El Raal facts for kids

El Raal is a small village and a district located in Murcia, a region in Spain. It's part of the larger Murcia municipality.

Where is El Raal?

El Raal is found in the northern part of the Huerta de Murcia region. This area is a flat plain near the coast in the Region of Murcia. It's about 10.8 kilometers (about 6.7 miles) away from the main city of Murcia.

A Look at El Raal's History

We don't have proof of people living here before the Middle Ages. The history of El Raal is closely linked to the Segura River. This river and its irrigation canals were very important for the area.

Early Records

The first written mentions of El Raal are from the years 1257 and 1271. Later, in the Modern Age, around 1452, there are records of taxes being collected in this district.

A Brief Time as Its Own Town

Between 1820 and 1823, during a period called the Trienio Liberal in Spain, El Raal actually had its own local government. It was even called 'Villa Constitucional de El Raal de Teatinos'. This special status lasted for three years.

Population Changes Over Time

The 20th century saw a big increase in the number of people living in El Raal. In 1900, there were 1,559 residents. Forty years later, in 1940, the population had more than doubled to 3,367. By 1963, it reached 5,171 people.

However, after 1963, the population dropped for a while. In 1972, there were 3,958 residents. But then, the numbers started to grow again. By 1996, 5,132 people called El Raal home.

Who Lives in El Raal?

About 19.5% of the people living in El Raal are from other countries. Most of these come from other parts of Europe (4.87%) or Africa (12.9%). Smaller numbers come from the Americas (1.55%) and Asia (0.2%).

The table below shows how the population has changed in the 21st century:

See also

In Spanish: El Raal para niños