Lurigancho is a district of Lima, Peru. It is located in the valley of the Rímac River, which it shares with neighboring Chaclacayo and Ate districts. Its capital is the town of Chosica, located above sea level.
Etymology The district's official name is "Lurigancho," a name with two possible origins. It is either the changed name of a pre-Columbian culture (Ruricancho), or taken from Hurin Huancho (), a term used to describe the Huancho, an ethnic group that established a cacicazgo of the same name.
In order to distinguish it from San Juan de Lurigancho, a district that separated from Lurigancho District in 1967, it is commonly known as Lurigancho-Chosica, or simply as Chosica, after the populated centre of the same name. The district's official name has often caused confusion between both districts, leading to the prevalence of its unofficial names.
History The district was created on January 2, 1857,Alberto Tauro del Pino, Enciclopedia Ilustrada del Perú, vol. X, p. 1534. with the town of Lurigancho (in the current San Juan de Lurigancho district, split off in 1967) as its capital. It had a population of 1248 inhabitants, most of them dedicated to agricultural activities, according to the census of 1876.
Politics Its capital, Chosica, is located in the extreme east of the district, near the border with the Province of Huarochirí.
Subdivisions Lurigancho has one minor populated centre inside the urban core of Lima, which is Santa María de Huachipa which is located in the extreme west of the district and adjacent to San Juan de Lurigancho. Other notable urban areas in this zone are Jicamarca and Cajamarquilla, where one of the principal zinc refineries of the country is located. In the mountain zone in proximity to the refinery is located the Jicamarca Radio Observatory.
Geography Boundaries North: Huarochirí Province in the Lima Region East: Huarochirí Province South: Chaclacayo, Ate and El Agustino West: San Juan de Lurigancho
Climate
Demographics According to a 2002 estimate by the INEI, the district has 125,088 inhabitants and a population density of 529 persons/km². In 1999, there were 32,327 households in the district.
Culture Education
Colegio Peruano-Alemán Beata Imelda, a German school, is in the district."Colegio Peruano-Alemán "Beata Imelda", Lima." ZfA. Retrieved on March 21, 2016.
Colegio Santa Rosa de Chosica, private, Catholic School.
Colegio 0058 Cusco
See also Administrative divisions of Peru
Notes
References
External links Official municipal website (www.munichosica.pe) chosica.com – Portal of the town of Chosica