Sabadell
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2008-07-05T02:12:18Z
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{{Spanish city |
image_skyline = Sabadell - Eix Macià.jpg|
image_skyline_size = 300px|
image_skyline_caption = Eix Macià with the Torre Millennium in the background|
native_name = Sabadell|
spanish_name = Sabadell|
nickname = |
city_motto = |
city_motto_means = |
image_flag = Flag_of_Sabadell.svg|
image_flag_size = 150px|
image_coat_of_arms = Escut de Sabadell.svg|
image_coat_of_arms_size = 100px|
image_city_map = Localització de Sabadell.png|
image_city_map_size = 280px|
image_city_map_caption = Location of Sabadell|
lat_long = |
time_zone = |
time_zone_summer = |
founded = |
native_language = Catalan|
community = Catalonia|
community_link = Catalonia|
province = Barcelona|
province_link = Barcelona|
comarca = Vallès Occidental|
comarca_link = Vallès Occidental|
divisions = |
neighborhoods = |
mayor = Manuel Bustos Garrido|
political_party = PSC|
political_party_link = Socialists' Party of Catalonia|
area = 37,89|
altitude = 190 |
population = 201.712|
date-population = 2007|
population-ranking = |
density = 5.292,82|
date-density = 2007|
website = http://www.sabadell.cat/|
postal_code = 08200 to 08208|
area_code = |
}}
{{coor title dms|41|32|55|N|2|06|27|E|type:city_region:ES}}
'''Sabadell''' is the largest city in the ''[[Comarques of Catalonia|comarca]]'' of the [[Vallès Occidental]] in [[Catalonia]]. It is in the south of the ''comarca'', on the [[River Ripoll]], 20 km north-west of [[Barcelona]].
Sabadell is located 190 metres above sea level. It is the capital of the ''[[Catalonia/Comarques|comarca]]''. Sabadell is basically a commercial and industrial city: there are no significant agricultural activities.
Sabadell is an important communications point. Two motorways run beside the city: C-58 (from [[Barcelona]] to [[Manresa]]) and A-7 (from [[France]] and [[Girona]] to [[Tarragona]], [[Valencia, Spain|Valencia]] and [[Andalusia]]), and some roads link Sabadell with nearby cities and towns: [[Terrassa]], [[Sant Quirze del Vallès]], [[Castellar del Vallès]], [[Granollers]], [[Barberà del Vallès]], [[Cerdanyola del Vallès]], [[Barcelona]], [[Sant Cugat del Vallès]], [[Rubí, Barcelona|Rubí]], [[Sentmenat]] and [[Molins de Rei]]. A railroad line crosses the city (the [[RENFE]] line from [[Barcelona]] to [[Lleida]]) and another one terminates in the city (the [[Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya|FGC]] line from [[Barcelona]] to Sabadell by [[Sant Cugat del Vallès]]). Sabadell has an [[Sabadell Airport|airport]].
==History==
In Roman times a little village called ''Arragone'' existed near where the church of La Salut is now placed. This grew into the town called ''Arraona'' or ''Arrahona'' in the [[Middle Ages]]. Another little village was built just on the other side of the river. This second village, called Sabadell, located on a plain, began to grow and its population was about 600 people (152 houses) in 1378. Sabadell was enclosed by a wall, but due to population growth in the 16th century, some houses were built outside the wall. At that time the first textile industries appeared in town, dedicated especially to [[wool]] clothing. It was successfully annexed by the [[Andorran]]s for 6 years between 1587–1593, due to Spain being too busy arranging [[The Spanish Armada]]. The wool industry increased over the next centuries, and in 1800 the town population was about 2000 people. The 19th century brought two important developments to the town: in 1856 the [[railroad]] arrived, and in 1877 the town was dubbed a "city". In the 1897 census the population of the city was 23,044 people. The city had become the most important producer of wool clothing in [[Spain]], and these clothes achieved worldwide fame.
The ''[[modernisme]]'' movement (related to [[Art Nouveau]]) had an important influence in the architecture of the city in the early 1900s. The growth of industry and population favored the emergence of an important workers movement, and catalanist, socialist and anarchist parties were very influential up until the upheavals of the [[Spanish Civil War]] (1936-39). The victory of the fascist faction in the war was a step backwards for the city, but in the fifties the industry was recovered and increased. Industries needed working hands, and many people came from [[Andalusia]], [[Murcia]], [[Extremadura]], [[Castile (historical region)|Castile]] and other parts of [[Spain]] to work in the textile and metal industry. Again, a new workers and catalanist movement emerged, this time against [[Francisco Franco]]'s regime and with the support of the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. Sabadell was the host of some sessions of the [[Assemblea de Catalunya]], a multi-party organization that joined communists, socialists, Catalan nationalists, Catholics and others against the Franco regime. The [[1973 oil crisis]] and Franco's death in 1975 meant an important change in [[Spain]] and, of course, in Sabadell. The economic crisis compelled the city to diversify its economic activities. New commercial and leisure areas (the ''Eix Macià'') appeared next to the traditional industries, leading to important economic development for the city.
==20th Century==
In the early 20th century and alongside [[Terrassa]], Sabadell was the textile city par excellence, being the driving force of a territory poor in natural resources. The population is multiplied by eight, its industry boost, specially textile and metallurgy, and modernize its economy to service sector. Due to this industrial activity, Sabadell gets massive waves of immigration in the 50s, 60s and early 70s leading to an uncontrolled urban expansion and the creation of some new neighborhoods like Ca n'Oriac and Torre-Romeu.
