Barakaldo
Encyclopedia
Barakaldo is a 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). The area has an industrial river-port heritage and has undergone significant redevelopment with new commercial and residential areas replacing the once active industrial zones.
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.
Over recent decades, the industrial zones surrounding Barakaldo have declined in importance as several large companies have shut down, (e.g. Babcock & Wilcox. There are still some active factories, however the once majorly industrial areas are continuing to be redeveloped into residential properties, parks and shopping malls (e.g. Ikea
and the MegaPark). A large exhibition centre (BEC, Bilbao Exhibition Centre
) has recently been built on the outskirts of the town at Ansio.
which has four stations in the city and by the train
. BizkaiBus
company provides a bus service, with connections to the rest of Biscay.
The main road that goes around Barakaldo is the Bilbao to Santander A-8 motorway
, that links Barakaldo with the metropolitan area and the rest of Spain.
A regular boat ferry services connect Barakaldo to the other side of the Estuary of Bilbao
(Erandio
).
Barakaldo is located 15 kilometers from Bilbao Airport
, getting there takes around 15–20 minutes by car.
Every July the town celebrates "Las Fiestas del Carmen", with open air concerts, fun fairs and a good deal of late night partying.
club in Spain's Segunda División B - Group 2
, Barakaldo Club de Fútbol that play their home games at the 8000 capacity Estadio Nuevo Lasesarre
.
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. It is located in the Biscay
Biscay
Biscay is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Biscay. Its capital city is Bilbao...
(Bizkaia) province, administratively included in the "Basque Autonomous Community", on the left bank
Left Bank (Biscay)
The left bank of the Estuary of Bilbao is a part of the Greater Bilbao region, its main towns are Barakaldo, Sestao, Santurtzi and Portugalete and in addition to the iron mines , was the heart of the intense industrialisation of Biscay...
of the Estuary of Bilbao
Estuary of Bilbao
The Estuary of Bilbao lies at the common mouth of the rivers Nervion, Ibaizabal and Cadagua, that drain most of Biscay and part of Alava in the Basque Country, Spain. It is a large estuary long that extends from Bilbao to the Bilbao Abra bay, a widening that makes the final transition between...
.
Barakaldo is part of Bilbao
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
's metropolitan area (Greater Bilbao), and its official population at the 2006 census
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....
was 95,675 inhabitants living on a land area of 29.39 km² (11.35 sq mi). The area has an industrial river-port heritage and has undergone significant redevelopment with new commercial and residential areas replacing the once active industrial zones.
History
The 1911 Encyclopædia 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 country round Baracaldo is covered with maize, pod fruit and vines.
Modern Barakaldo was later the endpoint of a mining railroad, since iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
mining was a major economic activity of the region during part of the 19th and 20th centuries. The Steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
industry, led by Altos Hornos de Vizcaya
Altos Hornos de Vizcaya
Altos Hornos de Vizcaya was a ironworks business that began in 1902 in Bilbao with the merger of three iron and steel businesses: Altos Hornos de Bilbao, La Vizcaya, and La Iberia...
, had a very important presence during the 20th century, until the industrial recession hit the region's economy hard in the 1980s.
Over recent decades, the industrial zones surrounding Barakaldo have declined in importance as several large companies have shut down, (e.g. Babcock & Wilcox. There are still some active factories, however the once majorly industrial areas are continuing to be redeveloped into residential properties, parks and shopping malls (e.g. Ikea
IKEA
IKEA is a privately held, international home products company that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture such as beds and desks, appliances and home accessories. The company is the world's largest furniture retailer...
and the MegaPark). A large exhibition centre (BEC, Bilbao Exhibition Centre
Bilbao Exhibition Centre
The Bilbao Exhibition Centre Is the headquarters of the Feria de Muestras de Bilbao. Its facilities are located on land formerly occupied by the company Altos Hornos de Vizcaya in the neighbourhood of Ansio in the Vizcaina de Barcaldo Resort Bilbao of Baracaldo in The Basque Country, Spain...
) has recently been built on the outskirts of the town at Ansio.
Transport
Barakaldo is linked to the rest of the metropolitan area by line 2 of the undergroundMetro Bilbao
Metro Bilbao is a rapid transit system serving the city of Bilbao and the region of Greater Bilbao. Its lines have a "Y" shape, with two lines that transit both banks of the Nervión river and then combine to form one line that ends in the south of Bilbao...
which has four stations in the city and by the train
Cercanías Bilbao
Cercanías Bilbao is a commuter rail network in Bilbao, serving the city and its metropolitan area. It is operated by Cercanías, as part of Renfe, the national railway company...
