VALPARAISO: the history and formation.

Valparaiso formed as a port for the capital city, Santiago. Throughout history, it has been the most important port in Chile, and also in the world. The port function is not only its main function, but the reason for its existence.

The independence of Chile opened the port to the world, transforming it into the first port and grand commercial center of the Pacific. With the war of independence came another function, the militaristic function. The first Chilean squadron formed here in Valparaiso, and the port attracted many sailors and foreigners and their ships.

The growth in the port, commercial and military activities walked hand in hand with the growth of the population. In 1810, Valparaiso had 5,500 habitants, and in 1822, 16,000, without counting the temporary population of about 3,000 foreign and Chilean sailors. After the earthquake of 1822, there was a rennovation of the colonial buildings, and the English played an important role in constructing more solid buildings.

In 1827, Valparaiso had 20,000 habitants that grouped together in the plan, and very few ventured into the valleys and hills.

The English were the first foreigners to establish themselves in Chile, and they did so in Valparaiso. They dedicated themselves to the business of imports and exports, and they were the largest group of foreigners with the most economic, social and cultural impact. They were the first to occupy the hills in an organized manner, constructing their houses on Cerro Alegre (Happy Hill), which became a true English colony. This colony iniciated the spread of the city to the Almendral, part of the plan.

Throughout the years, Valparaiso became the principal commercial spot of the Pacific, and assumed the administrative functions at a regional level, creating the province of Valparaiso, now known as the Fifth Region of Chile.

The construction of the railroad to Santiago allowed Valparaiso to break its enclosure and increase relations with its region and Santiago, opening an easier way of communication and transportation.

The city, during the 19th century, became an important immigration center, especially attracting the rural community. In this time, the population began the occupation of the cities that surround the Almendral. By the year 1907, the population had reached 162,447 people.

The occupation of the hills was spontaneous and corresponds to the second part of the occupation of Valparaiso. The population had saturated the Almendral with buildings of one or two floors, commercial buildings, stores, markets, industries and services. The occupation of the hills began with the English merchants who wanted to get away from the crowded, dirty port area, and settled on Cerro Alegre.

The rural and port immigrants of minimum resources took over the occupation of the hills. They settled in the hills that surrounded the port, with different results than the habitants of Cerro Alegre, by the precarious positioning of their houses, still present, in the hills of Santo Domingo, Cordillera, San Francisco, etc.

There were two basic movements, the vertical and the horizontal. The vertical movement followed the steps that the hills presented. There is a clif that presented problems for the vertical growth, but the installation of stairs and elevators seemed to overcome this issue, and the valleys became avenues of access to the higher areas. In 1920, all the hills of the city had become occupied until the Cintura road. In some cases, the vertical motion had overcome the slopes of the hills, and extended over the high costal plains, as is the case of Playa Ancha.

The horizontal direction was from West to East, first over the plan, and then the hills. Eventually, there was a fusion between Valparaiso and Vina del Mar (sister city), with the hill Recreo.

Now, the hills are filled with houses, from rich to poor, and the city has reached a population of approximately 263,500 habitants.