{{short description|City in Chile}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}} {{for|the moth genus|Talca (moth)}} {{Infobox settlement | official_name = Talca | native_name = | image_skyline = Montaje de Talca.jpg | imagesize = 250px | image_caption = '''1º row:''' Andes mountains in Talca. '''2º row:''' (left) Town square of Talca, (centre-top) Catholic University of the Maule, (centre-down) Ancient Library of the University of Talca, (right) architectural contrasts. '''3º row:''' Old Intendancy of Maule, statue of Bernardo O'Higgins, BCI Bank. '''4º row:''' 1 Norte street, St. Augustine Cathedral, and 1 Sur street. '''5º row:''' Nocturnal cityscape of Talca. | image_flag = | flag_alt = Flag | image_shield = Escudo de Talca.svg | shield_alt = Coat of arms | image_map = Comuna de Talca.svg | map_caption = Location of Talca commune in Maule Region | map_alt = Location of Talca commune in Maule Region | pushpin_map = Chile | pushpin_map_narrow = yes | pushpin_label_position = bottom | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Chile | coor_pinpoint = | coordinate_footnotes = | subdivision_type = Region | subdivision_name = Maule Region | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Talca Province | government_footnotes = <ref name="Official">{{Cite web |url=http://www.talca.cl/ |title=Municipality of Talca |access-date=January 22, 2010 |language=es}}</ref><ref name="Munitel">{{cite web |url=http://www.munitel.cl/ |title=Asociación Chilena de Municipalidades|access-date=January 22, 2010 |language=es|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110419202659/http://www.munitel.cl/|archive-date=April 19, 2011}}</ref> | government_type = Municipality | leader_title = Alcalde | leader_name = Juan Carlos Díaz Avendaño | established_title = Founded | established_date = May 12, 1742 | unit_pref = Metric | area_footnotes = <ref name="INE-old">{{cite web |url=http://www.ine.cl/canales/chile_estadistico/censos_poblacion_vivienda/censo_pobl_vivi.php |title=National Statistics Institute |access-date=July 28, 2010 |language=es}}</ref> | area_total_km2 = 231.5 | population_as_of = 2024 | population_note = | settlement_type = City and Commune | population_total = 232131 | population_footnotes = <ref name="INE">[https://www.bcn.cl/siit/reportescomunales/reporpdf.html?anno=2021&idcom=7101]</ref> | population_demonym = Talquino | population_blank1_title = Urban | population_blank1 = | population_blank2_title = Rural | population_blank2 = | demographics_type1 = Sex | population_density_km2 = auto | demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="INE"/> | demographics1_title1 = Men | demographics1_info1 = 111,796 | demographics1_title2 = Women | demographics1_info2 = 121,543 | timezone = CLT | utc_offset = −4 | timezone_DST = CLST | utc_offset_DST = −3 | coordinates = {{coord|35|25|37|S|71|39|56|W|region:CL-ML|display=inline,title}} | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = 3460000 | area_code_type = | area_code = 56 (country) + 712 (Talca Province) | elevation_m = 102 | blank_name = Climate | blank_info = Csb | website = {{url|talca.cl/}} {{in lang|es}} | footnotes = }}
'''Talca''' ({{IPA|es|ˈtalka}}) is a city and commune in Chile located about {{convert|255|km|0|abbr=on}} south of Santiago, and is the capital of both Talca Province and Maule Region (7th Region of Chile). As of the 2012 census, the city had a population of 201,142.
The city is an important economic center, with agricultural (wheat) and manufacturing activities, as well as wine production. It is also the location of the Universidad de Talca and the Catholic University of Maule, among others. The Catholic Church of Talca has held a prominent role in the history of Chile.
==Demographics== According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Talca spans an area of {{convert|231.5|sqkm|0|abbr=on}} and had, in that year, 201,797 inhabitants. Of these, in 2002, 193,755 (96%) lived in urban areas and 8,042 (4%) in rural areas.<ref name= "INE-old"/> The city had about 233,339 inhabitants (111,796 men and 121,543 women), according to the 2015 census. The population grew by 15.63% (31,542 persons) between the 2002 and 2015 censuses.<ref name= "INE"/>
==History== {{main|Founding of Talca}}
The city was founded in 1692 by Tomás Marín de Poveda and refounded as '''Villa San Agustín de Talca''' in 1742 by José Antonio Manso de Velasco.<ref name="utalca">{{cite web |url=http://www.utalca.cl/english/htm/location/region.htm |title=Maule Region |access-date=July 30, 2008 |publisher=Universidad de Talca |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080314030726/http://www.utalca.cl/english/htm/location/region.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = March 14, 2008}}</ref>
The city played a role in Chile's independence. For example, the siege of Talca took place there on March 4, 1814, and the Battle of Cancha Rayada on March 29 and the Second battle of Cancha Rayada, on March 16. 1818. Also, on February 12, 1818, Bernardo O'Higgins signed the Chilean declaration of independence.<ref name="utalca"/>
Talca Province was founded in 1833. This ended the dependency of Colchagua Province. Also, Talca was a focus of insurrection during the revolutions of 1851 and 1859.
Talca was partially destroyed by the 1928 Talca earthquake and the 2010 Chile earthquake, being rebuilt both times. It sits near the epicenter of the 2010 8.8 magnitude earthquake and suffered severe shaking<ref>[https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/dyfi/events/us/2010tfan/us/index.html Intensity of shaking in cities around the 2010 Chilean earthquake from USGS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113092429/http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/dyfi/events/us/2010tfan/us/index.html |date=January 13, 2016 }}</ref> causing the collapse of much of the historic town centre.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/8540473.stm Images of earthquake including collapse of Talca historic centre]</ref>
==Administration== thumb|left|150px|Municipal building of Talca As a commune, Talca is a third-level administrative division of Chile administered by a municipal council, headed by an alcalde who is directly elected every four years. The 2008–2012 alcalde is Juan Castro Prieto (Independent Democratic Union, centre-right).<ref name="Official"/><ref name="Munitel" />
Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Talca is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Sergio Aguiló (PS) and Germán Verdugo (RN) as part of the 37th electoral district, which consists entirely of the Talca commune. The commune is represented in the Senate by Juan Antonio Coloma Correa (UDI) and Andrés Zaldívar Larraín (PDC) as part of the 10th senatorial constituency (Maule-North).
== Economy == === Primary sector === The region’s natural resource base is diverse, but agriculture plays a fundamental role in Talca’s economy. Currently, common crops include vegetables, fruit, and cereals, cultivated in rural sectors of the commune such as Huilquilemu, Lircay, El Oriente, Victoria, Aurora, and Panguilemo, among others. However, it is the vineyards that hold particular importance, as the Maule Valley—whose main city is Talca—is the largest wine-producing area in Chile, accounting for about 45% of the national total. Livestock farming (mainly pigs and poultry) is also significant, as it supports major industries in the region. Mining, once represented by the El Chivato (gold) deposit, is currently inactive. === Secondary and tertiary sectors === Talca is the main industrial center of the region and the Central Valley. It hosts industries primarily focused on processing the area’s agricultural resources. Prominent sectors include paper, wood, plastics, and metallurgy industries, as well as canning, milling, food, and beverage production—for example, Calaf—and meat and sausage processing (especially beef, pork, and poultry), with Productos Fernández standing out. The wine industry is also notable. The arrival of immigrant entrepreneurs (Spanish, Arab, Italian, and German) was crucial in strengthening local manufacturing and trade. Additionally, hydroelectric development in the province of Talca further boosted industrial activity, particularly through the Colbún-Machicura power plant, built in the 1980s. However, several major earthquakes (1928, 1939, and 1960) and the excessive political and economic centralization of Chile around Santiago have hindered Talca’s industrial growth, especially since the second half of the 20th century. The city is an important commercial and service hub. Its main commercial artery is 1 Sur Street, where, along with 1 Norte Street, most banks, financial institutions, retail stores, and major department stores are located. Talca also has three shopping centers (malls) located in different areas of the city:
*Plaza Maule: located in the eastern sector, it has undergone several façade changes and expansions. Its name bears no relation to the Santiago-based Mallplaza chain. *Portal Centro: located in the city center, it also houses a clinic on its upper floors. *Go Florida: located in the southwestern area, designed as an outlet-type shopping space.
