Concepción

**Concepción** is the second city in importance of the Republic of Chile with 889,725 inhabitants (2002 census).

## History

Concepción was founded by Pedro de Valdivia in 1550 north of the Bío-Bío 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 Concepción was just a few kilometers north of **La Frontera** (The Frontier), the boundary between Spanish territory and the land of the Mapuche, an American Indian ethnic group that remained independent until the 1870s. The settlement was formally recognized by the Spanish authorities as a town two years later by a royal decree. It was given a coat-of-arms that is still in use today.

Earthquakes and tsunamis, which razed the town in 1570, 1657, 1687, 1730 and 1751, led the authorities to move the town to its current site in the Valle de la Mocha, alongside the Bío-Bío River.

### February 27, 2010 earthquake

On February 27, 2010, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck the city of Concepción, killing more than 700 people and injuring thousands nationwide. Following the earthquake, geologists relying on global positioning satellite (GPS) data concluded that the city had been displaced roughly 3 meters (10 feet) to the west as a result of the event.  Fortunately, the city avoided the tsunami that followed the earthquake.

## Climate

The climate of Concepción is classified as Köppen climate classification _csb_, with a dry summer nadir in February. It has an oceanic influence which keeps temperatures mild throughout the year. Wet snows are possible in winter, but snow does not remain for long. The chart at right provides a climate summary for Concepción.

## Cultural life

To an outsider, there may be confusion between the demonyms of the inhabitants 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 Chilean rock music and many famous rock groups in Chile started up in Concepción. It 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 María
- Universidad del Bío-Bío.

## Twin towns

- La Plata, Argentina
- Monterrey, Mexico
- Auckland, New Zealand
- Bethlehem, Palestine
- Guayaquil, Ecuador
- Cuenca, Ecuador
- Cascavel, Brazil
- Minnesota, United States

## Bibliography

- Ida Stevenson Weldon Vernon (1969) _Pedro de Valdivia, Conquistador of Chile_, Greenwood Press
- John Milton Nickles, Marie Siegrist (1965) _Bibliography and Index of Geology Exclusive of North America_, Geological Society of America, v.28

## Other websites

- Concepción municipality
- _El Sur_, newspaper of Concepción
- _Viveconce_, Event schedule of Concepción
- _Octava_, Website directory
- _HelloChile - Spanish tutoring and tourism in and around the city of Concepción_, Information in English about the Chilean life and places to visit
- _Municipal Library of Concepción_
- WorldFlicks in Concepción (Chile): Photos and places on Google Maps
- _Concepción_ in the Encyclopedia Britannica

## Infobox (settlement)

- **name**: Concepción
- **other name**: La Concepción de María Purísima
del Nuevo Extremo (original name)
- **image flag**: Flag of Concepcion, Chile.svg
- **flag size**: 130px
- **flag alt**: Flag of Concepcion
- **image seal**: Coat of arms of Concepcion, Chile.svg
- **seal size**: 70px
- **seal alt**: Coat of arms
- **imagesize**: 300px
- **image caption**: Panoramic vista of Concepcion center
- **motto**: _La Capital del Sur de Chile_
The Capital of the South of Chile
- **settlement type**: List of cities in Chile, City and Communes of Chile, Commune
- **nickname**: Biobío's Pearl
- **image map**: Comuna de Concepción.svg
- **map alt**: Comuna de Concepción
- **mapsize**: 200px
- **map caption**: Location of Concepción commune in the Biobío Region
- **coor pinpoint**: alcalde's office
- **pushpin map**: Chile
- **subdivision type**: List of sovereign states, Country
- **subdivision name**: Chile
- **subdivision type1**: Regions of Chile, Region
- **subdivision name1**: Biobío Region, Biobío
- **subdivision type2**: Provinces of Chile, Province
- **subdivision name2**: Concepción Province, Chile, Concepción
- **area total km2**: 222
- **area metro footnotes**: City proper
- **population total**: 292,589
- **population as of**: 2006
- **population density km2**: 1318
- **population metro**: 1,322,581
- **population demonym**: _Penquista_
- **leader party**: Unión Demócrata Independiente, UDI
- **government type**: Municipality
- **leader title**: Alcalde
- **leader name**: Patricio Kuhn Artigues (2008-2012)
- **timezone**: Time in Chile, CLT
- **utc offset**: −4
- **timezone dst**: Time in Chile, CLST
- **utc offset dst**: −3
- **area code type**: Telephone prefix
- **area code**: 56 + 41
- **postal code type**: Post code
- **postal code**: 3349001
- **established title**: Founded
- **established date**: October 5, 1550
- **founder**: Pedro de Valdivia
- **website**: [http://www.concepcion.cl Municipality of Concepción]