Huancayo, Junin Region, Peru

🇵🇪 Huancayo is the capital of Junín Region, in the central highlands of Peru.

Geography Huancayo is located in Huancayo Province, of which it is also the capital. Situated in the Mantaro Valley at an altitude of 3,271 meters, it belongs to the Quechua region. The agglomeration is the fifth most populous city of the country. Huancayo is the cultural and commercial centre of the whole central Peruvian Andes area. Huancayo Metropolitano is made up of seven districts that form the urban centre of the Junín region. This region is considered central Peru's economic and social hub.

History The area was originally inhabited by the Huancas. At around 500 BC, they were incorporated into the Wari Empire. Despite efforts to defend its independence, the Huancas were eventually subdued by the Inca leader Pachacutec in 1460 and the region was incorporated into the Inca empire. It subsequently became a notable stopping point along the Inca Camino Real.

Colonial era After the Spanish colonization in 1534, Huancayo was overshadowed by Jauja, a provisional capital of Peru, until Lima took over that role, as established by the conquistador Francisco Pizarro. In 1570, the viceroy Francisco de Toledo established the site as the centre of his encomienda Guancayo. The town was officially established on 1 June 1572 with the title of Santísima Trinidad de Huancayo. In 1813, Huancayo celebrated the promulgation of the Constitution of Cadiz, changing the name of "Plaza del Comercio" to "Plaza de la Constitución".

Republican era During the war for independence, Huancayo was liberated on 20 November 1820. Construction on the cathedral commenced in 1831. The accord was made law in Huancayo in 1854, when Peru officially ended slavery. There is a statue in the Plaza Constitución commemorating this.

Recent situation Today, in addition to its importance as a centre of commerce, Huancayo is known for the crafts and the many festivals of the surrounding towns. Having rapidly expanded in recent decades, it has few remaining colonial buildings. Currently, the cityscape is dominated by modern construction.

The city's rise began with the construction of a central railway Callao-La Oroya in 1908 and later extended from Lima to Huancayo in the early 1930s. The railway connection between Lima and Huancayo, introduced new ways of transporting goods. The railway's new avenues for transport contributed to the city's economic and population growth. Population growth was mostly present in Tambo and Chilica, two suburban districts near the highways. Furthermore, population growth between 1981 and 2007 was a result of in-migration due to terrorist attacks of Sendero Luminoso. People from highlands and amazonian lowlands sought refuge in Andean cities such as Huancayo.

Demographics Amerindian and Mestizos (Amerindian and Spanish ancestry) are the two largest ethnic groups in the city. Asian (mainly descendants of Japanese and Chinese immigrants) and European descendants are important minority groups.

Transport Huancayo has transportation connections by road and rail. The Francisco Carle Airport at Jauja offers daily connections to Lima and is located 45 minutes via car from Huancayo. Current airlines include LATAM Peru, LC Peru, and Peruvian Airlines. To travel by road, the Carretera Central links Huancayo with La Oroya and Lima, which generally takes seven to eight hours. Multiple bus carriers operate between Lima and Huancayo daily. The Ferrocarril Central Andino enables transport by rail. Huancayo was a break-of-gauge from 914 mm (3 ft) gauge to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) gauge for the 147 km (91 mi) extension to Huancavelica. In 2009, this line was being standardised. There was a plan (Metro Wanka) to use the railway line as a local metro; however, this never came to fruition.

Education Local universities • Universidad Nacional del Centro del Peru (UNCP) • Universidad Peruana Los Andes (UPLA) • Universidad Continental (UC) • Universidad Franklin Roosevelt (UFR); Branches of other Peruvian universities • Universidad Alas Peruanas (UAP) • Universidad Los Angeles de Chimbote (ULADECH) • Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMSM) • Universidad Nacional Daniel Alcides Carrión (UNDAC) • Universidad de Huanuco (UDH); Language institutes • Instituto Cultural Peruano Británico • Instituto Cultural Peruano Norteamericano - Región Centro (ICPNA) • Alianza Francesa de Huancayo (French Alliance, AF).