Negrete

Negrete
—  Commune  —
Commune of Negrete in the Biobío Region
Negrete Location in Chile
Coordinates: 37°35′0″S 72°32′0″W / 37.58333°S 72.53333°W / -37.58333; -72.53333
Country	Chile
Region	Biobío Region
Province	Biobío Province
Area
- Total	60.4 sq mi (156.5 km2)
Population (2002)
- Total	8,579

Negrete is a Chilean commune and town in Biobío Province, Biobío Region. According to the 2002 census, the commune population was 8,579 and has an area of 156.5 km².^[1]It is bordered by the commune of Los Ángeles to the north, Renaico to the south, Mulchén to the east and Nacimiento to the west.

The town of Negrete is located on the south shore of the Biobío River, a few km downstream of the confluence of the Biobío and Bureo rivers.

History

The town has its origins in the fort San Francisco de Borja founded near the hill Mesamávida in 1603 by Governor Alonso de Ribera. This was 10 km to the northeast of the present location of the town, near the confluence of the Bio Bio River and the Duqueco River, on the north shore of this last river. In 1613 Ribera moved to the fort to atop Mesamávida, renamed Cerro Negrete. In 1621, Pedro Osores de Ulloa rebuilt the fort and a small village began at the base of the hill. In 1757, Governor Manuel de Amat y Juniet, granted the town the title of Villa de Negrete. In 1777, a new fort San Agustín de Mesamávida was built on the Cerro Negrete by Ambrosio O' Higgins by order of Governor Agustín de Jáuregui.

In March 1793 the plains nearby were the location of the Parliament of Negrete where peace was agreed between the Spanish Empire and the Mapuche. It was again destroyed by the Mapuche in 1859. It was not rebuilt until 1861 when a new strong fort was built near the present location of the town.^[2]

References

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Coordinates: 37°35′0″S 72°32′0″W / 37.58333°S 72.53333°W / -37.58333; -72.53333