Valdemoro
Encyclopedia
Valdemoro is a municipal district, located in the Southern zone of the autonomous community of Madrid
, Spain. Located 27 kilometers from the capital
, Valdemoro is officially part of the comarca
of La Sagra
, though it is generally also included in the Madrid metropolitan area
.
The municipality has experienced strong population growth in the past fifteen years, eventually reaching 53,188 inhabitants (INE
2007). Valdemoro's proximity to the capital has favored the demographic and economic development of the area. Due to the recent population boom, Valdemoro has had to construct new transportation, educational, sanitation, health, and entertainment facilities.
The municipality's recent history is closely linked to that of the Guardia Civil
. Valdemoro is home to the Colegio de Guardias Jóvenes Duque de Ahumada, an academy open only to children and orphans of existing guardsmen.
of the Tagus River
on the Southern slopes of the Sistema Central
mountain range. The population of Valdemoro is concentrated in the western parts of the municipal district, "along the road that connects Madrid to Aranjuez
".
The highest point of elevation in the municipal district is the Cerro de la Mira ("Hill of La Mira") at 712 meters. The lowest point of elevation is the La Cañada stream at 543 meters. The average altitude of Valdemoro is 615 meters above sea level. The ground slopes in an Easterly direction, averaging a 3% incline.
. The Jarama runs parallel to Valdemoro and never enters its limits.
All precipitation originates over the Atlantic and is heavily influenced by the mountain chains that border the Meseta Central and the anticyclone
s of the Azores
. Rainfall is scarce, making Valdemoro one of the driest regions on the peninsula
.
Valdemoro is one of the few locations in Europe where the Russian silverberry Elaeagnus angustifolia
occurs naturally.
Recent urban growth has significantly diminished the land available for natural forest growth.
The area is also home to 3 species of amphibians, 7 species of reptiles, and 127 varieties of birds (67 species with stable, reproducing populations). Of these species, 21 are hibernating species and 27 are nomadic.
and San Martín de la Vega
; to the East, Ciempozuelos
; to the South, Seseña
and Esquivias
; to the West, Torrejón de Velasco
.
Valdemoro has 12 neighborhoods: Río Nilo, Brezo, Campo Olivar, El Caracol, El Restón I, El Restón II, La Estación, La Villa, Las Vírgenes, Viva Verde, Las Comunidades, and UDE Norte-Oeste.
invaders inspired the saying En balde, Moro, te cansas ("You tire yourself in vain, Moor"). This saying evolved to become the name of the area—Valdemoro. Taking into consideration the short amount of time it took for the Moors to completely conquer the Iberian Peninsula
, it seems more likely that the name comes from Valle de Moro ("Valley of the Moor(s)"), a name the area received after the Reconquista
.
artefacts found in the area include arrowhead
s, knives
, stone chips, and sheets of flint
and quartzite
. During the Bronze Age
, certain strategically located areas were populated in a number of temporary settlements. The earliest indications of a continuous human presence in the area known as Valdemoro dates back to the Iron Age
on the farmlands of El Espartal in the Eastern parts of the municipal district
Without a doubt, the most important archeological discovery in the area is the so-called "Ciempozuelo type" of Bell Beaker. Discovered in the extreme southeast of Valdemoro, close to the city of Ciempozuelos
(its namesake), these vases, which date back to circa 1900 BCE, are made of gray or black clay and are decorated with geometric motifs. The remains of Roman villa
from the Late Roman period, which operated continuously until the Visigoth
invasion, can also be seen in the area.
The farmlands of El Espartal have been declared Bien de Interés Cultural
("Area of cultural heritage/interest") as an Archeological Zone.
settlement. The area was populated before the Moors' arrival, and this indigenous Gothic population resisted the invasion fiercely.
After the Reconquista
, the bishops of Segovia
and Palencia
argued about who would control the settlement at Valdemoro. The settlement was eventually annexed into the Segovian communice in 1190 after the intervention of King Alfonso VIII
and the mediation of Pope Clement III
. Valdemoro soon became one of the most important municipalities in the Sistema Central
mountain range, more so than Chinchón
, Bayona
, Villaconejos
, Valdelaguna, Seseña
, San Martín de la Vega
and Ciempozuelos
.
Hernán Pérez de Portocarrero of Castile
assimilated Valdemoro into his other holdings. By the end of that century, Valdemoro was assimilated into the ecclesiastical dominion of the Archbishop
of Toledo
. Soon after, King Henry III of Castile
awarded Valdemoro the privileges of the designation of Villa
, which facilitate the area's social and economic development.
In 1577, King Philip II
became so infuriated with the Archbishop of Toledo that he declared Valdemoro realengo (under the direct control of the King). Soon after, Melchor de Herrera, the Marquess
of Auñón, assumed control of Valdemoro. During this time, the Convento del Carmen religious community is founded. In 1602, de Herrera's heirs sold the village to Francisco Goméz de Sandoval y Rojas, Duke of Lerma
and favourite
of King Philip III
. Under the Duke's rule, the area undergoes significant social development, including the foundation of the Feria Barroca. In 1605, the Fuente de la Villa ("Village Fountain"), one of the area's most emblematic monuments, is built. In 1616, the Convento de Santa Clara
is inaugurated. The most important works of art in the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción are created during the second half of the 17th century.
Due to the efforts of hidalgo
José Aguado Correa during the 18th century, Valdemoro emerged from a period of deterioration and poverty. The arrival of the House of Bourbon
to Spain brought a wave of industrial revolution, giving Aguado Correa the opportunity to establish a textile factory in Valdemoro. By the end of the century, Pedro López de Lerena, a Minister in the Courts of Kings Charles III
and Charles IV
, founded a number of public schools in 1792, and funded the redecoration the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción by artists such as Francisco de Goya, Francisco Bayeu, and Ramón Bayeu
. López de Lerena also attempts to revitalize Aguado Correa's factory, but fails, as the population retains its Medieval
mindset.
Though the area's economy remained primarily agricultural during the 19th century, the gypsum
mining industry began to slowly develop. During this time, Valdemoran wines gained some fame throughout La Sagra
. These timid attempts at industrialization were interrupted by the Peninsular War
. The French army
's occupation of Valdemoro resulted in a significant loss of life, art, and contemporary documentation.
In 1822, during the reign of King Ferdinand VII, Valdemoro was officially declared to be a part of the province of Madrid
. In 1851, the ferry line connecting Madrid to Aranjuez
is rerouted to stop in Valdemoro. Soon after, in 1855, the Colegio de Guardias Jóvenes "Duque de Ahumada" is constructed on the foundations of the old textile factory. The Colegio remained at this location until it was moved out of the municipality in 1972. The grounds now make up the Parque Duque de Ahumada.
. Economic stability wasn't re-established until well into the 1950s.
