title: Portezuelo, Chile
text: # Portezuelo, Chile
  
  Portezuelo (Spanish pronunciation:) is a Chilean town and commune located in the Itata Province, Ñuble Region.
  
  ## Demographics
  
  According to the 2002 census of the National Statistics Institute, Portezuelo spans an area of 282.3 $km^2$ (109 sq mi) and has 5,470 inhabitants (2,825 men and 2,645 women). Of these, 1,750 (32%) lived in urban areas and 3,720 (68%) in rural areas. The population fell by 8.4% (500 persons) between the 1992 and 2002 censuses.
  
  ## Localities
  
  * Quitento
  
  ## Administration
  
  As a commune, Portezuelo is a third-level administrative division of Chile administered by a communal council, headed by an alcalde who is directly elected every four years. The 2008-2012 alcalde is Modesto Sepúlveda Andrade (PDC). The communal council has the following members:
  
  * Paulina Zamudio (Ind./Pro-PDC)
  * Daniel Pastén (UDI)
  * Pedro Fernández (Ind./PDC)
  * Flavio Barrientos (Ind./RN)
  * Marcelo Cortés (PRI)
  * Melitón Aravena (PDC)
  
  Within the electoral divisions of Chile, Portezuel belongs to the 42nd electoral district and 12th senatorial constituency.
  
  