Peñalolén

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

Peñalolén
City and Commune
Avenida Grecia, looking to west
Map of Peñalolén commune in Greater Santiago Peñalolén Location in Chile
Coordinates (city): 33°29′S 70°33′W
Country	Chile
Region	Santiago Metro.
Province	Santiago
Government [1] [2]
• Type	Municipality
• Alcalde	Miguel Concha Manso (FA)
Area [3]
• Total	54.2 km2 (20.9 sq mi)
Population  (2002 Census)[3]
• Total	216,060
• Density	4,000/km2 (10,000/sq mi)
• Urban	216,060
• Rural	0
Sex [3]
• Men	105,528
• Women	110,532
Time zone	UTC-4 (CLT[4])
• Summer (DST)	UTC-3 (CLST[5])
Area code	56 +
Website	Municipality of Peñalolén

Santiago Bahá'í Temple.

Peace Park Villa Grimaldi.

Las Pircas neighborhood

Municipality of Peñalolén

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.^[6]

Demographics

According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Peñalolén spans an area of 54.2 km² (21 sq mi) 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.^[3]

Statistics

• Area: 54.2 km²^[7]
• Population: 238,177 (2006 projection)^[7]
• Average annual household income: US$43,856 (PPP, 2006)^[7]
• Population below poverty line: 8.7% (2006)^[8]
• Regional quality of life index: 74.35, medium, 26 out of 52 (2005)
• Human Development Index: 0.743, 52 out of 341 (2003)^[9]

Administration

Peñalolén Coat of Arms

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 Mans (2024-)

Peñalolén is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by Jaime Pilowski (PDC) and José Antonio Kast (UDI) as part of the 24th electoral district (together with La Reina). The commune is represented in the Senate by Manuel José Ossandón (RN) and Carlos Montes (PS) as part of the 8th senatorial constituency (Santiago-East).

University

• Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez