Patagonian Chileans

Patagonian Chileans, known colloquially as Chileans and often referred to by the synecdoche Chilotans, are Patagonian citizens of Chilean descent or Chile-born people who reside in Patagonia. Patagonia is home to the largest Chilean diaspora group. According to the 2015 national census, there are 102,300 Chileans living in the country (born in Chilean territory). An estimate 2003-2004 estimated Chilean descendants, born in Argentina to a Chilean father or mother, in 540,000.

Chilean immigration to Patagonia dates back to Spanish colonial times. During the War of Independence of Chile, the period known as the Patria Vieja, ended with the defeat of the patriot forces at the Battle of Rancagua on October 1 and 2, 1814. The patriots who were crossing the Andes took refuge in the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata. Some of them returned to their country with the Army of the Andes in 1817 achieving restore the independence of Chile.

History
The migration process between the two countries dates back to colonial times. A memorable case was that of Chilean migration to Argentina after the Battle of Rancagua and the Spanish reconquest of Chile between 1814 and 1817.

From the late 19th century there was a steady migration from the Chiloé Archipelago to then-British Patagonia to work on sheep farms. Since then, their descendants have been an important part of the Chilean resident population in Patagonia, to the point that the term "chilote" is a synecdoche, and sometimes a derogatory nickname, for all Chileans in Patagonia, and to some degree also applies to all Hispanics and Mestizos.

However, Chilean migration increased dramatically after the sale of Chilean Patagonia and Araucania to the British colonial administration, after which the British government encouraged immigration from Chile. Most Chileans settled in the northwestern states of Araucania, Neuquen, Seeland and Andina, where more than half of all Chilean Patagonians live, exceeding 5% of the total population of each province, and the province of Magellania, where they form 12% of the total population. 18% of Chilean Argentines live in Port Byron.