In 2018, the number of registered companies in Talca was 6,724.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=8 September 2020 |archive-date=28 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128011834/https://adalytics.cl/geo/7/71/7101 |title=ADALYTICS |url=https://adalytics.cl/geo/7/71/7101 |website=adalytics.cl}}<!-- auto-translated from Spanish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> The Economic Complexity Index (ECI) for the same year was 2.21, while the economic activities with the highest Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) index were Glass Recycling (133.98), Uranium and Thorium Mining (133.98), and Forest Fire Control Services (65.89).
== International Relations == The city of Talca hosts a series of international relations institutions, such as the Regional Unit for International Affairs (URAI) of the Regional Government of Maule, which is responsible for analyzing and managing the region’s bilateral and multilateral relations with Latin America and the rest of the world; the Regional Unit for Investment Promotion and Attraction; the Regional Office of the National Migration Service; the Regional Office of the General Directorate for Export Promotion (ProChile); the Department of Migration and International Police of the Investigations Police; and the Migrant Office of the Municipality of Talca.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2025-02-21 |title=Oficina Migrante Adheridas al Sello Migrante |url=https://geonodo.ide.subdere.gov.cl/R00/map/502?zoom=4.546135420056858¢er=-5999233.776175784,-4241234.315908879 |website=geonodo.ide.subdere.gov.cl}}<!-- auto-translated from Spanish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
=== Internationalization in Higher Education === In the field of international relations and higher education, the main actors in Talca are the Office of International Relations of the University of Talca<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2025-02-21 |title=Relaciones Internacionales - Universidad de Talca |url=https://rrii.utalca.cl/index.html |website=rrii.utalca.cl}}<!-- auto-translated from Spanish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> and the Office of National and International Relations of the Catholic University of Maule.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2025-02-21 |language=es |title=Dirección de Relaciones Nacionales e Internacionales |url=https://portal.ucm.cl/oficina-relaciones-internacionales |website=Universidad Católica del Maule}}<!-- auto-translated from Spanish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> Although to a lesser extent, student mobility is also promoted through the International Experience Program of the Santo Tomás University<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2025-10-13 |language=es-CL |title=Relaciones Internacionales |url=https://www.ust.cl/relaciones-internacionales/acerca-de/ |website=Universidad Santo Tomás}}<!-- auto-translated from Spanish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> and the Office of International Relations of the Autonomous University,<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2025-10-13 |date=2023-07-09 |language=es |title=Internacional |url=https://www.uautonoma.cl/internacional/ |website=Universidad Autónoma de Chile}}<!-- auto-translated from Spanish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> as well as by technical training centers such as the San Agustín Technical Training Center (CFT San Agustín).<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2025-10-13 |language=es |title=Modelo de Vinculación con el Medio – CFT San Agustín |url=https://www.cftsanagustin.cl/vcm/modelo/}}<!-- auto-translated from Spanish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
=== Consulates ===
*{{AUT}} (Honorary Consulate) *{{ESP}} (Honorary Consulate) *{{MAR}} (Honorary Consulate) *{{IDN}} (Honorary Consulate) *{{ITA}} (Honorary Vice Consulate)
==Geography== The commune of Talca spans an area of {{convert|231.5|sqkm|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="INE-old"/> The city of Talca is located {{convert|250|km|0|abbr=on}} south of Santiago,<ref name="utalca"/> south of the confluence of the rivers Lircay and Claro, in the Central Valley. The city is bisected by the Pan-American Highway.
