thumb|[[Santiago Bahá'í Temple.]]

thumb|Peace Park [[Villa Grimaldi.]]

thumb|Las Pircas neighborhood

thumb|Municipality of Peñalolén

Peñalolén (Mapudungun "fraternal meeting place") is a Chilean commune in Santiago Province, Santiago Metropolitan Region. It was founded on 15 November 1984.

It is one of the most segregated areas of Santiago with Pre-Cordillera areas such as Las Pircas, Casablanca, and Penalolen Alto having a large upper-middle to high income population similar to Las Condes or Vitacura. While the lower areas are more working-class.

History

The commune was founded on 15 November 1984. In 2019, Chilean police arrested a local family, accusing them of drug trafficking. The Peñalolén organization was reported to be one of the largest in the Santiago area, operating throughout the city.

Demographics

According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Peñalolén spans an area of and has 216,060 inhabitants (105,528 men and 110,532 women), and the commune is an entirely urban area. The population grew by 20.2% (36,279 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.

  • Population: 238,177 (2006 projection)
  • Regional quality of life index: 74.35, medium, 26 out of 52 (2005)
  • Human Development Index: 0.743, 52 out of 341 (2003)

Administration

thumb|Peñalolén Coat of Arms|235x235px

As a commune, Peñalolén is a third-level administrative division of Chile administered by a municipal council, headed by an alcalde (mayor) who is directly elected every four years. The 2024-2028 alcalde is Miguel Concha Manso (FA). The communal council has the following members:

  • Sebastián Villouta Seguel (REP)
  • Valentina Escobar Petit (REP)
  • Ignacio Sánchez Pino (RN)
  • Carla Caro Figueroa (RN)
  • Begoña Torres Kurth (UDI)
  • Cristián Jofré Delgado (PPD)
  • Iván Tapia Peñaloza (FA)
  • Daniela López Awad (FA)
  • Claudio Hernández Olivares (PH)
  • Juan Cantuarias Cantuarias (PS)

Mayors

Since 1984, Peñalolén has had six mayors:

  • María Angélica Cristi (1984–1989, appointed by Pinochet)
  • Carlos Alarcón (1989–1993, appointed by Aylwin)
  • Carlos Echeverría (1993–1996)
  • Carlos Alarcón (1997–2004)
  • Claudio Orrego (2004-2012)
  • Carolina Leitao (2012–2024)
  • Miguel Concha Manso (2024-)

Parliamentary representation

Peñalolén belongs to Electoral District No. 11 together with the communes of Lo Barnechea, Las Condes, La Reina and Vitacura and to the VII Senatorial Circunscription (Santiago Metropolitan Region).

It is represented in the Chamber of Deputies of the National Congress for the period 2022-2026 by the following deputies:

  • Guillermo Ramírez Diez (UDI)
  • Gonzalo de la Carrera Correa (IND)
  • Cristián Araya Lerdo de Tejada (REP)
  • Catalina del Real Mihovilovic (RN)
  • Francisco Undurraga Gazitúa (EVO)
  • Tomás Hirsch Goldschmidt (Humanist Action)

In the Senate is represented for the period 2022-2030 by the following senators:

  • Fabiola Campillai (IND)
  • Manuel José Ossandón (RN)
  • Rojo Edwards (IND)
  • Luciano Cruz-Coke (EVO)
  • Claudia Pascual (PCCh)

University

  • Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez

References

  • Municipality of Peñalolén