# Huancavelica

> capital city of Huancavelica, Peru

**Wikidata**: [Q1000333](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1000333)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huancavelica)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/huancavelica

## Summary
Huancavelica is the capital city of both the Huancavelica Department and Huancavelica Province in Peru. Founded on August 4, 1571, as Villa Rica de Oropesa, it serves as the administrative center for the region. The city is located at an elevation of 3,676 meters in the Andean highlands.

## Key Facts
- **Inception**: Founded on August 4, 1571.
- **Administrative Role**: Capital of Huancavelica Department and Huancavelica Province.
- **Location**: Situated in Huancavelica Province, Peru, at coordinates -12.785° latitude, -74.971388888889° longitude.
- **Area**: Covers 514.10 square kilometres.
- **Elevation**: 3,676 metres above sea level.
- **Population**: 40,004 (2007 census); 49,570 (2017 census, preferred value).
- **Demonym**: huancavelicano (masculine singular).
- **Postal Codes**: 67 and 09001.
- **Alternative Names**: Historically known as Villa Rica de Oropesa; also referred to as ワンカベリカ in Japanese.
- **Global Identifiers**: Assigned GND ID 4460434-8, VIAF ID 127879678, GeoNames ID 3939470, and Freebase ID /m/055ccw.
- **Media**: Official flag and coat of arms images are documented; a panoramic city image and page banner are available.
- **Wikipedia Coverage**: Articles exist in 26 languages, including Spanish, English, Japanese, and Quechua.
- **Historical Source**: Described in the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.

## FAQs
**Where is Huancavelica located?**  
Huancavelica is in southern Peru, serving as the capital of both the Huancavelica Department and Huancavelica Province. It lies within the Huancavelica District at coordinates -12.785° S, -74.971388888889° W, at an elevation of 3,676 meters.

**When was Huancavelica founded and what was its original name?**  
The city was founded on August 4, 1571, under the name Villa Rica de Oropesa. This colonial-era founding date is well-documented in historical sources like the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.

**What is the current population of Huancavelica?**  
According to official Peruvian census data, Huancavelica had a population of 40,004 in 2007 and 49,570 in 2017. The 2017 figure is the preferred and more recent value.

**Why is Huancavelica administratively significant?**  
It holds dual capital status as the seat of government for both the Huancavelica Department (the regional level) and the Huancavelica Province (the provincial level). It is also the core of the Huancavelica District.

**What are the different names for Huancavelica?**  
Its historical Spanish name is Villa Rica de Oropesa. In Japanese, it is written as ワンカベリカ. The demonym for a male resident is huancavelicano.

**How high above sea level is Huancavelica?**  
The city sits at an elevation of 3,676 metres, placing it in the high Andean plateau region of Peru.

**What postal codes are used in Huancavelica?**  
The city uses the postal codes 67 and 09001, as listed in Peruvian postal directories.

**How widely is Huancavelica covered in online encyclopedias?**  
Huancavelica has Wikipedia articles in 26 languages, ranging from major languages like Spanish, English, and French to regional ones like Quechua and Waray. It is also listed in Encyclopædia Britannica Online.

## Why It Matters
Huancavelica is a critical administrative and historical hub in the Peruvian Andes. As the capital of both a department and a province, it concentrates governmental functions, services, and infrastructure for a large, high-altitude region. Its founding in 1571 places it among the older Spanish colonial settlements in Peru, reflecting centuries of cultural and political evolution. The city's significant population growth between 2007 and 2017 indicates ongoing urbanization and regional importance. Its high elevation and location in the Andes make it a notable example of Andean highland urbanism. Furthermore, its presence across numerous global knowledge databases (Wikidata, GeoNames, VIAF, etc.) and multiple Wikipedia editions underscores its recognized significance beyond Peru, serving as a reference point for geography, history, and cultural studies related to the Andes.

## Notable For
- **Dual Capital Status**: Uniquely serves as the capital for both its namesake department and province.
- **Colonial Foundation**: One of Peru's cities with a precisely dated 16th-century founding (1571).
- **High-Altitude Urban Center**: At 3,676 meters, it is a major city in the high Andes.
- **Historical Name**: Its original name, Villa Rica de Oropesa, reflects its Spanish colonial heritage.
- **Population Growth**: Demonstrated a 23.9% increase in population between the 2007 and 2017 censuses.
- **Multilingual Documentation**: Covered in 26 Wikipedia language editions, including indigenous languages like Quechua.
- **Distinct Identity**: Explicitly differentiated from other entities named Huancavelica in global authority files.

