Biobío Province (Provincia de Biobío) is one of three provinces of the Chilean region of Biobío (VIII). Its capital is Los Ángeles (2002 pop. 94,716). It is bounded on the north, west and south by the provinces of Concepción, Arauco and Malleco, respectively, and on the east by Argentina. It has an area of 14,987.9 sqkm of well-wooded and mountainous country, and exports timber to a large extent. The population is 373,981 according to the census of 2012. The great trunk railway from Santiago south to Puerto Montt crosses the western part of the province and also connects it with the port of Concepción. Los Ángeles lies 25 km east of this railway and is connected with it by a branch line.
The Province of Bio-Bío was created on October 13, 1875, as part of the Province of Araucan. In 1887, President José Manuel Balmaceda set aside the Province of Malleco. The province was then named for the Bio-Bio River which flows through it. The Province of Bío Bío was divided, into three departments: As part of the process of regionalization in the 1970s, the Region of Biobío was created. By Decree #1,213 of 27 of November 4, 1975, the VIII Region comprises the provinces of Bio Bío, Arauco and Concepción. Ñuble was formerly part of Biobío Province, before becoming its own region on the 5th of September 2018.
