Puerto Montt: History

Pre-20th-Century History

As the Spanish conquistadors pushed their way south from present-day Santiago, they were motivated by stories of precious metals and the possibility of a large, docile indigenous work force. The land of La Araucanía and the Lakes District would be the ideal territory to continue the imperial dream. Or maybe not. The Mapuche waged one of the fiercest and most successful defenses against the European invaders anywhere in the Americas, and the Spanish were not able to settle south of the Biobío River until the mid to late 19th century.

Around 1848, Germans were recruited by the Chilean government to settle the Lakes District, leaving their mark on architecture, food, manufacturing and dairy farming. Puerto Montt was founded by the German settlers in 1851 and named after then Chilean president Manuel Montt.

Modern History

Throughout the 20th century, the port city grew rapidly as the administrative center of the new territory. The rail line arrived from Santiago in 1912, creating a transport link from the capital to Chiloe and the Magallanas. An earthquake caused destruction in the city in 1960, but it was quickly rebuilt. Puerto Montt is also remembered for a 1969 'massacre' in which a group of landless squatters were forced off vacant farmland under orders from the government. Their homes were burnt down and 11 were shot dead.

Recent History

Today, Puerto Montt is one of Chile's fastest growing cities, thanks mainly to the salmon industry. From the mid-1980s, salmon farming in submerged cages was developed on a massive scale and is now one of Chile's top five exports. Puerto Montt is the epicenter of the farming and export industry, which directly employs some 30,000 people and is estimated to indirectly employ another 15,000 Chileans. Billions of dollars in investment are pushing farming operations further south into Patagonia, and the industry is expected to grow by 50% over the next decade, overtaking Norway.

Tourism is also an explosive industry in this part of Chile and, although not a tourist town, Puerto Montt is an important link between the Lakes District, Chiloe and Patagonia.

Back to top ^