## Body
### History and Nomenclature
Huancavelica was formally founded on August 4, 1571, under the Spanish colonial name Villa Rica de Oropesa. This inception date is referenced in historical sources, including the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica. The city's historical significance is captured by its inclusion in that seminal publication. Its alternative name, ワンカベリカ, represents its Japanese transliteration. The term "huancavelicano" is the designated masculine singular demonym for its residents.

### Geographic and Administrative Context
The city is the capital of the Huancavelica Department and the Huancavelica Province, making it the primary administrative center for both regional and provincial governance. Geographically, it is located within the Huancavelica Province and specifically within the Huancavelica District. Its territory overlaps with the Ascensión District. The city covers a total area of 514.10 square kilometres. It is positioned at coordinates -12.785° latitude and -74.971388888889° longitude, at an elevation of 3,676 metres above sea level. The UN/LOCODE for the city is PEHUN.

### Demographics
Official Peruvian census data provides two key population figures: 40,004 residents recorded in the 2007 census and 49,570 residents recorded in the 2017 census, with the latter marked as the preferred value. This represents a notable increase over the decade.

### Cultural and Linguistic Presence
Huancavelica has a broad digital footprint across linguistic communities. Wikipedia maintains articles about the city in 26 languages, including an (Aragonese), ar (Arabic), arz (Egyptian Arabic), ay (Aymara), ca (Catalan), ceb (Cebuano), de (German), en (English), es (Spanish), fa (Persian), fi (Finnish), fr (French), it (Italian), ja (Japanese), ka (Georgian), ko (Korean), lt (Lithuanian), nl (Dutch), no (Norwegian), pl (Polish), pt (Portuguese), qu (Quechua), ru (Russian), sh (Serbo-Croatian), simple (Simple English), sv (Swedish), uk (Ukrainian), ur (Urdu), war (Waray), wuu (Wu Chinese), and zh (Chinese). This multilingual coverage highlights its international recognition.

### Visual Identity and Media
The city is represented by several official and photographic images. The panoramic cityscape is captured in the file "Panorámica_de_Huancavelica.jpg". Its official flag is depicted in "Flag_of_Huancavelica.svg", and its coat of arms is in "Escudo_de_Huancavelica.svg". A page banner image, "Huancavelica_banner.jpg", is also associated with the city, sourced from Wikivoyage.

### Global Database Identifiers and Authority Control
Huancavelica is catalogued in numerous international authority files and databases. These include:
- **GND ID**: 4460434-8 (German National Library).
- **VIAF ID**: 127879678 (Virtual International Authority File), with a record timestamp of 2015-08-06.
- **GeoNames ID**: 3939470.
- **Freebase ID**: /m/055ccw.
- **WorldCat Entities ID**: E39PBJkTdmqkPk7fWXTwxh3xXd.
- **Library of Congress Authority ID**: n83126753.
- **National Library of Israel J9U ID**: 987007555098605171.
- **National Library of Spain SPMABN ID (BNE v1.0)**: XX4575601.
- **RKD Thesaurus ID**: 60148.
- **Who's On First ID**: 421173303.
- **Yale Lux ID**: place/43c2d6ce-3898-41db-ab3a-11591d74d82a.
- **iNaturalist Place ID**: 11535.
- **Online PWN Encyclopedia ID**: 3913009.
- **Encyclopædia Britannica Online ID**: place/Huancavelica-Peru.
- **GNS Unique Feature ID**: -348528.
- **SNARC ID**: Amaurobiidae (a taxonomic identifier, likely indicating a related biological record).
- **Google Play Store ID**: Huancavelica.

### Postal and Coding Systems
The city utilizes two postal code designations: the general code "67" and the more specific code "09001", as per Peruvian postal service records.

### Classification and Relationships
The entity is explicitly classified as an instance of a *city*. It is the capital of three administrative entities: the Huancavelica Department, the Huancavelica Province, and the Huancavelica District. It is located within the Huancavelica Province and the country of Peru. The Wikidata description succinctly states its role as "capital city of Huancavelica, Peru". The entry is deliberately distinguished from other entities named Huancavelica, such as the one referenced in the Polish Wikipedia (different_from: Q1551807). Its main topic category on Wikimedia Commons is "Category:Huancavelica". The "sitelink_count" of 32 indicates the number of Wikimedia project links associated with this item.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. [Source](http://www.codigopostal.gob.pe/pages/invitado/consulta.jsf)
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. [2007 Peru Census](https://www.inei.gob.pe/media/MenuRecursivo/publicaciones_digitales/Est/Lib1539/libro.pdf)
5. [2017 Peru Census](https://www.inei.gob.pe/media/MenuRecursivo/publicaciones_digitales/Est/Lib1539/libro.pdf)
6. GeoNames
7. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/pe.htm)
8. iNaturalist
9. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File