The restoration of the democracy in 1975 heralded a new era for the district, ushering in widespread urban and industrial growth. The construction of new industrial parks and new neighborhoods (El Restón, UDE Oeste-Norte, Las Comunidades) facilitated Valdemoro's transition from rural municipality to commuter town
. This growth continues today, and the population is expected to continue to increase.
(PP), who has held the position since his election in 2003. In the 2007 regional elections
, the PP received 59.32% of the vote and 14 town councillors. Other parties in the area include the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
(PSOE), who received 19.9% of the vote and 4 councillors; the United Left
(IU), with 9.81% and 2 councillors; and the local Partido Independiente Vecinos de Valdemoro, who obtained 5.34% of all votes and one town councillor.
In the 1970s that Valdemoro's population began to grow rapidly due to the district's budding industrial sector and its proximity to Madrid. The most notable population increase has occurred since the turn of the 21st century: in 2001, the population of Valdemoro was 30,986 inhabitants; by 2007, the population had grown to 53,188. According to these statistics, the relative population growth during the 21st century has been 9%, one of the highest rates in the entire Comunidad de Madrid. Between 2006 and 2007, Valdemoro was one of the top five municipal districts with the largest absolute population growth in all of Spain. The only districts with higher growth rates were Palma de Mallorca
, Rivas-Vaciamadrid
, Murcia
and Zaragoza
.
In 2006, the population was divided into 24,351 men and 24,166 women. 20.51% of the population was younger than 15 years old. 6.4% of the population was older than 65, a percentage that was significantly smaller than the 14.45% average of the rest of the Comunidad de Madrid. The birth rate was 18.95% and the death rate was 3.63%.
Foreign immigration has increased significantly in recent years, going from 20.61 people per 1000 inhabitants in 1998 to 110.87 people per 1000 inhabitants in 2006. These immigrants are primarily from Latin America and non-EU Europe.
Valdemoro is the 17th-most populous city in the Comunidad de Madrid and the 131st-most populous city in Spain.
Valdemoro experienced a wave of industrialization during the 1980s, which resulted in a subsequent rapid increase in population. By 2002, the distribution of industry was as follows:
. Much like the rest of the developed areas of the Autonomous Community of Madrid, this sector is rapidly diminishing in both importance and size.
, the automotive supplier Lear
, the German toymaker Schuco
, and the oil company Total S.A.
.
and/or Carrefour
are planning to construct a new mall in the municipal district, though this has not been confirmed at present.
s
Toll Autopista
s
First-level Autonomous Roads
Second-level Autonomous Roads
Third-level Autonomous Roads
C-3 Line. (Atocha–Aranjuez
)
There has been some discussion of the creation of a second station in the western zone, but so far no official project has been created. In the last Plan General de Urbanismo ("General Plan of Urbanization"), several tracks of land have been reserved for the creation of a new railway line and station. In June 2006, with the start of the urban expansion project of El Espartal, the government announced that the C-3 Line would make a new stop between the stations of Valdemoro and Ciempozuelos
. In addition, plans exist for a high speed train, part of the Alta Velocidad Española
Madrid-Levate line, to run through the southern parts of Valdemoro.
Valdemoro has the second-most bus routes in the Community of Madrid, with 7 lines and 572 routes. Only Alcalá de Henares
has more daily service.
system for the past few years. The proposed line would connect Valdemoro's Cercanías station
with the El Restón and UDE Norte-Oeste nighborhoods and the Hospital. The project is part of the Plan de Ampliación de la Red de Metro de Madrid
2007-2011 ("Plan to Expand the Network of the Madrid Metro"). The project was licensed to MINTRA on 9 July 2007.
, Ciempozuelos
and Titulcia
. It has 100 beds, 8 operating rooms, and 2 maternity rooms, in addition to urgent care facilities.
Valdemoro also has two other health centers operated by the Consejería de Sanidad de la Comunidad de Madrid:
In addition to the library of the Centro Cultural, Valdemoro has two libraries in the Viva Verde and El Restón neighborhoods, in addition to the new Biblioteca Central built in 2007.
Valdemoro is home to 4 hotels and 6 hostels, with a combined total of 546 rooms. The district's proximity to the Parque Warner Madrid
and to the capital are key factors to the development of the local hotel economy.
People born in Valdemoro
People who lived in Valdemoro
, Western Sahara
. Status affirmed November 2007.
Madrid (autonomous community)
The Community of Madrid is one of the seventeen autonomous communities of Spain. It is located at the center of the country, the Iberian Peninsula, and the Castilian Central Plateau . The community is also conterminous with the province of Madrid and contains the capital of Spain, which is also...
, Spain. Located 27 kilometers from the capital
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Valdemoro is officially part of the comarca
Comarca
A comarca is a traditional region or local administrative division found in parts of Spain, Portugal, Panama, Nicaragua, and Brazil. The term is derived from the term marca, meaning a "march, mark", plus the prefix co- meaning "together, jointly".The comarca is known in Aragonese as redolada and...
of La Sagra
La Sagra
La Sagra is a Spanish comarca delineated by natural formations but not legally recognized. The comarca includes localities belonging to both the province of Madrid and the province of Toledo...
, though it is generally also included in the Madrid metropolitan area
Madrid metropolitan area
The Madrid Metropolitan Area comprises the city of Madridand forty surrounding municipalities. It has a populationof slightly more than 6.4 million people and covers an areaof 4.609,7 km²...
.
The municipality has experienced strong population growth in the past fifteen years, eventually reaching 53,188 inhabitants (INE
Instituto Nacional de Estadística (Spain)
The National Institute of Statistics is the official organisation in Spain that collects statistics about demography, economy, and Spanish society. Every 10 years, this organisation conducts a national census. The last census took place in 2001....
2007). Valdemoro's proximity to the capital has favored the demographic and economic development of the area. Due to the recent population boom, Valdemoro has had to construct new transportation, educational, sanitation, health, and entertainment facilities.
The municipality's recent history is closely linked to that of the Guardia Civil
Civil Guard (Spain)
The Civil Guard is the Spanish gendarmerie. It has foreign peace-keeping missions and maintains military status and is the equivalent of a federal military-status police force. As a police force, the Guardia Civil is comparable today to the French Gendarmerie, the Italian Carabinieri and the...
. Valdemoro is home to the Colegio de Guardias Jóvenes Duque de Ahumada, an academy open only to children and orphans of existing guardsmen.
Geography
Valdemoro is a located on the drainage basinDrainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
of the Tagus River
Tagus
The Tagus is the longest river on the Iberian Peninsula. It is long, in Spain, along the border between Portugal and Spain and in Portugal, where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Lisbon. It drains an area of . The Tagus is highly utilized for most of its course...
on the Southern slopes of the Sistema Central
Sistema Central
The Sistema Central is one of the main systems of mountain ranges in the Iberian Peninsula.-Description:The Sistema Central is a primary feature of the Meseta Central, the inner Iberian plateau, splitting the meseta into two parts...
mountain range. The population of Valdemoro is concentrated in the western parts of the municipal district, "along the road that connects Madrid to Aranjuez
Aranjuez
Aranjuez is a town lying 48 km south of Madrid, in the southern part of the Community of Madrid. It is located at the confluence of the Tagus and Jarama rivers, 48 km from Toledo. As of 2009, it has a population of 54,055.-History:...
