Comarca de Alcalá facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alcalá
historical comarca
Coat of arms
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Community of Madrid
Province	Madrid
Capital	Alcalá de Henares
Municipalities	List Ajalvir , Alalpardo , Alcalá de Henares , Algete , Ambite , Anchuelo , Arganda del Rey , Belvis de Jarama , Camarma de Esteruelas , Campo Real , Carabaña , Cobeña , Corpa , Coslada , Daganzo de Arriba , Fresno de Torote , Fuente el Saz de Jarama , Loeches , Los Hueros , Los Santos de la Humosa , Meco , Mejorada del Campo , Nuevo Baztán , Olmeda de las Fuentes , Orusco de Tajuña , Paracuellos de Jarama , Perales de Tajuña , Pezuela de las Torres , Pozuelo del Rey , Ribatejada , Rivas-Vaciamadrid , San Fernando de Henares , Santorcaz , Serracines , Tielmes , Torrejón de Ardoz , Torres de la Alameda , Valdeavero , Valdeolmos , Valdetorres de Jarama , Valdilecha , Valverde de Alcalá , Velilla de San Antonio , Villalbilla , Villar del Olmo
Area
• Total	1,421.42 km2 (548.81 sq mi)
Population
• Total	683,942
• Density	481.1681/km2 (1,246.220/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Largest municipality	Alcalá de Henares

The Comarca de Alcalá is a historical area in Castile, a region in Spain. Today, it is part of the eastern Community of Madrid.

This area is sometimes called a comarca, which is like a traditional district or region. The main city and capital of this area is Alcalá de Henares. Even though the Community of Madrid doesn't officially divide itself into comarcas, some groups still use this name. The Comarca de Alcalá is made up of two natural sub-regions: La Campiña and Alcarria de Alcalá.

What Does "Alcalá" Mean?

The name "Alcalá" comes from the Arabic word Al-Qal'at. This word means "the castle". It refers to the first castles built by Muslims along the Henares River.