In previous centuries, in the current location of Penco, was the first location where the city of
Concepción was established, which is now the capital of the Bíobío Region. It was destroyed by
Lautaro in 1554, and rebuilt and destroyed again by Lautaro in 1555. • It was reestablished in 1557 during the governorship of marquess
García Hurtado de Mendoza when he landed there and built a fort on the Alto de Pinto. The city was reestablished January 6, 1558, by capitán Jerónimo de Villegas. • It became the headquarters of the military forces engaged against the native
Mapuche in
Araucanía over the next two centuries, growing to a population of 10,000 despite suffering a
siege in 1564 and other attacks by Mapuche tribals. • In 1603 the last bishop of the suppressed
Diocese of La Imperial was transferred there as first bishop of the successor see
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Concepción. • Due to
earthquakes and
tsunamis, which razed the city in
1570, 1657, 1687, 1730 and another on
May 25, 1751, the colonial authorities ultimately decided to move the city to its current location to the
Valle de la Mocha, alongside the
Bío Bío River and prohibited the occupation of the old location, which remained unpopulated until March 29, 1842, when the present city of Penco was founded. • In 2026 Penco would be evacuated due to the outbreak of the
Trinitarias Fire, which damaged large parts of the city. == Statistics ==