Guadalcanal, Seville Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Guadalcanal

Municipality

Coat of arms

Guadalcanal

Location in Province of Seville

Guadalcanal

Location in Andalusia

Guadalcanal

Location in Spain

Spain

Comarca

Sierra Norte de Sevilla

Population

(2018)

• Total

2,646

Guadalcanal is a small village located in the Province of Seville, in the Andalusia region of southern Spain. It is known for its interesting history and beautiful natural surroundings.

This village shares its name with a famous island in the Solomon Islands. The island was named "Guadalcanal" in 1568 by Pedro de Ortega Valencia. He was born in this Spanish village and worked for the Spanish explorer Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira.

Where is Guadalcanal?
- Population and Size
What Does the Name Mean?
A Look at History
- Early Times and Reconquest
- Silver Mines and Later Challenges
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Where is Guadalcanal?

Guadalcanal is found in a valley between two mountain ranges. These are called the Sierra del Agua and the Sierra del Viento. It is part of the Sierra Norte de Sevilla region.

The village is about 80 kilometers north of the big city of Seville. It sits at an altitude of 662 meters (about 2,172 feet) above sea level.

Population and Size

In 2006, about 2,970 people lived in Guadalcanal. The village covers an area of 275 square kilometers (about 106 square miles). This means there were about 10.6 people living in each square kilometer.

What Does the Name Mean?

The name "Guadalcanal" comes from an old Arabic phrase. It is wādī al-qanāl, which means 'river of the stalls' or 'valley of stalls'. This name was given during the time of Muslim rule in Andalusia. It refers to places where people set up stalls to sell things.

Before the Arabic name, the village had other names. These included Tereses, Tereja, or Canani. These names were used by the Iberians, who lived there long ago.

A Look at History

Guadalcanal has a long and interesting past. It has seen many changes over the centuries.

Early Times and Reconquest

In 1241, the village was taken back from the Moors by the Order of Santiago. After this, Guadalcanal became part of the Kingdom of León. This kingdom was an important part of Spain at that time.

The village once had strong walls to protect it. However, these walls were later torn down. This happened because Guadalcanal took part in the Revolt of the Comuneros. This was a big uprising against the king.

Silver Mines and Later Challenges

In the middle of the 16th century, silver mines were found near Guadalcanal. A rich German banking family, the Fugger family, helped pay for these mines. This brought some wealth to the area.

The 19th century was a difficult time for the village. Many problems caused four nunneries in Guadalcanal to close down. Like many other small towns in Spain, Guadalcanal saw many people leave in the 20th century. They moved to bigger cities looking for work and new opportunities.