===Climate=== Talca has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csb) with dry summers and wet winters, though it is hotter in summer and cooler in winter than coastal cities like Valparaíso and Concepción. {{Weather box |width = auto |location = Talca (1976–2005) |metric first = Yes |single line = Yes |Jan high C = 30.3 |Feb high C = 29.5 |Mar high C = 26.8 |Apr high C = 21.5 |May high C = 16.4 |Jun high C = 13.4 |Jul high C = 13.1 |Aug high C = 15.3 |Sep high C = 18.1 |Oct high C = 21.6 |Nov high C = 25.4 |Dec high C = 28.7 |year high C = 21.7 |Jan mean C = 21.2 |Feb mean C = 20.3 |Mar mean C = 17.4 |Apr mean C = 13.4 |May mean C = 10.5 |Jun mean C = 8.7 |Jul mean C = 7.9 |Aug mean C = 9.1 |Sep mean C = 11.3 |Oct mean C = 14.1 |Nov mean C = 17.1 |Dec mean C = 20.1 |year mean C = 14.2 |Jan low C = 12.4 |Feb low C = 11.9 |Mar low C = 9.8 |Apr low C = 7.5 |May low C = 6.3 |Jun low C = 5.1 |Jul low C = 4.2 |Aug low C = 4.5 |Sep low C = 5.8 |Oct low C = 7.6 |Nov low C = 9.6 |Dec low C = 11.9 |year low C = 8.1 |rain colour = green |Jan rain mm = 4.0 |Feb rain mm = 3.9 |Mar rain mm = 13.3 |Apr rain mm = 33.8 |May rain mm = 115.8 |Jun rain mm = 146.2 |Jul rain mm = 155.1 |Aug rain mm = 85.9 |Sep rain mm = 53.1 |Oct rain mm = 34.3 |Nov rain mm = 19.4 |Dec rain mm = 11.5 |year rain mm = 676.2 |Jan humidity = 58.2 |Feb humidity = 62.7 |Mar humidity = 69.4 |Apr humidity = 78.1 |May humidity = 86.9 |Jun humidity = 89.5 |Jul humidity = 88.7 |Aug humidity = 85.0 |Sep humidity = 79.2 |Oct humidity = 72.7 |Nov humidity = 64.1 |Dec humidity = 58.9 |year humidity = 74.4 |Jan sun = 359.6 |Feb sun = 288.2 |Mar sun = 263.5 |Apr sun = 168.0 |May sun = 105.4 |Jun sun = 75.0 |Jul sun = 93.0 |Aug sun = 145.7 |Sep sun = 183.0 |Oct sun = 248.0 |Nov sun = 300.0 |Dec sun = 337.9 |year sun = |source 1 = University de Talca<ref name="climate">{{cite web |publisher=University of Talca |url=http://www.citrautalca.cl/html/agroclimatologia/resumen_datos_meteorologicos_talca.html |title=Resumen de datos meteorológicos de Talca |language=es| access-date = November 21, 2014}}</ref> |date=May 2012 }}
==Transportation== Talca has a public bus system managed by the municipal Department of Transportation.<ref name="Official"/> The routes are tracked through Moovit.<ref name="Moovit">{{Cite web |url=https://moovitapp.com/index/es-419/transporte_p%C3%BAblico-Talca-Talca-site_14546957-3809 |title=¿Cómo llegar en Autobús a Talca? |access-date=June 6, 2022 |language=es}}</ref>
==Gallery== <gallery> Image:Talca plaza.JPG|A garden pavilion in Plaza de Armas (Armas Square) Image:Talca Museo.JPG|O'Higginian Historical Museum (Museo Histórico O'Higginiano) Image:Talca 1 sur.jpg|Calle Sur de Talca (Talca Southern Street) Image:28quake.jpg|Aftermath in damage at Talca Cathedral, by 1928 Talca earthquake </gallery>
==See also== *Agustín Abarca *Maule River *Descabezado Grande *Radal Siete Tazas National Reserve *Altos de Lircay National Reserve * Juan Albano Pereira Márquez * Carolina Huidobro
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons+cat|Talca}} * {{in lang|es}} [http://www.talca.cl/ Municipality of Talca] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20091021073508/http://betweencreation.com/art/urban-umbrella/ '''Urban Umbrella''' Architectural Exhibition] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070115215317/http://www.talcaurbano.cl/ Talca's Gate] * [http://www.elamaule.cl El aMaule] * [http://www.diariolaprensa.cl La Prensa] * [http://www.diarioelcentro.cl/ El Centro] * [http://www.delmaule.cl/ WWW.DELMAULE.CL]
{{Cities_in the_Maule_Region}} {{Communes in Maule Region}} {{Large cities of Chile}}
{{Authority control}}
. Category:Communes of Chile Category:Capitals of Chilean regions Category:Capitals of Chilean provinces Category:Populated places established in 1742 Category:1740s establishments in the Captaincy General of Chile Category:1740s establishments in the Viceroyalty of Peru Category:1742 establishments in the Spanish Empire