Andacollo


Andacollo is a city and commune in the Elqui Province, Coquimbo Region, Chile.

History

Andacollo is a copper and gold mining city located in the mountains of the Small North in Chile. It was founded in 1891.
Several legends are told about the name of the city. Some say that it comes from the Quechua Anta-Goya which means cobre-reina. Others say that the name means "Hurry up, Collo". According to these legends, La Virgen del Rosario, also known as la Virgen Morena, or Black Madonna, appeared to an indigenous miner called "Collo" in the form of a small wooden statuette hidden in rocks. The statue told the newly converted Collo to build up a church at the place where Andacollo is located today. As many miracles are attributed to the Dark Lady the city celebrates the Virgin every year on December 24 to 26.

Demographics

According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Andacollo had 10,288 inhabitants. Of these, 9,444 lived in urban areas and 844 in rural areas. The population fell by 16% between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.

Administration

As a commune, Andacollo is a third-level administrative division of Chile administered by a municipal council, headed by an alcalde who is directly elected every four years.
Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Andacollo is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Mr. Mario Bertolino and Marcelo Díaz as part of the 7th electoral district,. The commune is represented in the Senate by Evelyn Matthei Fornet and Jorge Pizarro Soto as part of the 4th senatorial constituency.

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