page_title: Chonchi
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Chonchi / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Chonchi, on Chiloé Island, Chile Italiano: Cittadina di Chonchi, isola di Chiloé, Cile
context_page_description: Chonchi is a Chilean town and commune located in Los Lagos Region.
  The commune consists of the town of Chonchi and the following villages:
  Rauco
  Quinched
  Vilupulli
  Teupa
  Terao
  Petanes
  Notue
  Quiao
  Huillinco
  Cucao
context_section_description: Originally Chonchi was a Jesuit mission station with a school which had 150 pupils in 1755, and the town itself was founded in 1767 by order of Don Guil y Gonzaga, the Governor of Chiloé. In 1787 Chonchi had 315 inhabitants. Unification with Chile increased the economic importance of the region and promoted population growth. The 1833 census in Chonchi demonstrated that it was the most important town in south of the island. It became a parish in 1836, resuming its traditional religious significance within the area. A good anchorage made Chonchi a natural stopping place for traffic in the canals and timber exploitation transformed it into a hub for development of the region. The economic activity centred upon Chonchi reached its zenith at the beginning of the 20th century creating an opulent society with an active social circle. The influence of external ideas (Europeans) is clearly  apparent in the town.
  The pirate Pedro Ñancúpel was a native of Chonchi, being born in Terao 1837.
caption: General view of Chonchi
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