. BizkaiBus
BizkaiBus
BizkaiBus is the name for bus services serving the province of Biscay, Spain. It is named after the Basque name of the province, Bizkaia. The buses can be identified by their distinctive yellow colour scheme....
company provides a bus service, with connections to the rest of Biscay.
The main road that goes around Barakaldo is the Bilbao to Santander A-8 motorway
Autovía A-8
The Autovía A-8 is a highway that connects all the regions on the Northern Coast of Spain. It is known as the Autovía del Cantábrico and connects Baamonde and Bilbao, where it continues as the Autopista AP-8 to the French border...
, that links Barakaldo with the metropolitan area and the rest of Spain.
A regular boat ferry services connect Barakaldo to the other side of the Estuary of Bilbao
Estuary of Bilbao
The Estuary of Bilbao lies at the common mouth of the rivers Nervion, Ibaizabal and Cadagua, that drain most of Biscay and part of Alava in the Basque Country, Spain. It is a large estuary long that extends from Bilbao to the Bilbao Abra bay, a widening that makes the final transition between...
(Erandio
Erandio
Erandio is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain.In 1415, during the War of the Bands, the corregidor, the royally-appointed governor of the Biscayan hermandad, acting on royal orders, siphoned off Biscayan wheat to...
).
Barakaldo is located 15 kilometers from Bilbao Airport
Bilbao Airport
Bilbao Airport is a public airport located north of Bilbao, in the municipality of Loiu, in the Basque Country. It is the most important airport of the Basque Country and northern Spain, with 4,172,903 passengers on 2008...
, getting there takes around 15–20 minutes by car.
Fiesta
- Carmenes de Baracaldo: www.i-barakaldo.com/carmenesbarakaldo
Sport
The city has a footballFootball (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club in Spain's Segunda División B - Group 2
Segunda División B
Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division...
, Barakaldo Club de Fútbol that play their home games at the 8000 capacity Estadio Nuevo Lasesarre
Estadio Nuevo Lasesarre
Estadio Nuevo Lasesarre is a stadium in Barakaldo, Spain. It is currently used for football matches and is the home stadium of Barakaldo CF. The stadium holds 10,000 spectators.-External links:**...
.
Famous people from Barakaldo
- Asier del HornoAsier del HornoAsier del Horno Cosgaya is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Levante UD mainly as a left defender.-Athletic Bilbao:...
, footballer - Carlos Sobera, actor
- César Sarachu, actor
- David LópezDavid López (cyclist)David López García is a Spanish road racing cyclist. He currently rides for the . He joined the team in 2007 after turning professional for Euskaltel-Euskadi.- Major achievements :2007...
, cyclist - Iñaki LafuenteIñaki LafuenteIñaki Lafuente Sancha is a Spanish footballer, as a goalkeeper.-Club career:Lafuente was a graduate of Lezama, the famed Athletic Bilbao youth academy. He made his debuts with the first team in 1999–2000. Previously, he served two loans at modest Basque neighbours, adding another with Elche CF...
, footballer - Javier González GómezJavier González GómezJavier 'Javi' González Gómez is a retired Spanish footballer. Mainly a midfielder, he could operate on either side of the pitch....
, footballer - Javier OtxoaJavier OtxoaJavier Otxoa Palacios is a Spanish cyclist, formerly of the Kelme cycling team. His name is sometimes spelled Javier Ochoa in media reports....
, cyclist - Josep Lluís NúñezJosep Lluís NuñezJosep Lluís Núñez i Clemente was president of FC Barcelona between 1978 and 2000. Núñez also owns the Núñez i Navarro construction company and Núñez i Navarro Hotels chain. He was elected club president on 1 July 1978 despite having no previous connection with the club...
, president of FC BarcelonaFC BarcelonaFutbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
between 1978 and 2000 - Juan Manuel de Prada, writer
- Mikel Dañobeitia, footballer
- Nicolás Redondo, politician
- Raquel Alzate, cartoonist
- Ricardo Otxoa, cyclist
- Unai Expósito, footballer
See also
- Barakaldo D.F., a Mägo de OzMägo de OzMägo de Oz is a Spanish folk/heavy metal band from Begoña, Madrid formed in mid-1988 by drummer Txus di Fellatio. In 1992, the band were finalists in the Villa de Madrid contest. Then, they went onto achieve great success in Spain, and in 1995, were declared Revolution Rock Band...
concert DVD filmed in Barakaldo
External links
- www.i-barakaldo.com La comunidad virtual de Barakaldo
- Official website (in Basque / Spanish)