".
Relief
The region is mostly flat, except in the area of the Espartinas hills in the South and the El Espartal farmland in the East.The highest point of elevation in the municipal district is the Cerro de la Mira ("Hill of La Mira") at 712 meters. The lowest point of elevation is the La Cañada stream at 543 meters. The average altitude of Valdemoro is 615 meters above sea level. The ground slopes in an Easterly direction, averaging a 3% incline.
Hydrology
The La Cañada stream originates in the municipal district, and then feeds into the Jarama RiverJarama
Jarama is a river in central Spain. It flows north to south, and passes east of Madrid when El Atazar Dam is built on a tributary, the Lozoya River. It flows into the river Tagus in Aranjuez...
. The Jarama runs parallel to Valdemoro and never enters its limits.
Climate
A part of the Continental Mediterranean climate, Valdemoro's temperatures average between 13°C and 17°C annually. Though winters are relatively gentle, the sky remains overcast and the ground frozen from November to April. Summers are hot and dry, averaging 26°C in July.All precipitation originates over the Atlantic and is heavily influenced by the mountain chains that border the Meseta Central and the anticyclone
Anticyclone
An anticyclone is a weather phenomenon defined by the United States' National Weather Service's glossary as "[a] large-scale circulation of winds around a central region of high atmospheric pressure, clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere"...
s of the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
. Rainfall is scarce, making Valdemoro one of the driest regions on the peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
.
Flora and fauna
Valdemoro does not possess overly abundant populations of flora or fauna, though 794 hectares of the municipal district are part of the Parque Regional del Sureste.Valdemoro is one of the few locations in Europe where the Russian silverberry Elaeagnus angustifolia
Elaeagnus angustifolia
Elaeagnus angustifolia, commonly called silver berry, oleaster, Russian olive, or wild olive, is a species of Elaeagnus, native to western and central Asia, from southern Russia and Kazakhstan to Turkey and Iran...
occurs naturally.
Recent urban growth has significantly diminished the land available for natural forest growth.
The area is also home to 3 species of amphibians, 7 species of reptiles, and 127 varieties of birds (67 species with stable, reproducing populations). Of these species, 21 are hibernating species and 27 are nomadic.
Human geography
The city of Valdemoro borders the following municipal districts: to the North, PintoPinto, Madrid
Pinto is a town in the south of the autonomous community of Madrid, central Spain.Formerly, the belief was that Pinto sat on the geographic middle of the Iberian Peninsula, hence its name comes from the Latin Punctum, "point".-Limits:...
and San Martín de la Vega
San Martín de la Vega
San Martín de la Vega is a town in Spain. It is located in the Comarca de Las Vegas, in the Community of Madrid. It had a population of 18,256 in 2009.It is home to the church of Natividad de Nuestra Señora .-External links:*...
; to the East, Ciempozuelos
Ciempozuelos
Ciempozuelos is a town in Spain. It is located in the south of the Community of Madrid. It had a population of 17,769 in 2005 Its origins appear to be Moorish and the name refers to the number of wells that existed in the town. It is clearly not as well-known as its neighbours Chinchón and Aranjuez...
; to the South, Seseña
Seseña
Seseña is a municipality located in the province of Toledo, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. According to the 2009 census , the municipality had a population of 16,231.-Residencial Francisco Hernando:...
and Esquivias
Esquivias
Esquivias is a municipality located in the province of Toledo, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. According to the 2006 census , the municipality has a population of 4,812 inhabitants....
; to the West, Torrejón de Velasco
Torrejón de Velasco
Torrejón de Velasco is a municipality of the Community of Madrid, Spain....
.
Valdemoro has 12 neighborhoods: Río Nilo, Brezo, Campo Olivar, El Caracol, El Restón I, El Restón II, La Estación, La Villa, Las Vírgenes, Viva Verde, Las Comunidades, and UDE Norte-Oeste.
Origin of the name
According to legend, the indigenous inhabitants' resistance to the MoorishMoors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
invaders inspired the saying En balde, Moro, te cansas ("You tire yourself in vain, Moor"). This saying evolved to become the name of the area—Valdemoro. Taking into consideration the short amount of time it took for the Moors to completely conquer the Iberian Peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
, it seems more likely that the name comes from Valle de Moro ("Valley of the Moor(s)"), a name the area received after the Reconquista
Reconquista
The Reconquista was a period of almost 800 years in the Middle Ages during which several Christian kingdoms succeeded in retaking the Muslim-controlled areas of the Iberian Peninsula broadly known as Al-Andalus...
.
Origins
Copper AgeCopper Age
The Chalcolithic |stone]]") period or Copper Age, also known as the Eneolithic/Æneolithic , is a phase of the Bronze Age in which the addition of tin to copper to form bronze during smelting remained yet unknown by the metallurgists of the times...
artefacts found in the area include arrowhead
Arrowhead
An arrowhead is a tip, usually sharpened, added to an arrow to make it more deadly or to fulfill some special purpose. Historically arrowheads were made of stone and of organic materials; as human civilization progressed other materials were used...
s, knives
Knife
A knife is a cutting tool with an exposed cutting edge or blade, hand-held or otherwise, with or without a handle. Knives were used at least two-and-a-half million years ago, as evidenced by the Oldowan tools...
, stone chips, and sheets of flint
Flint
Flint is a hard, sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as a variety of chert. It occurs chiefly as nodules and masses in sedimentary rocks, such as chalks and limestones. Inside the nodule, flint is usually dark grey, black, green, white, or brown in colour, and...
and quartzite
Quartzite
Quartzite is a hard metamorphic rock which was originally sandstone. Sandstone is converted into quartzite through heating and pressure usually related to tectonic compression within orogenic belts. Pure quartzite is usually white to gray, though quartzites often occur in various shades of pink...
. During the Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
, certain strategically located areas were populated in a number of temporary settlements. The earliest indications of a continuous human presence in the area known as Valdemoro dates back to the Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
on the farmlands of El Espartal in the Eastern parts of the municipal district
Without a doubt, the most important archeological discovery in the area is the so-called "Ciempozuelo type" of Bell Beaker. Discovered in the extreme southeast of Valdemoro, close to the city of Ciempozuelos
Ciempozuelos
Ciempozuelos is a town in Spain. It is located in the south of the Community of Madrid. It had a population of 17,769 in 2005 Its origins appear to be Moorish and the name refers to the number of wells that existed in the town. It is clearly not as well-known as its neighbours Chinchón and Aranjuez...
