Leioa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leioa
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Municipality
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Leioa town hall
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 Leioa
Location in Basque Country
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| Country |  Spain |
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| Autonomous Community |  Basque Country |
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| Province | Biscay | |
| Comarca | Greater Bilbao | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 8.5 km2 (3.3 sq mi) | |
| Elevation
(AMSL)
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30 m (100 ft) | |
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 31,495 | |
| • Density | 3,705/km2 (9,600/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST (GMT +2)) | |
| Postal code |
48940
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| Area code(s) | +34 (Spain) + 94 (Biscay) | |
| Website | Town Hall | |
Leioa (which is called Lejona in Spanish) is a town in the Basque Country, a region in northern Spain. It's located in the province of Biscay. Leioa is part of the larger Bilbao area, which is a big city and its surrounding towns. In 2019, about 31,795 people lived here. The town covers an area of about 8.36 square kilometers. The Udondo river forms the eastern edge of Leioa.
Contents
History of Leioa
Leioa started as a town in 1526. Before that, it was part of a nearby area called "anteiglesia de Erandio." For a long time, Leioa was a small village with fewer than 8,000 people.
Things changed in the 1960s when the city of Bilbao started to grow a lot. Leioa also began to develop rapidly. Its population grew very quickly in the 1970s. After that, the growth became more steady. Today, Leioa is an important part of the metropolitan Bilbao area.
Leioa's Neighborhoods
Leioa is made up of several different neighborhoods. Each one has its own unique feel. Some of these neighborhoods include:
- Peruri, Zuazu, Sarriena, Santsoena and Lertutxe.
- Tellería, Basaez, Artatzagane, Negurigane and Aldekoane.
- Artaza, Elexalde, Ikea Mendi, Udondo, Mendibil and Santimami.
- Pinueta, Lamiako, Txopoeta, Ondiz, Txorierri, Aketxe and Ibaiondo (Santa Ana).
What Makes Leioa Special
Even though Leioa has grown a lot, you can still see parts of its past. Many traditional Basque houses are still around. These houses are often found on small family farms outside the town center. However, with new buildings going up, their future is uncertain.
Leioa is also home to a big university. Most of the buildings for the University of the Basque Country (known as EHU-UPV in Basque and Universidad del Pais Vasco in Spanish) are located here. This makes Leioa a lively place with many students.
Fun Festivities in Leioa
Leioa celebrates many traditional festivals throughout the year. These are great times for the community to come together and have fun. Some of the main festivities include:
- May 29: “Lamiako maskarada” festivity in Lamiako.
- June 24: “San Joan Bataiatzailea” festivity in Elexalde.
- August 24: “San Bartolomé” festivity in Basaez.
- September 8: “Ntra. Sra. De los Remedios” festivity in Ondiz.
- May 15: “San Isidro” festivity.
- August 17: Santi Mami jaiak.
- September 10: Udondoko jaiak.
- September 29: San Miguel Txopoetako jaiak.
Getting Around: Leioa's Metro System
Leioa is well-connected by the Metro Bilbao system. This is a fast and easy way to travel around the area. Two subway stations on Line 1 are located in Leioa:
- Leioa station
- Lamiako station
These stations help people get to and from Leioa quickly.
Famous People from Leioa
- Félix Sesúmaga (1898–1925), a professional footballer who played for several teams.
See also
In Spanish: Lejona para niños
