Vilcún, Administrative commune in Cautín Province, Chile
Vilcún is a commune in Cautín Province, set in the Araucanía Region with a mix of farmland and woodland across rolling terrain. The place consists of a town center and vast countryside areas that together form a small regional community.
Vilcún was established as an independent commune on October 18, 1926, marking the start of its administrative development within Cautín Province. Its creation was part of broader regional reorganization efforts in the Araucanía area during that era.
The name Vilcún comes from Mapudungun, the language of the indigenous Mapuche people, meaning lizard in their native tongue. This heritage remains visible today in local traditions and the way the community connects with the surrounding land.
The town sits roughly 40 kilometers from Temuco and connects with neighboring communities via a main road through the town center. Municipal services and basic facilities are located near the central area for easy access.
The territory is split between roughly 13,500 rural inhabitants and some 9,000 living in the town center, creating a fairly balanced split between countryside and urban residents. This particular division shapes how the local economy functions, drawing on both farming and town-based activities.
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