(its namesake), these vases, which date back to circa 1900 BCE, are made of gray or black clay and are decorated with geometric motifs. The remains of Roman villa
Roman villa
A Roman villa is a villa that was built or lived in during the Roman republic and the Roman Empire. A villa was originally a Roman country house built for the upper class...
from the Late Roman period, which operated continuously until the Visigoth
Visigoth
The Visigoths were one of two main branches of the Goths, the Ostrogoths being the other. These tribes were among the Germans who spread through the late Roman Empire during the Migration Period...
invasion, can also be seen in the area.
The farmlands of El Espartal have been declared Bien de Interés Cultural
Bien de Interés Cultural
A Bien de Interés Cultural is a category of the Spanish heritage register. This category dates from 1985 when it replaced the former heritage category of Monumento nacional in order to extend protection to a wider range of cultural property...
("Area of cultural heritage/interest") as an Archeological Zone.
Foundation
The discovery of ruins of ancient methods of water transportation confirms Valdemoro's origins as an ancient MoorishMoors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
settlement. The area was populated before the Moors' arrival, and this indigenous Gothic population resisted the invasion fiercely.
After the Reconquista
Reconquista
The Reconquista was a period of almost 800 years in the Middle Ages during which several Christian kingdoms succeeded in retaking the Muslim-controlled areas of the Iberian Peninsula broadly known as Al-Andalus...
, the bishops of Segovia
Segovia
Segovia is a city in Spain, the capital of Segovia Province in the autonomous community of Castile and León. It is situated north of Madrid, 30 minutes by high speed train. The municipality counts some 55,500 inhabitants.-Etymology:...
and Palencia
Palencia
Palencia is a city south of Tierra de Campos, in north-northwest Spain, the capital of the province of Palencia in the autonomous community of Castile-Leon...
argued about who would control the settlement at Valdemoro. The settlement was eventually annexed into the Segovian communice in 1190 after the intervention of King Alfonso VIII
Alfonso VIII of Castile
Alfonso VIII , called the Noble or el de las Navas, was the King of Castile from 1158 to his death and King of Toledo. He is most remembered for his part in the Reconquista and the downfall of the Almohad Caliphate...
and the mediation of Pope Clement III
Pope Clement III
Pope Clement III , born Paulino Scolari, was elected Pope on December 19, 1187 and reigned until his death.-Cardinal:...
. Valdemoro soon became one of the most important municipalities in the Sistema Central
Sistema Central
The Sistema Central is one of the main systems of mountain ranges in the Iberian Peninsula.-Description:The Sistema Central is a primary feature of the Meseta Central, the inner Iberian plateau, splitting the meseta into two parts...
mountain range, more so than Chinchón
Chinchón
Chinchón is a Spanish town 50 km southeast of Madrid. It is part of the Comarca de Las Vegas.-Overview:The Plaza Mayor is roughly circular, surrounded by 15th-17th century galleried houses and cafés and is used as a temporary bullring. The church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción was built in...
, Bayona
Baiona, Pontevedra
Baiona is a municipality in Galicia, Spain, in the province of Pontevedra.Baiona is a tourist town with a medieval historical center situated by the outlet of the Vigo Bay. Its population of just over 11,000 rises to around 45,000 in the summer, if one includes tourists...
, Villaconejos
Villaconejos
Villaconejos is a municipality of the Community of Madrid, Spain.-History:It is possible that the appearance of Villaconejos happen before the eighth century, while other experts believe that it originated during the period of the Reconquest....
, Valdelaguna, Seseña
Seseña
Seseña is a municipality located in the province of Toledo, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. According to the 2009 census , the municipality had a population of 16,231.-Residencial Francisco Hernando:...
, San Martín de la Vega
San Martín de la Vega
San Martín de la Vega is a town in Spain. It is located in the Comarca de Las Vegas, in the Community of Madrid. It had a population of 18,256 in 2009.It is home to the church of Natividad de Nuestra Señora .-External links:*...
and Ciempozuelos
Ciempozuelos
Ciempozuelos is a town in Spain. It is located in the south of the Community of Madrid. It had a population of 17,769 in 2005 Its origins appear to be Moorish and the name refers to the number of wells that existed in the town. It is clearly not as well-known as its neighbours Chinchón and Aranjuez...
.
Modern age
In the middle of the 14th century, AdelantadoAdelantado
Adelantado was a military title held by some Spanish conquistadores of the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries.Adelantados were granted directly by the Monarch the right to become governors and justices of a specific region, which they charged with conquering, in exchange for funding and organizing the...
Hernán Pérez de Portocarrero of Castile
Castile (historical region)
A former kingdom, Castile gradually merged with its neighbours to become the Crown of Castile and later the Kingdom of Spain when united with the Crown of Aragon and the Kingdom of Navarre...
assimilated Valdemoro into his other holdings. By the end of that century, Valdemoro was assimilated into the ecclesiastical dominion of the Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Toledo
Toledo, Spain
Toledo's Alcázar became renowned in the 19th and 20th centuries as a military academy. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 its garrison was famously besieged by Republican forces.-Economy:...
. Soon after, King Henry III of Castile
Henry III of Castile
Henry III KG , sometimes known as Henry the Sufferer or Henry the Infirm , was the son of John I and Eleanor of Aragon, and succeeded him as King of the Castilian Crown in 1390....
awarded Valdemoro the privileges of the designation of Villa
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
, which facilitate the area's social and economic development.
In 1577, King Philip II
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
became so infuriated with the Archbishop of Toledo that he declared Valdemoro realengo (under the direct control of the King). Soon after, Melchor de Herrera, the Marquess
Marquess
A marquess or marquis is a nobleman of hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The term is also used to translate equivalent oriental styles, as in imperial China, Japan, and Vietnam...
of Auñón, assumed control of Valdemoro. During this time, the Convento del Carmen religious community is founded. In 1602, de Herrera's heirs sold the village to Francisco Goméz de Sandoval y Rojas, Duke of Lerma
Francisco Goméz de Sandoval y Rojas, Duke of Lerma
Don Francisco Gómez de Sandoval, 1st Duke of Lerma , a favourite of Philip III of Spain, was the first of the validos through whom the later Habsburg monarchs ruled. He was succeeded by Don Gaspar de Guzmán, Count-Duke of Olivares.-Biography:The family of Sandoval was ancient and powerful...
and favourite
Favourite
A favourite , or favorite , was the intimate companion of a ruler or other important person. In medieval and Early Modern Europe, among other times and places, the term is used of individuals delegated significant political power by a ruler...
of King Philip III
Philip III of Spain
Philip III , also known as Philip the Pious, was the King of Spain and King of Portugal and the Algarves, where he ruled as Philip II , from 1598 until his death...
