Barakaldo

Spanish city
native_name = Barakaldo
spanish_name = Baracaldo
nickname =
city_motto =
city_motto_means =


image_flag_size = 110px
image_coat_of_arms = Escudo de Baracaldo.jpg
image_coat_of_arms_size = 110px
image_city_

image_city_map_size = 200px
image_city_map_caption = Location of Barakaldo in Biscay
lat_long = coord|43|17|51|N|2|59|25.30|W|display=inline
time_zone = CET (GMT +1)
time_zone_summer = CEST (GMT +2)

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image_skyline_size = 300px
founded = 1340
native_language = Basque
community = Basque Country
community_link = Basque Country (autonomous community)
province = Biscay
province_link = Biscay
comarca = Greater Bilbao
comarca_link = Greater Bilbao
divisions =
neighborhoods =
mayor = Tontxu Rodríguez
political_party = PSE
political_party_link = Partido Socialista Obrero Español
area = 29.39 Km²
altitude = 19
population = 95,675
date-population = 2006
population-ranking =
density = 3,255.36
date-density = 2006
website = http://www.barakaldo.org/
postal_code = 480XX
area_code = 94

Barakaldo (not to be confused with the Cuban and Guinean cities called "Baracaldo"), is an industrial river-port municipality in the Basque Country in Spain. It is located in the Biscay (Bizkaia) province, administratively included in the "Basque Autonomous Community", on the left bank of the Estuary of Bilbao. Barakaldo is part of Bilbao's metropolitan area ("Greater Bilbao"), and its official population at the 2006 census was 95,675 inhabitants living on a land area of 29.39 km² (11.35 sq mi).

History

The 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica wrote of Barakaldo (spelling the name with the now-archaic "c"):

:Pop.(1900): 15,013. Few Spanish towns have developed more rapidly than Baracaldo, which nearly doubled its population between 1880 and 1900. During this period many immigrant laborers settled here; for the iron works and dynamite factory of Baracaldo prospered greatly, owing to the increased output of the Biscayan mines, the extension of railways in the neighborhood,and the growth of shipping at Bilbao. The low flat countryround Baracaldo is covered with maize, pod fruit and vines.

Modern Barakaldo was later the endpoint of a mining railroad, since iron mining was a major economic activity of the region during part of the 19th and 20th centuries. The Steel industry, led by Altos Hornos de Vizcaya, had a very important presence during the 20th century, until the industrial recession hit the region's economy hard in the 1980s.Barakaldo is going to close its last factory and is recovering from the recession, former industrial land is being rebuilt with residential buildings, parks and shopping malls (i.e. Ikea). A big exhibition centre ("BEC, Bilbao Exhibition Centre") has recently been built in the outskirts of the town.

Transport

Barakaldo is linked to the rest of the metropolitan area by line 2 of the underground which has four stations in the city and by the train. BizkaiBus company provides the bus service, with connections with the rest of Biscay.

The main road that goes around Barakaldo is the A-8 motorway, that links Barakaldo with the metropolitan area and the rest of Spain.

Regular boat ferry services connect Barakaldo to the other side of the Estuary of Bilbao (Erandio).

The Bilbao Airport is located around 15 kilometres from the centre of Barakaldo, getting there takes around 10-12 minutes by car.

Fiesta

Every July the town celebrates "Las Fiestas del Carmen", with open air concerts, fun fairs and a good deal of late night partying.

* Carmenes de Baracaldo: [http://www.i-barakaldo.com/carmenesbarakaldo www.i-barakaldo.com/carmenesbarakaldo]

References

*1911

External links

* [http://www.i-barakaldo.com/ www.i-barakaldo.com] La comunidad virtual de Barakaldo

* [http://www.barakaldo.org/ Official website] (in Basque / Spanish)

* [http://www.euskomedia.org/aunamendi/14561 BARAKALDO in the Bernardo Estornés Lasa - Auñamendi Encyclopedia (Euskomedia Fundazioa)] es icon