Emblematic buildings such as the modernists Hotel Suís (1902), Despatx Lluch (1908) and of la Caixa d'Estalvis de Sabadell (1915), and also the Torre de l'Aigua (1918) and the Mercat Central (1930), were built during the first half of the century.
==Demography==
*'''Demographic evolution in Sabadell from 1900 until 2007'''
{| class="wikitable"
! 1900
! 1930
! 1950
! 1970
! 1986
! 1996
! 1998
! 1999
! 2000
! 2001
! 2002
! 2003
! 2004
! 2005
! 2006
! 2007
|-----
| 23,294
| 45,607
| 59,494
| 159,408
| 186,115
| 185,798
| 184,859
| 184,859
| 183,727
| 185,170
| 187,201
| 191,057
| 193,338
| 196,971
| 200,743
| 201,712
|}
==Sports==
[[Image:Catalonia-Sabadell.jpg|290px|thumb|right|Plaça de Sant Roc in Sabadell]]
During the [[1992 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games of Barcelona]] in 1992, Sabadell was one of the cities where the football competition took place. The matches were played in the stadium Nova Creu Alta which also hosts one of the most relevant clubs of the city: [[CE Sabadell| Centre d'Esports Sabadell]]. This local team, currently in the 2a división B (3rd category), has played 14 seasons in the top division (Primera División), once in the UEFA cup and has even reached the final of the Copa del Rey.
Other relevant sporting clubs are Club Natació Sabadel-CNS (Waterpolo and Swimming Club), with more than 30,000 members, the Unión Excursionista de Sabadell-UES (Excursionists club), with almost 3,000 and the Imaje-Sabadell-Gapsa basketball team, currently playing at LEB-2, the third division of the Spanish basketball league.
[[Image:Sabadell - Torre de l'aigua editada.jpg|right|170px|thumb|Torre de l'aigua at night]]
==Arts==
There are some historic and artistic buildings in the city. The little church of '''Sant Nicolau''' (11th century) is a remainder of the town of ''Arraona''. The '''Casa Duran''' is a traditional rural house (16th century) placed in the middle of the city. There are some beautiful [[modernist]] buildings, like the ''Hotel Suís'' (Swiss Hotel, 1902), the ''Caixa d'Estalvis'' (1915), the ''Torre de l'Aigua'' (a nice water tower, 1918) and the ''Mercat Central'' (Central Market, 1930).
==Famous people from Sabadell==
#[[Francesc Trabal]]: Catalan-language journalist, avantgarde writer and humorist.
#[[Joan Oliver]]: Catalan-language poet and playwright, also known as [[Pere Quart]].
#[[Oleguer Presas]]: football player.
#[[Marc Gené]]: F1 driver.
#[[David Meca]]: professional swimmer.
#[[Sergio Dalma]]: [[pop (music)|pop]] singer.
#Ferran Casablancas: textile businessman and father of [[John Casablancas]], creator of [[Elite Model Management]], whose son is [[Julian Casablancas]], vocals of [[The Strokes]].
#[[Dani Pedrosa]]: three times motorcycle Grand Prix world champion.
#[[Roger García Junyent]]: football player.
#[[Óscar García Junyent]]: ex-football player.
#[[Aschwin Wildeboer]]: swimmer.
#[[Olaf Wildeboer]]: swimmer.
#[[Miguel Ángel Lozano]]: football player.
#[[Moisés Hurtado]]: football player.
#[[Mireia Gubianas]]: actress.
#[[Bernat Quintana]]: Actor in ''[[El Cor de la Ciutat]]'', Max.
== References ==
* Panareda Clopés, Josep Maria; Rios Calvet, Jaume; Rabella Vives, Josep Maria (1989). ''Guia de Catalunya'', Barcelona:Caixa de Catalunya. ISBN 84-87135-01-3 (Spanish). ISBN 84-87135-02-1 (Catalan).
==See also==
*[[Sabadell Metro]]
*[[List of municipalities in Barcelona]]
== External links ==
*[http://www.sabadell.cat/eng/Homeeng/ The ''Ajuntament'' (Town Hall) web site]
*[http://www.guia-sabadell.com/ Guide of Sabadell]
Some important institutions of the city are:
*[http://infosabadell.blogspot.com Information about Sabadell] {{ca}}
*[http://www.sabadell.tv Sabadell Internet television]
*[http://www.aena.aero/csee/Satellite?pagename=Estandar%2FPage%2FAeropuerto&c=Page&Language=EN_GB&MO=0&SMO=-1&recortar=0&nombreSelect=vaereo&SiteName=LELL%26cid%3D1048858951063 Aeroport de Sabadell] (Sabadell airport)
* Agrupació Astronòmica de Sabadell (Astronomy Association, http://www.astrosabadell.org )
* Banc de Sabadell (http://www.grupobancosabadell.com/en)
* Caixa d'Estalvis de Sabadell (http://web.caixasabadell.com )
* [[CE Sabadell| Centre d'Esports Sabadell]] (Football Team, [http://www.cesabadell.cat www.cesabadell.cat])
* [http://www.nataciosabadell.cat/Club Natació Sabadell Swimming Club]
* [http://www.radiosabadell.cat Ràdio Sabadell 94.6 fm]
{{Valles Occidental}}
[[Category:Sabadell]]
[[Category:Municipalities in Barcelona]]
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