrates together with the communes of Padre Las Casas, Temuco, Carahue, Cholchol, Freire, Nueva Imperial, Saavedra, Teodoro Schmidt, Cunco, Curarrehue, Gorbea, Loncoche, Pucón, Toltén and Villarrica District No. 23 and, with the rest of the communes of the region, the XI Circumscription. It is represented in the National Congress by senators Jaime Quintana PPD (10.5%, Majority Force), Francisco Huenchumilla of DC (11.3%, Democratic Convergence), Felipe Kast of Evópoli (19.0 %. Chile Vamos), Carmen Gloria Aravena from Evópoli (1.2%, Chile Vamos) and José García Ruminot from RN (9.6%, Chile Vamos) and by deputies Ricardo Celis (PPD), Fernando Meza (PR), Andrés Molina (Evopoli), Sebastián Álvarez (Evopoli), René Manuel García (RN), Miguel Mellado (RN) and René Saffirio (IND). The Illustrious Municipality of Pitrufquén is directed during the period 2021-2024 by the mayor Ms. Jacqueline Romero Inzunza (RN) with her council, made up of the councilors:
- Pedro Lizama Díaz (UDI)
- Felipe Barril Riquelme (Independent)
- Valeria Brun Maricán (RN)
- Roxana San Martín Bilbao (PPD)
- Amelia Riquelme Valenzuela (DC)
- Lorenzo Silva Cariman (Independent)
In 2020, the regional councilors for the Cautín II district are:
- Carmen Phillips Sáenz (UDI)
- Gilda Mendoza Vásquez (RN)
- Italo Castagnoli Leonelli (RN)
- Eduardo Hernández Schmidt (RN)
- Hilary Huirilef Barra (DC)
- Miguel Jaramillo Salazar (DC)
- Ricardo Herrera Floody (DC)
- Marcelo Carrasco Carrasco (Independent)
Education
Pitrufquén Polytechnic High School
In the second semester of 1981, the idea of creating an educational establishment capable of providing quality technical training to young students that would allow them to increase and improve their chances of access to the world began to take hold in the commune of Pitrufquén labor.
Under the advice of directors of the Pueblo Nuevo Polytechnic High School in Temuco plus teachers from various establishments in Pitrufquén, it began in March 1982, in the premises of a well-known sports club in Pitrufquén. The classes that at that date compromised 135 students, who were divided into three courses of First half and one of Second half. In the beginning, the educational offer was divided into Humanist Scientific training for the first two levels and from the third, the option for two specialties: Internal combustion and automotive mechanics and low and high voltage electrical installations.
The progressive increase in the number of enrollments, -which in 1989 already totaled 450 students- also led students and parents to ask the Liceo to diversify and extend the educational offer, which led, among other things, to changing its name from Liceo Industrial to Liceo Politécnico Pitrufquén, a name that it maintains until today.
In 1991, the Liceo Politécnico began to be administered by a majority group of teachers who had fulfilled pedagogical functions in it for many years. The establishment, currently in charge of the company name Sociedad Educacional Pitrufquén Ltda. and with its motto "An Alternative with a Future" has raised its enrollment to more than 700 students distributed in 18 courses to which Professional Technical Education is taught in the following specialties: Automotive Mechanics, Electronics, Accounting and Patient Care.
Science and Humanities High School
More than 50 years ago, a group of teachers, with the support of parents and guardians, promoted the project of a public high school in Pitrufquén. The objective was to allow hundreds of young people from our community, who did not have the means to study abroad, to continue their secondary studies in our city.
This is how professors Absalón Henríquez Cartes, Hugo Morales Pardo and Enrique Tenorio Fuentes took the first steps in this chimera with two modest courses: the first and second years as annexes to School No. 1 whose director was Mr Arturo Lopez.
In 1962, on a site donated by the Municipality of Pitrufquén, the construction of the Pitrufquen high school building began. Numerous social and cultural activities were organized in Pitrufquen to raise resources dedicated to this construction. Once completed, the premises were donated to the state, which transformed it into a public establishment. Gradually higher courses were added and in December 1965 the first generation of high school graduated. Since then, thousands of other students have walked out of these classrooms.
This work of collective interest, product of the efforts of the professors and numerous citizens of Pitrufquén, has obtained high results at the national level in the university selection test in recent years.
Economy
In 2018, the number of companies registered in Pitrufquén was 312. The Economic Complexity Index (ECI) in the same year was 0.05, while the economic activities with the highest Revealed Comparative Advantage index (RCA) were Maintenance and Repair of Motor Vehicles (71.1), Oat Cultivation (70.51) and Demolition Services and the Demolition of Buildings and Other Structures (47.88).
Industry
The oldest industry, and one that has gone through different stages of administration and improvement, is the former company Leche Sur; the one that has gone through different administrations, such as Nestlé and Lácteos Surlat. Currently, this dairy supply company is under the domain of Surlat Industrial, supplying dairy products to the national market.
The wood industry is led by the company Molco S.A., located at the southern exit of Pitrufquén; Counting on years of experience in the elaboration and processing of noble woods for the manufacture of highly demanded products in Chile and other countries, such as floors, doors, furniture, among others. Also, other large barracks, both outside and within the city, are dedicated to the manufacture of wood and furniture.
Volunteer services
Pitrufquén Fire Department
The First Fire Company of Pitrufquén was founded on September 10, 1911, after the fire that destroyed the old company CRAV. The first cadets, coordinated with the residents of the sector, thus acquired buckets, shovels, hooks and inch and a half hoses. Two years later, wells were built in the streets to put out the fires, since the private wells could no longer cope. Shortly after, the fire station began to carry out activities for benefit, and over the years, it was able to acquire a car, which had to be driven by force six of its cadets. Currently, this car is preserved as a relic on the front of the Fire Station. Later, on December 27, 1937, the Second Company was created; on December 24, 1954, the Third Company; and in 1982, the Fourth Company of Faja Maisan made its debut. Currently, Pitrufquén has seven fire companies, being one of the communes with the most companies in the Region.
Culture
International Jazz Festival
Rock Pitrufquén Island
Annual and free musical event that has been taking place since 2015, in the Municipal Island on the banks of the Toltén River. In its years of realization, it has brought together numerous spectators, who have enjoyed the presentations of outstanding national musical groups, at the same time that it has become a propitious space for emerging bands. The event, which started in 2015 with its first version, has managed to establish itself as one of the most important regionally for the rock, punk, ska and metal genres. In February 2020, its sixth version was developed. Its main motive is the defense of the Toltén River, in the face of what was the failed construction of the Los Aromos Hydroelectric Power Plant, an investment project that was finally rejected by the Araucanía Regional Environmental Commission in 2019.
In the field of plastic arts, Pitrufquén has an organization of painters called Oleos del Toltén, which to date has held several exhibitions inside and outside the commune.[citation required]
Sports
Football
The Pitrufquén soccer team participated in the 1959 Chile Cup.
Notable personalities
- Arcadio Escobar Zapata (1912-1988?): Lawyer, director of the Technical Pedagogical Institute (1970-1972), emeritus professor at the State Technical University.
- Lautaro Labbé (1930-2014): Escultor, director of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Santiago (1972-1973).
- Gaston Lobos (1926-1973): Accountant and politician.
- Pedro Larrondo Jara (1927-2007): Marine and political.
- Carlos Bongcam Wyss (1934-2007): Writer.
- Horacio Saavedra (1946): Composer, conductor and musician.
- Marcelo Calfuquir Henríquez (1950): Engineer, economist, former UN assassin in Geneva.
Media
Radio stations
- FM
- 90.7 MHz - FM Gente
- 94.7 MHz - Universal Radio