. Under the Duke's rule, the area undergoes significant social development, including the foundation of the Feria Barroca. In 1605, the Fuente de la Villa ("Village Fountain"), one of the area's most emblematic monuments, is built. In 1616, the Convento de Santa Clara
Order of Poor Ladies
The Poor Clares also known as the Order of Saint Clare, the Order of Poor Ladies, the Poor Clare Sisters, the Clarisse, the Minoresses, the Franciscan Clarist Congregation, and the Second Order of St. Francis, , comprise several orders of nuns in the Catholic Church...
is inaugurated. The most important works of art in the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción are created during the second half of the 17th century.
Due to the efforts of hidalgo
Hidalgo (Spanish nobility)
A hidalgo or fidalgo is a member of the Spanish and Portuguese nobility. In popular usage it has come to mean the non-titled nobility. Hidalgos were exempt from paying taxes, but did not necessarily own real property...
José Aguado Correa during the 18th century, Valdemoro emerged from a period of deterioration and poverty. The arrival of the House of Bourbon
House of Bourbon
The House of Bourbon is a European royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty . Bourbon kings first ruled Navarre and France in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Bourbon dynasty also held thrones in Spain, Naples, Sicily, and Parma...
to Spain brought a wave of industrial revolution, giving Aguado Correa the opportunity to establish a textile factory in Valdemoro. By the end of the century, Pedro López de Lerena, a Minister in the Courts of Kings Charles III
Charles III of Spain
Charles III was the King of Spain and the Spanish Indies from 1759 to 1788. He was the eldest son of Philip V of Spain and his second wife, the Princess Elisabeth Farnese...
and Charles IV
Charles IV of Spain
Charles IV was King of Spain from 14 December 1788 until his abdication on 19 March 1808.-Early life:...
, founded a number of public schools in 1792, and funded the redecoration the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción by artists such as Francisco de Goya, Francisco Bayeu, and Ramón Bayeu
Ramón Bayeu
Ramón Bayeu was a Spanish Neoclassicist painter.-Biography:Born in Zaragoza, he was the brother of Francisco Bayeu, with whom he worked, and Manuel Bayeu, also a painter...
. López de Lerena also attempts to revitalize Aguado Correa's factory, but fails, as the population retains its Medieval
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
mindset.
Though the area's economy remained primarily agricultural during the 19th century, the gypsum
Gypsum
Gypsum is a very soft sulfate mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate, with the chemical formula CaSO4·2H2O. It is found in alabaster, a decorative stone used in Ancient Egypt. It is the second softest mineral on the Mohs Hardness Scale...
mining industry began to slowly develop. During this time, Valdemoran wines gained some fame throughout La Sagra
La Sagra
La Sagra is a Spanish comarca delineated by natural formations but not legally recognized. The comarca includes localities belonging to both the province of Madrid and the province of Toledo...
. These timid attempts at industrialization were interrupted by the Peninsular War
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
. The French army
La Grande Armée
The Grande Armée first entered the annals of history when, in 1805, Napoleon I renamed the army that he had assembled on the French coast of the English Channel for the proposed invasion of Britain...
's occupation of Valdemoro resulted in a significant loss of life, art, and contemporary documentation.
In 1822, during the reign of King Ferdinand VII, Valdemoro was officially declared to be a part of the province of Madrid
Madrid (autonomous community)
The Community of Madrid is one of the seventeen autonomous communities of Spain. It is located at the center of the country, the Iberian Peninsula, and the Castilian Central Plateau . The community is also conterminous with the province of Madrid and contains the capital of Spain, which is also...
. In 1851, the ferry line connecting Madrid to Aranjuez
Aranjuez
Aranjuez is a town lying 48 km south of Madrid, in the southern part of the Community of Madrid. It is located at the confluence of the Tagus and Jarama rivers, 48 km from Toledo. As of 2009, it has a population of 54,055.-History:...
is rerouted to stop in Valdemoro. Soon after, in 1855, the Colegio de Guardias Jóvenes "Duque de Ahumada" is constructed on the foundations of the old textile factory. The Colegio remained at this location until it was moved out of the municipality in 1972. The grounds now make up the Parque Duque de Ahumada.
20th century and the present
Valdemoro saw a significant loss of life and artistic heritage during the 20th century and especially during the Spanish Civil WarSpanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
. Economic stability wasn't re-established until well into the 1950s.
The restoration of the democracy in 1975 heralded a new era for the district, ushering in widespread urban and industrial growth. The construction of new industrial parks and new neighborhoods (El Restón, UDE Oeste-Norte, Las Comunidades) facilitated Valdemoro's transition from rural municipality to commuter town
Commuter town
A commuter town is an urban community that is primarily residential, from which most of the workforce commutes out to earn their livelihood. Many commuter towns act as suburbs of a nearby metropolis that workers travel to daily, and many suburbs are commuter towns...
. This growth continues today, and the population is expected to continue to increase.
Politics and government
The current mayor of Valdemoro is José Miguel Moreno Torres of the Partido PopularPeople's Party (Spain)
The People's Party is a conservative political party in Spain.The People's Party was a re-foundation in 1989 of the People's Alliance , a party led and founded by Manuel Fraga Iribarne, a former Minister of Tourism during Francisco Franco's dictatorship...
(PP), who has held the position since his election in 2003. In the 2007 regional elections
Spanish regional elections, 2007
A number of elections were held in Spain on 27 May 2007:* municipal elections;* local elections of various types like the elections to the Cabildo on the Canary Islands;* elections to the Assembly of Ceuta and Melilla; and...
, the PP received 59.32% of the vote and 14 town councillors. Other parties in the area include the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party is a social-democratic political party in Spain. Its political position is Centre-left. The PSOE is the former ruling party of Spain, until beaten in the elections of November 2011 and the second oldest, exceeded only by the Partido Carlista, founded in...
(PSOE), who received 19.9% of the vote and 4 councillors; the United Left
United Left (Spain)
The United Left is a political coalition that was organized in 1986 bringing together several political organisations opposed to Spain joining NATO. It was formed by a number of groups of leftists, greens, left-wing socialists and republicans, but was dominated by the Communist Party of Spain...
(IU), with 9.81% and 2 councillors; and the local Partido Independiente Vecinos de Valdemoro, who obtained 5.34% of all votes and one town councillor.
Demographics
The earliest demographic information available for Valdemoro dates back to 1530, when the official population is recorded to be 2,216 inhabitants. Population remained relatively stable for the next few centuries, oscillating between 2,000 and 4,000 inhabitants depending on living conditions at the time.In the 1970s that Valdemoro's population began to grow rapidly due to the district's budding industrial sector and its proximity to Madrid. The most notable population increase has occurred since the turn of the 21st century: in 2001, the population of Valdemoro was 30,986 inhabitants; by 2007, the population had grown to 53,188. According to these statistics, the relative population growth during the 21st century has been 9%, one of the highest rates in the entire Comunidad de Madrid. Between 2006 and 2007, Valdemoro was one of the top five municipal districts with the largest absolute population growth in all of Spain. The only districts with higher growth rates were Palma de Mallorca
Palma de Mallorca
Palma is the major city and port on the island of Majorca and capital city of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands in Spain. The names Ciutat de Mallorca and Ciutat were used before the War of the Spanish Succession and are still used by people in Majorca. However, the official name...
