La Carolina facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
La Carolina
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 La Carolina
Location in Province of Jaén (Spain)
La Carolina
Location in Andalusia
La Carolina
Location in Spain
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| Country |  Spain |
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| Autonomous community |  Andalusia |
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| Province | Jaén | |
| Municipality | La Carolina | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 201 km2 (78 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 595 m (1,952 ft) | |
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 15,306 | |
| • Density | 76.15/km2 (197.2/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | |
La Carolina is a city and municipality located in the province of Jaén, Spain. It is in the southern part of the country. According to a 2014 census, about 15,808 people lived there.
Contents
History of La Carolina
La Carolina has a very interesting past. It used to be the main town of an area called the Intendencia of the Nuevas Poblaciones de Andalucía y Sierra Morena. This special area was created in 1767 by King Charles III.
Why La Carolina Was Founded
The king wanted to settle this remote and wild part of the Sierra Morena mountains. His minister, Pablo de Olavide, helped create the plan. The main goal was to make the area around the Despeñaperros gorge safer. This gorge was known as "the gateway to Andalusia." It was a famous spot on the old royal highway from Cádiz to Madrid. Bandits often attacked travelers there. Other towns like La Carlota and La Luisiana were also part of this plan. The Intendencia administrative division ended in 1813.
The First Settlers
About six thousand Catholic settlers came to La Carolina. They arrived from countries like Belgium, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. They were offered land and animals to help them start new lives. Each family received five chickens, five goats, five sheep, two cows, and a sow.
However, life was hard for these new settlers. Within a few years, about half of them had died from illness or returned home. The remaining settlers slowly became more like the local Spanish people. They adopted the language and customs of Spain. Even today, you can find people in this area with German-sounding last names. Some examples are Eisman, Minch, Clap, Smidt, Ming, and Kobler.
Town Layout
Because La Carolina was founded more recently and with European settlers in mind, it has a unique layout. Unlike many older towns in Andalusia, which have winding, narrow streets, La Carolina has a very regular, grid-like pattern. It features wide avenues, similar to colonial-style towns. This design is very different from the Moorish-patterned towns often found in Andalusia.
Towns of the Intendencia
These are some of the towns that were part of the original Intendencia plan.
Towns in Jaén Province
- Aldeaquemada
- Arquillos
- Carboneros
- La Carolina
- Concepción de Almuradiel
- Guarromán
- Miranda del Rey, a village of Santa Elena municipality
- Magaña-Montizón, Magaña is a village of Santa Elena municipality
- Navas de Tolosa, a village of La Carolina municipality
- Santa Elena
Towns in Córdoba Province
Notable People
- Custodia Romero (1905-1974), a famous flamenco dancer and actress.
See also
In Spanish: La Carolina para niños
