Colchagua Province is a province of central Chile, in O'Higgins Region, bounded on the north by Santiago, on the east by Argentina, on the south by Curicó Province, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean. Its area is officially estimated at 3856 sq. m. (9,983 km²); pop. (1895) 157,566. Extending across the great central valley of Chile, the province has a considerable area devoted to agriculture, but much attention is given to cattle and mining. Its principal river is the Rapel, sometimes considered as the southern limit of the Inca empire. Its greatest tributary is the Cachapoal, in the valley of which, among the Andean foothills, are the popular thermal mineral baths of Cauquenes, 2,306 ft. (703 m) above sea-level. The principal towns are the capital, San Fernando, Santa Cruz and Palmilla. San Fernando is one of the several towns founded in 1742 by the governor-general José de Manso, and had a population of 7,447 in 1895. Rengo is an active commercial town and had a population of 6,463 in 1895. The state central railway from Santiago to Puerto Montt crosses the province and has two branches within its borders, one from Rengo to Peumo, and one from San Fernando via Palmilla to Pichilemu on the coast.

San Fernando
San Fernando is the capital of the provincia of Colchagua, in central Chile. Located on the Rapel River in a fertile valley, San Fernando sits 1,112 feet (339 m) above sea level. Founded in 1742, it became the provincial capital in 1840.

Cultural Life
San Fernando is famous for its rodeos, thanks to its location in the heart of Chile's huaso ("cowboy") country. The surrounding region yields wheat, forage crops, rice, legumes, and grapes.
Both the Pan-American Highway and Chile's main longitudinal railroad run through San Fernando.