Carche facts for kids
Carche (also known as El Carche) is a mountainous area in Spain. It is located in the Region of Murcia. You can find it between the towns of Jumilla and Yecla.
The highest mountain peak here is called Pico de la Madama. It stands tall at 1,371 meters (about 4,498 feet). Part of Carche is a special regional park. Only a few small villages are near the park. These are Raspay, La Alberquilla, and Carche. In 2005, only 182 people lived in these villages.
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What Does "Carche" Mean?
The name "Carche" can mean a few different things.
A Larger Area
"Carche" can refer to a larger area. This area covers about 300 square kilometers. It includes parts of the towns of Yecla, Jumilla, and Abanilla. Some people living here speak Valencian. In 2005, about 533 people lived in this larger Carche area.
A Small Village
"Carche" is also the name of a small village. This village is the biggest in size. However, it has the fewest people living in it.
Why Do People Speak Valencian in Carche?
Experts have studied the languages spoken in Carche. Researchers like Pere Barnils and Antoni Griera first noted that Valencian was spoken here. This was in the early 1900s. Later, Manuel Sanchis i Guarner studied the unique way Valencian is spoken in this area.
Valencian is not an official language in Murcia. But the Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua helps. They organize Valencian classes in Yecla. This happens when the local town asks for them.
A Look Back: Carche's History
After the expulsion of the Moriscos in the 1600s, many areas became empty. Large parts of Yecla, Jumilla, and Abanilla had very few people. These lands were first used for grazing animals. This was from 1878 to 1887. Later, people started farming there. They mostly grew vineyards.
New Settlers and Their Language
People from the Vinalopó valley started moving to Carche. This valley is in the Alicante province. Many of these new settlers were farmers. They spoke Valencian. They brought their language with them. Most Valencian speakers arrived in the 1800s and 1900s. This is why Carche was never part of the historic Kingdom of Valencia. It is also why it is not part of the modern Valencian Community.
These new settlers built small towns. They settled near the mountains of Carche. This is how the area got its name. They founded about twenty small places. But these places never became independent towns. They remained part of Yecla, Jumilla, or Abanilla. Some of these hamlets include La Arbequilla, La Raja, La Torre del Rico, Cañada del Trigo, La Zarza, El Collado de los Gabrieles, Cañada de la Leña, and Umbría de la Zarza.
Who Lives in Carche Today?
The population of Carche has changed a lot. In 1950, about 3,000 people lived there. Today, only about 500 people live in the region. Many people moved away. This was mainly because of problems with farming.
Some small villages are now completely empty. Most people still registered as living in Carche actually live in other towns. They live in Yecla, Jumilla, or Pinoso. They only travel to Carche for their farm work.
Population in 2005
Here is how the population was spread out in 2005:
- In the municipality of Jumilla:
- Torre del Rico: 59 inhabitants.
- El Carche (village): 35 inhabitants.
- Cañada del Trigo: 158 inhabitants.
- Raspay (in Yecla): 129 inhabitants.
- Cañada de la Leña (in Abanilla): 152 inhabitants.
See also
In Spanish: El Carche para niños
