Its capital is the coastal city of Valparaíso (pop.

[1] As a province, Valparaíso is a second-level administrative division, it was governed by a provincial governor who was appointed by the president.

The province comprises seven communes (Spanish: comunas), each governed by a municipality consisting of an alcalde and municipal council: A province with the same name was first created on October 27, 1842,[4] being originally composed of the Valparaíso, Casablanca and Quillota Departments.

[4] In 1966 the Isla de Pascua Department was established, which incorporated the province, before finally being succeeded by the Valparaíso Region in 1976.

The province spans a coastal area of 2,146.6 km2 (829 sq mi), the fourth largest in the Valparaíso Region.