, Rivas-Vaciamadrid
Rivas-Vaciamadrid
Rivas-Vaciamadrid is a municipality situated at the meeting point of the Jarama and Manzanares rivers in the Alcalá comarca in the autonomous community of Madrid...
, Murcia
Murcia
-History:It is widely believed that Murcia's name is derived from the Latin words of Myrtea or Murtea, meaning land of Myrtle , although it may also be a derivation of the word Murtia, which would mean Murtius Village...
and Zaragoza
Zaragoza
Zaragoza , also called Saragossa in English, is the capital city of the Zaragoza Province and of the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain...
.
In 2006, the population was divided into 24,351 men and 24,166 women. 20.51% of the population was younger than 15 years old. 6.4% of the population was older than 65, a percentage that was significantly smaller than the 14.45% average of the rest of the Comunidad de Madrid. The birth rate was 18.95% and the death rate was 3.63%.
Foreign immigration has increased significantly in recent years, going from 20.61 people per 1000 inhabitants in 1998 to 110.87 people per 1000 inhabitants in 2006. These immigrants are primarily from Latin America and non-EU Europe.
Valdemoro is the 17th-most populous city in the Comunidad de Madrid and the 131st-most populous city in Spain.
Economy
Up through the 1960s, Valdemoro's economy was primarily agricultural. The territory was divided into 19 agricultural districts: Tenerías, Horcavieja, Espinillo, Cerro del Boticario, Alvarado, Valle de las Monjas, Valle del Infierno, Cuevecillas, Cabeza del Gato, Valdajos, Pocillos, Marguilla, Santiago, Tranzones, Valdereja, Cárcava, Portillo, Mira and Arboledas. Its industry was limited almost exclusively to gypsum quarries which were in the process of going bankrupt due to lack of modernization. Of these, the most important quarry was known as La Integridad.Valdemoro experienced a wave of industrialization during the 1980s, which resulted in a subsequent rapid increase in population. By 2002, the distribution of industry was as follows:
- Agriculture: 0,16%
- Industry: 39,50%
- Services: 60,34%
Agriculture
Due to its arid climate, Valdemoro's main crop is cereals, and the main livestock is poultryPoultry
Poultry are domesticated birds kept by humans for the purpose of producing eggs, meat, and/or feathers. These most typically are members of the superorder Galloanserae , especially the order Galliformes and the family Anatidae , commonly known as "waterfowl"...
. Much like the rest of the developed areas of the Autonomous Community of Madrid, this sector is rapidly diminishing in both importance and size.
Industry
Due to its proximity to Madrid, Valdemoro's industrial sector is considered fundamentally important. Large national and international companies have located their logistical headquarters in the area, including the wholesaler El Corte InglésEl Corte Inglés
El Corte Inglés S.A. , headquartered in Madrid, is the biggest department store group in Europe and ranks fourth worldwide...
, the automotive supplier Lear
Lear (company)
Lear Corporation , headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, USA is a Fortune 500 company, engaged in the business of manufacturing and distribution of automotive interiors systems...
, the German toymaker Schuco
Schuco
Schuco is a German toy maker founded in 1912 by Heinrich Müller and the businessman Heinrich Schreyer in Nuremberg, since early days, Germany's toy capital. Its specialty was usually cars and trucks in both tin and diecast...
, and the oil company Total S.A.
Total S.A.
Total S.A. is a French multinational oil company and one of the six "Supermajor" oil companies in the world.Its businesses cover the entire oil and gas chain, from crude oil and natural gas exploration and production to power generation, transportation, refining, petroleum product marketing, and...
.
Services
The service industry, which includes the commercial sector, is the most developed industry in the area. On average, 14.7% of the population works in these fields. The two commercial centers of Valdemoro are the Calle Estrella de Elola in the historical district, and the Centro Comercial El Restón, located in one of the new residential neighborhoods that are currently under construction. There has been speculation in recent years that El Corte InglésEl Corte Inglés
El Corte Inglés S.A. , headquartered in Madrid, is the biggest department store group in Europe and ranks fourth worldwide...
and/or Carrefour
Carrefour
Carrefour S.A. is an international hypermarket chain headquartered in Levallois-Perret, France. It is one of the largest hypermarket chains in the world...
are planning to construct a new mall in the municipal district, though this has not been confirmed at present.
Roads
National AutovíaAutovía
An autovía is one of two classes of major highway in the Spanish road system similar to a motorway. It is akin to the autopista, the other major highway class, but has fewer features and is never a toll road. Some distinguishing features of an autovía are that it must be divided by a median, it...
s
- A-4Autovía A-4The Autovía A-4 or Autopista AP-4 is a Spanish autovía and autopista route which starts in Madrid and ends in Cádiz....
: (MadridMadridMadrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
–CórdobaCórdoba, Spain-History:The first trace of human presence in the area are remains of a Neanderthal Man, dating to c. 32,000 BC. In the 8th century BC, during the ancient Tartessos period, a pre-urban settlement existed. The population gradually learned copper and silver metallurgy...
–Sevilla–CádizCádizCadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
)
Toll Autopista
Autopista
Autopista refers to a controlled-access highway in various Spanish-speaking countries*Autopistas and autovías of Spain*Autopistas of Mexico*Autopistas of Puerto Rico*Autopistas of Chile...
s
- R-4: (M-50–OcañaOcaña, SpainOcaña, a town and municipality of central Spain, in the province of Toledo. It is located on the extreme north of the tableland known as the Mesa de Ocaña, and has a station on the railway from Aranjuez to Cuenca.-History:...
)
First-level Autonomous Roads
- M-506 (Villaviciosa de Odón–FuenlabradaFuenlabradaFuenlabrada is a city and municipality located in the Madrid Metropolitan Area, Community of Madrid, Spain. It is located to the southwest of the community, 22,5 km far from the capital, and had a population of 197,836 in 2009. Is the fourth biggest town of Madrid after the capital, Móstoles...
–San Martín de la VegaSan Martín de la VegaSan Martín de la Vega is a town in Spain. It is located in the Comarca de Las Vegas, in the Community of Madrid. It had a population of 18,256 in 2009.It is home to the church of Natividad de Nuestra Señora .-External links:*...
–Arganda del ReyArganda del ReyArganda del Rey is a municipality in Madrid, Spain. It is connected to Madrid by metro line 9, underground.-History:The first definitive habitation in the area dates back to the Arabic presence in the Iberian Peninsula...
