Petorca is a Chileantown and commune located in the Petorca Province, Valparaíso Region. The commune spans an area of 1,516.6 km (586 sq mi). Since 2010 Petorca has been affected by a long-term drought aggravated by poor water administration that have allowed limited water resources go to avocado plantations rather than human settlements.
Demographics
According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Petorca has 9,440 inhabitants (4,806 men and 4,634 women). Of these, 4,535 (48%) lived in urban areas and 4,905 (52%) in rural areas. The population grew by 1.8% (167 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.
Administration
As a commune, Petorca 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 2012-2016 alcalde is Gustavo Valdenegro Rubillo. The council has the following members: