El Prat de Llobregat facts for kids

Quick facts for kids El Prat de Llobregat
Municipality
Aerial view with Barcelona airport in the foreground
Coat of arms
El Prat de Llobregat Location in Catalonia
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Catalonia
Province	Barcelona
Comarca	Baix Llobregat
Area
• Total	31.4 km2 (12.1 sq mi)
Elevation	8 m (26 ft)
Population  (2018)
• Total	64,132
• Density	2,042/km2 (5,290/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	pratense (Spanish), pratenc, -ca (Catalan)

El Prat de Llobregat, often just called El Prat, is a town in Spain. It's located in Catalonia, a region in northeastern Spain. El Prat is part of the larger Barcelona metropolitan area, which means it's close to the big city of Barcelona. A very important part of El Prat is the Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport, which is mostly located within the town's area.

Exploring El Prat's Location

El Prat as seen from space by the European Space Agency's Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission.

El Prat is located in the delta of the Llobregat river. It sits on the right side of the river, right next to the Mediterranean Sea. The town is found between the cities of Barcelona and Viladecans.

A big part of El Prat's land, more than a quarter, is taken up by the Barcelona–El Prat Airport. This airport is a major hub for travel. Besides the airport, the town has good transport links. There's a train station that connects El Prat to Barcelona and Valencia.

El Prat also has a lovely beach where people can relax. There's a small nature reserve too, called the Llac (Lake) de la Ricarda i del Remolar. This area is great for enjoying nature. A fun fact about El Prat is that it's famous for its unique blue-legged chickens, known as gall potablava in Catalan!

The History of El Prat

El Prat started as a small settlement between 1720 and 1740. It began to grow around a path that people used to cross. The first buildings included a church, a hostel, and homes for local farmers. The church was dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul. The hostel was a busy place, serving as a school, a bakery, and a place for travelers to stay.

Over time, new developments helped El Prat grow. A ferry was set up to cross the river, and later, the Ferran Puig bridge was built. The arrival of the railroad also made it easier to travel to and from El Prat. When underground water was discovered, it further helped the town's development. These improvements caused the population to double!

In 1917, a paper factory called La Papelera Espanola opened in El Prat. This marked the beginning of the town's industrial period, bringing more jobs and people.

El Prat and Aviation

Because the land in El Prat was very flat, it was perfect for airplanes. In 1923, three private airfields started operating here. This was the start of El Prat's strong connection to aviation. Eventually, these three airfields were combined in 1948 to create the Barcelona International Airport we know today.

Growth and New Residents

In 1926, another big company, "La Seda de Barcelona," which made textiles (like fabrics), built a factory in the town. This led to a huge growth spurt for El Prat. Many people from southern Spain, especially Andalusia and Extremadura, moved to El Prat for work.

The town's population almost doubled by 1930, and again by 1950. By 1970, it had tripled in size! New neighborhoods like Sant Cosme, Sant Jordi, and La Granja were built to house all the new residents. After this rapid growth, the population has now become more stable.

Population of El Prat

El Prat has grown a lot over the years. In 1857, there were about 1,895 people living here. By 1900, the population had grown to 2,804. The biggest jumps happened between 1930 and 1970, when the town grew from 6,694 people to 36,363! As of 2018, the population of El Prat is around 64,132 people.

El Prat's Climate

El Prat enjoys a Mediterranean climate. This means it has mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. The average temperature throughout the year is about 16.1 degrees Celsius (61 degrees Fahrenheit).

The warmest months are July and August, with average high temperatures around 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit). The coolest months are January and December, with average high temperatures around 14 degrees Celsius (57 degrees Fahrenheit).

El Prat gets most of its rain in the autumn, especially in September and October. The driest months are usually July and June. The town gets a good amount of sunshine throughout the year, with over 2,500 hours of sun annually.

Economy and Businesses in El Prat

Vueling Airlines head office in El Prat de Llobregat

El Prat is home to some important businesses. One of them is the Gearbox del Prat plant. This factory is owned by the Spanish car maker SEAT. It's one of only five places in the world that makes special parts for cars, like gearboxes, for the Volkswagen Group.

Another big company in El Prat is Vueling Airlines. This airline has its main office in the Parque de Negocios Mas Blau II, which is a business park in El Prat. Before it closed down, another airline called Clickair also had its main office here.

Schools and Education in El Prat

El Prat de Llobregat has many public schools for different age groups.

Preschools

• Sol Solet
• Dumbo
• El Cabusset
• La Vailets
• El Xumet del Prat
• Llar d'infants Hello Kitty

Kindergarten and Primary Schools (CEIP)

• Joan Maragall
• Escola Mare de Déu del Carme
• Jacint Verdaguer
• Charles Darwin
• Josep Tarradellas
• Sant Cosme i Sant Damià
• Bernat Metge
• Escola del Parc
• Galileo Galilei
• Sant Jaume
• Jaume Balmes
• Pompeu Fabra
• Ramón Llull

Private Schools (Primary and Secondary Education)

• Col·legi Seda
• Acadèmia Nuestra Señora del Mar García-Lorca
• Escola Mare de Déu del Carme

Secondary Schools and Baccalaureate (INS)

• Estany de la Ricarda
• Baldiri Guilera
• Salvador Dalí
• Doctor Trueta
• Illa dels Banyols
• Institut Ribera Baixa

Special Education Center (CEE)

• Can Rigol

Adult Schools (EPA)

• Sant Cosme
• Terra Baixa

See also

In Spanish: El Prat de Llobregat para niños