) - M-410 (Arroyomolinos–ParlaParlaParla is a municipality of the Madrid Metropolitan Area, Spain. It is located in the southern part of the autonomous community, approximately 20 km from the capital, Madrid. , it has a population of 120,182.- History :- Origins :...
-Valdemoro) (Under construction) - M-423 (Variante Oeste de Valdemoro)
Second-level Autonomous Roads
- M-404 (NavalcarneroNavalcarneroNavalcarnero is a municipality in the Community of Madrid, Spain, located about 31 km from Madrid.Sights include the church of Inmaculada Concepción.-History:...
–GriñónGriñónGriñón is a municipality of the Community of Madrid, Spain.-External links:...
–ChinchónChinchónChinchón is a Spanish town 50 km southeast of Madrid. It is part of the Comarca de Las Vegas.-Overview:The Plaza Mayor is roughly circular, surrounded by 15th-17th century galleried houses and cafés and is used as a temporary bullring. The church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción was built in...
–Villarejo de SalvanésVillarejo de SalvanésVillarejo de Salvanés is a municipality of the Community of Madrid, Spain....
)
Third-level Autonomous Roads
- M-942 (M-404-Valdemoro)
Rail system
Valdemoro has a train station, with service along the Cercanías MadridCercanías Madrid
Cercanías Madrid is the commuter rail service that serves Madrid, the capital of Spain, and its metropolitan area. It is operated by Cercanías Renfe, the commuter rail division of RENFE, the former monopoly of rail services in Spain. The system is infamous for being the target of the 11 March 2004...
C-3 Line. (Atocha–Aranjuez
Aranjuez
Aranjuez is a town lying 48 km south of Madrid, in the southern part of the Community of Madrid. It is located at the confluence of the Tagus and Jarama rivers, 48 km from Toledo. As of 2009, it has a population of 54,055.-History:...
)
There has been some discussion of the creation of a second station in the western zone, but so far no official project has been created. In the last Plan General de Urbanismo ("General Plan of Urbanization"), several tracks of land have been reserved for the creation of a new railway line and station. In June 2006, with the start of the urban expansion project of El Espartal, the government announced that the C-3 Line would make a new stop between the stations of Valdemoro and Ciempozuelos
Ciempozuelos
Ciempozuelos is a town in Spain. It is located in the south of the Community of Madrid. It had a population of 17,769 in 2005 Its origins appear to be Moorish and the name refers to the number of wells that existed in the town. It is clearly not as well-known as its neighbours Chinchón and Aranjuez...
. In addition, plans exist for a high speed train, part of the Alta Velocidad Española
AVE
Alta Velocidad Española is a service of high-speed rail in Spain operated by Renfe, the Spanish national railway company, at speeds of up to . The name is literally translated from Spanish as "Spanish High Speed", but also a play on the word , meaning "bird".AVE trains run on a network of...
Madrid-Levate line, to run through the southern parts of Valdemoro.
Buses
Urban Lines |
Intercity Lines |
Valdemoro has the second-most bus routes in the Community of Madrid, with 7 lines and 572 routes. Only Alcalá de Henares
Alcalá de Henares
Alcalá de Henares , meaning Citadel on the river Henares, is a Spanish city, whose historical centre is one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites, and one of the first bishoprics founded in Spain...
has more daily service.
Light rail
The government has been studying the viability of a light railLight rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
system for the past few years. The proposed line would connect Valdemoro's Cercanías station
Cercanías Madrid
Cercanías Madrid is the commuter rail service that serves Madrid, the capital of Spain, and its metropolitan area. It is operated by Cercanías Renfe, the commuter rail division of RENFE, the former monopoly of rail services in Spain. The system is infamous for being the target of the 11 March 2004...
with the El Restón and UDE Norte-Oeste nighborhoods and the Hospital. The project is part of the Plan de Ampliación de la Red de Metro de Madrid
Madrid Metro
The Madrid Metro is a metro system serving the city of Madrid, capital of Spain. The system is the sixth longest metro in the world though Madrid is approximately the fiftieth most populous metropolitan area in the world...
2007-2011 ("Plan to Expand the Network of the Madrid Metro"). The project was licensed to MINTRA on 9 July 2007.
Public health
The Hospital Infanta Elena opened 24 November 2007, providing services to Valdemoro, San Martín de la VegaSan Martín de la Vega
San Martín de la Vega is a town in Spain. It is located in the Comarca de Las Vegas, in the Community of Madrid. It had a population of 18,256 in 2009.It is home to the church of Natividad de Nuestra Señora .-External links:*...
, Ciempozuelos
Ciempozuelos
Ciempozuelos is a town in Spain. It is located in the south of the Community of Madrid. It had a population of 17,769 in 2005 Its origins appear to be Moorish and the name refers to the number of wells that existed in the town. It is clearly not as well-known as its neighbours Chinchón and Aranjuez...
and Titulcia
Titulcia
' is a municipality of the Community of Madrid, Spain.Of supposedly Roman origin, Titulcia is situated on the ancient military road from Emerita Augusta and Cesaraugusta ' is a municipality of the Community of Madrid, Spain.Of supposedly Roman origin, Titulcia is situated on the ancient military...
. It has 100 beds, 8 operating rooms, and 2 maternity rooms, in addition to urgent care facilities.
Valdemoro also has two other health centers operated by the Consejería de Sanidad de la Comunidad de Madrid:
- Valdemoro Health Center
- El Restón Health Center
Culture and tourism
The main cultural center in Valdemoro is the Centro Cultural Juan Prado. The Centro includes a hall of expositions, a library, the Teatro Municipal Juan Prado, and the offices of the Department of Culture, Tourism, and Cultural Heritage. More cultural activities are available at the Centro Lúdico ("Recreational Center") of the El Restón neighborhood.In addition to the library of the Centro Cultural, Valdemoro has two libraries in the Viva Verde and El Restón neighborhoods, in addition to the new Biblioteca Central built in 2007.
Valdemoro is home to 4 hotels and 6 hostels, with a combined total of 546 rooms. The district's proximity to the Parque Warner Madrid
Parque Warner Madrid
Parque Warner Madrid is a theme park located 25 km southeast of Madrid, Spain, in the municipality of San Martín de la Vega...
and to the capital are key factors to the development of the local hotel economy.
Holidays and celebrations
- Fiesta de Carnaval (February)
- San Marcos (25 April), an Annual holiday celebrated in the Parque Bolitas del Airón. Historically, the Fiesta was a religious holiday in which residents made offerings to guarantee agricultural prosperity. The holiday now celebrates sports and other entertainment and cultural activities.
- Santísimo Cristo de la Salud (Early May), the first patronal celebrations of the municipal district. These holidays originate around the year 1650, when local inhabitants sought permission to celebrate an annual holiday in honor of their patron saint. Celebrations consist of concerts, cultural events, and bull fights.
