Hualqui

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Hualqui is a Chilean city and commune in the Biobio Region. It is also part of the Greater Concepcion conurbation although it mantains a rural profile. It had a population of 20,660 inhabitants in 2002 census.

Its name comes from the Moluche Aillarehue and rehue of Hualqui that existed there at the beginning of the Conquest of Chile. In 1577, the Royal Governor of Chile Rodrigo de Quiroga erected a small fort of Hualqui on the Bio Bio River 23 kilometers from the city of Concepcion and 24 kilometers to the northwest of Talcamávida at the site of the modern city and over time a small settlement grew around it. In the beginning of 1756 Governor Manuel de Amat y Juniet erected a town there, named San Juan Bautista de Gualqui. It served as capital to the Corregimiento de Puchacay and then Partido de Puchacay until 1799.