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'Concepción'

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City motto: ''"La Capital del Sur de Chile" ''The Capital of the South of Chile'' Also called ''"Biobío's Pearl"''
'Founded'	October 5, 1550
'Original name'	La Concepción de María Purísima del Nuevo Extremo
'Region'	Biobío Region
'Area'  - City Proper	222 km²
'Population'  - City (2005)  - Density (city proper)	212,003 Inhabitants 955 /km²
'Time zone'	Santiago Time Zone, UTC- 4
'Telephone prefix'	41
'Postal code'	3349001
'Gentilic'	Penquista
'Day'	October 5
'Mayor'	Jacqueline van Rysselberghe (UDI) (2000-2008)
'Official site'	http://www.concepcion.cl
The map of the Concepción in the Biobío Region.

'Concepción' is a city in Chile, capital of Concepción Province and of the Biobío Region. Gran Concepción (''Greater Concepción'', including Talcahuano, San Pedro de La Paz, Hualpén, Chiguayante and Penco) is the second-largest conurbation in the country, with 666,381 inhabitants (2002 census), but it is even more if you consider the entire conurbation, being the second most importan city-conurbation in Chile. Individually, it is the 11th largest comune in the country, with a population of 212,003.

Contents

History

Cultural life

Sports

Gallery

External links

History

Concepción was founded by Pedro de Valdivia in 1550 north of the Biobío River, at the site which is today known as Penco. At that time it was given the name ''Concepción 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.
Concepción was the home of the Real Audiencia, the most important government organization during Spanish colonial times. When the First National Government Board met in Santiago on September 18, 1810, citizens of Concepción 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. Concepción 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 Concepción further from the sea to its present location in the Mocha Valley. The new site for the city of Concepción became the head city of the Intendancy of Concepción, whose jurisdiction extended from the river Maule to La Frontera. The first Intendant of Concepción was the Irishman Ambrosio O'Higgins, Marquis of Osorno, who later became Governor of Chile and Viceroy of Perú. 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 Concepción, 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 Concepción is the second largest city of the country. The Universidad de Concepción, 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 Concepción and the nearby city of Penco. Due to the previous location of Concepción being where Penco currently stands, inhabitants of Concepción are called ''penquistas'' while inhabitants of Penco are known as ''pencones''.
Concepción is one of the most active cities in rock music activities. Many famous rock groups in Chile started up in Concepción.
Concepción has the second largest concentration of universities in Chile, and is home to three major universities. Concepción currently has four traditional universities:

★ Universidad de Concepción

★ Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción

★ Universidad Técnica Federico Santa Maria

★ Universidad del Biobío

Sports

Concepción is home of five professional Football teams:

★ Universidad de Concepción, currently in the Chilean top division.

★ Arturo Fernández Vial, currently in the Chilean second division.

★ Deportes Concepción, currently in the top division.

★ Lota Schwager, currently in the top division.

★ Huachipato, currently in the top division.
Basketball is also played at a high professional level. The most notable team is:

★ Universidad de Concepción, currently in Dimayor, Chilean mayor league
there are also good amateurs teams like Deportivo Alemán or Huachipato

Gallery

External links

★ Concepción municipality (in Spanish)

★ ''El Sur'', newspaper of Concepción (in Spanish)