Providencia, Chile

Providencia (Spanish pronunciation: [pɾoβiˈðensja], Spanish: "providence") is a commune of Chile located in Santiago City. It is bordered by the communes of Santiago to the west, Recoleta to the northwest, Las Condes and Vitacura to the northeast, La Reina to the east, and Ñuñoa to the south. It belongs to the Northeastern zone of Santiago de Chile.

Providencia
Commune
Mapocho River in Providencia
Coat of arms Map of Providencia commune within Greater Santiago Providencia Location in Chile
Coordinates (city): 33°26′S 70°37′W
Country	Chile
Region	Santiago Metropolitan Region
Province	Santiago
Seat	25 February 1897
Government [1] [2]
• Type	Municipality
• Alcalde	Jaime Bellolio (UDI)
Area [3]
• Total	14.4 km2 (5.6 sq mi)
Population  (2017 Census)[3]
• Total	142,079
• Density	9,900/km2 (26,000/sq mi)
• Urban	142,079
• Rural	0
Sex [3]
• Men	65,710
• Women	76,369
Time zone	UTC-4 (CLT[4])
• Summer (DST)	UTC-3 (CLST[5])
Postal Code	7500000
Area code	56 +
Website	Municipality of Providencia

Gran Torre Costanera

Palacio Falabella, city hall.

Providencia is home to a large upper-middle to upper-class population and it holds the region's highest percentage of population over 60 (22%). It contains many high-rise apartment buildings as well as a significant portion of Santiago's commerce. It is notable for its large, old, and elegant houses, once inhabited by the Santiago elite and now mostly used as offices. The municipality is also home to many embassies, including Canada, Poland, Hungary, Italy, France, Egypt, Russia, Japan, China, and Uruguay. Providencia has one of the highest human development indexes of any city in Latin America.

Demographics

Aviation Fountain, Providencia Square

According to the 2017 census of the National Statistics Institute, Providencia spans an area of 14.4 km² (6 sq mi) and has 142,079 inhabitants (65,710 men and 76,369 women), and the commune is an entirely urban area. The population grew by 17.54% (21,205 persons) between the 2002 and 2017 censuses.^[3]

Indicators

• Area: 14.4 km^2[6]
• Population: 126,436 (2009 projection)^{[6][dead link]}
• Average annual household income: US$53,767 (PPP, 2006)^{[6][dead link]}
• Population below poverty line: 3.5% (2006)^[7]
• Regional quality of life index: 83.01, high, 5 out of 52 (2005)^{[citation needed]}
• Human Development Index: 0.911, 4 out of 341 (2003)^[8]

Notable residents

• Patricio Aylwin, former president
• Ricardo Lagos, former president
• Gabriel Valdés, former senator

Administration

As a commune, Providencia 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 current alcalde is Jaime Bellolio Avaria (UDI). The communal council has the following members:

• María Eugenia Pino García (FA)
• Cristóbal Lagos González (FA)
• Isabel Labbé Martínez (UDI)
• María Carolina Plaza Guzmán (Ind/UDI)
• Valentina Alarcón Chávez (Evópoli)
• María Fernanda Maquieira Borgoño (RN)
• Mauricio Labbé Barría (RN)
• María Antonieta Saa Díaz (PPD)
• Rodrigo Valenzuela Báez (REP)
• Solange Wolleter Dávila (REP)

Providencia belongs to Electoral District No. 10, with Santiago, Ñuñoa, La Granja, Macul and San Joaquín, and to the 7th (Senatorial) District (Santiago Metropolitan Region). It is represented in the Chamber of Deputies of the National Congress by the deputies Gonzalo Winter (CS), Jorge Alessandri Vergara (UDI), Johannes Kaiser (REP), María Luisa Cordero (IND), Lorena Fries (IND), Helia Molina (PPD), Alejandra Placencia (PC) and Emilia Schneider (COM).

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has its headquarters in Providencia.^[9]

Landmarks

Providencia is home to Barrio Bellavista, a bohemian neighborhood known for its vibrant community of artists and performers. Barrio Bellavista lies in the shadow of Cerro San Cristóbal, a prominent hill in the city topped by a 22m statue of The Virgin Mary. The northern part of Providencia serves as its financial and commercial hub, centered around Providencia and Nueva Providencia (formerly 11 de Septiembre) avenues, while the rest of the commune features high-end residential developments.

Other notable areas of interest in Providencia include the Metropolitan Zoo; the Teleférico, an aerial gondola that transports passengers from Pedro de Valdivia Norte Street to the top of Cerro San Cristóbal; and the headquarters of several television networks and Radio Cooperativa.