- Nuestra Señora del Rosario (8 September), the second patronal celebrations of the district, dating back approximately five centuries. Much like the fiestas of Cristo de la Salud, celebrations consist of bull fights, cultural events, and various forms of entertainment.
- Virgen del Pilar (12 October), a recently created feastday for the Virgen del Pilar, tp whom is dedicated a parish in the El Restón neighborhood.
- Feria Barroca (Early October): An annual artisan market from the 17th century, the Feria Barroca was revived in 2004.
Parks and gardens
- Parque Bolitas del Airón. The 440 km² green "heart" of the municipality, the Parque is the city's most emblematic park. It contains the Comunidad de Madrid's largest population of Russian silverberry treesElaeagnus angustifoliaElaeagnus angustifolia, commonly called silver berry, oleaster, Russian olive, or wild olive, is a species of Elaeagnus, native to western and central Asia, from southern Russia and Kazakhstan to Turkey and Iran...
(Elaeagnus angustifolia). - Parque Tierno Galván. Named after the mayor of Madrid from 1979 to 1986, the Parque is the second-largest park in Valdemoro at 120 km². It contains a lake and various small waterways, in addition to a track and a number of playgrounds.
- Parque de España. This 45 km² park located in the El Restón neighborhood contains two lakes, a bike track, and several playgrounds.
- Parque de la Alberiza. Constructed at two different altitudes on a small hill, this 11 km² park contains a central fountain and is surrounded by an arbor of roseRoseA rose is a woody perennial of the genus Rosa, within the family Rosaceae. There are over 100 species. They form a group of erect shrubs, and climbing or trailing plants, with stems that are often armed with sharp prickles. Flowers are large and showy, in colours ranging from white through yellows...
bushes. - Parque del Duque de Ahumada. Located within the historical district, on the grounds of the ancient Colegio de Guardias Jóvenes, the park consists of lawns and gardens of rosebushes and flowers in addition to two fountains and a stand of Japanese wisteriaWisteria floribundaWisteria floribunda, the Japanese wisteria, is a woody liana of the Wisteria family. It was brought from Japan to the United States in 1860 by George Rogers Hall. Since then, it has become one of the most highly romanticized flowering garden plants...
(Wisteria floribunda). - Jardín del Duque. Located next to the Parque del Duque de Ahumada, the garden contains an ornamental fountain and a sculpture of a Guardia Civil guardsman.
- Parque Andalucía. This 6.7 km² park is located at the Northern entrance to the municipal district. It contains a playground and an ornamental fountain where residents enjoy bathing during the summer months.
People
- Juan de Castro, architect.
- Friar Alonso de la Cruz, FranciscanFranciscanMost Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
mystic. - Juan Manuel Sotomayor, Mexican judgeJudgeA judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
. - Friar Pedro Aguado, FranciscanFranciscanMost Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
writer. - Friar Pedro de Palacios, DominicanDominican OrderThe Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
, professorProfessorA professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
, and bishopBishopA bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of GuadixGuadixGuadix, a city of southern Spain, in the province of Granada; on the left bank of the river Guadix, a sub-tributary of the Guadiana Menor, and on the Madrid-Valdepeñas-Almería railway...
. - Alejandro Aguado, professor at the Universidad de Alcalá and historian of the Spanish InquisitionSpanish InquisitionThe Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition , commonly known as the Spanish Inquisition , was a tribunal established in 1480 by Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. It was intended to maintain Catholic orthodoxy in their kingdoms, and to replace the Medieval...
. - Diego de PantojaDiego de PantojaDiego de Pantoja or Diego Pantoja, Chinese: 龐迪我, or Pang Diwo 龐迪我 , was a Spanish Jesuit and missionary to China who is best known for having accompanied Matteo Ricci in Beijing. His name also appears in some sources as Didaco Pantoia.He came to Macao on 20 July 1597...
, missionary. - Pedro López de Lerena, ViceroyViceroyA viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty...
of Chile. - Nicolasa Escamilla, bullfighter.
- Miguel de los SantosMiguel de los SantosMiguel de los Santos is a Spanish television presenter.Born on July 30, 1936 Miguel joint Radio SEU in 1954 as an announcer and then joint Radio Spain. He joint TVE in 1959 and presented shows such as Two in One. For six years he was the Spanish Commentator at the Eurovision Song Contest.In 2002...
, journalist. - Fernando García Morcillo, composer.
- David Santisteban, singer and composer.
- Jesús EspañaJesús EspañaJesús España Cobo is a Spanish runner who mostly concentrates on the 3000 and 5000 metres....
, athlete. - Vicente López y López de Lerena, Doctor, priest, and writer.
People who lived in Valdemoro
- Pedro Antonio de Alarcón, novelist.
- Manuel Bretón de los HerrerosManuel Bretón de los HerrerosManuel Bretón de los Herreros was a Spanish dramatist, educated at Madrid. Enlisting on 24 May 1812, he served against the French in Valencia and Catalonia, and retired with the rank of corporal on 8 March 1822...
, dramaturg, poet and journalist. - Antonio Cánovas del CastilloAntonio Cánovas del CastilloAntonio Cánovas del Castillo was a Spanish politician and historian known principally for his role in supporting the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy to the Spanish throne and for his death at the hands of an anarchist assassin, Michele Angiolillo.-Early career:Born in Málaga as the son of...
, politician and historian. - Antonio Cánovas del Castillo y Vallejo, (AKA: "Kaulak"), photographer.
- Pedro DuquePedro DuquePedro Duque Duque is a Spanish astronaut and a veteran of two space missions.Duque earned a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid in 1986. He worked for GMV and for the European Space Agency for six years before being selected as an astronaut candidate in...
, astronaut.
Sister cities
ZugZug, Western Sahara
Zug is located in the far south-east of Western Sahara. The only erg or sand sea in Western Sahara is located nearby, where it runs from south-west to north-east from Mauritania into Western Sahara and back into Mauritania, where the border forms a right angle. Zug is located in the part of Western...
, Western Sahara
Western Sahara
Western Sahara is a disputed territory in North Africa, bordered by Morocco to the north, Algeria to the northeast, Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Its surface area amounts to . It is one of the most sparsely populated territories in the world, mainly...
. Status affirmed November 2007.
External links
- Ayuntamiento de Valdemoro Official website of the government of Valdemoro. (Spanish)
- Información turística (Spanish)
- Instituto Nacional de Meteorología Meteorological predictions for up to seven days for Valdemoro, from the National Institute of Meteorology. (Spanish)
Statistics
- Instituto Nacional de Estadística: Valdemoro (Spanish)
- Instituto de Estadística de la Comunidad de Madrid > Ficha municipal (Spanish)
- Instituto de Estadística de la Comunidad de Madrid > Series estadísticas del municipio (Spanish)