Los Montesinos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Los Montesinos
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| Country | Spain | ||
| Autonomous community |  Valencian Community |
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| Province |  Alicante |
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| Comarca | Vega Baja del Segura | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 15 km2 (6 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 7 m (23 ft) | ||
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 4,844 | ||
| • Density | 323/km2 (836/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||
| Postal code |
03187
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| Website | http://www.losmontesinos.es | ||
Los Montesinos is a small town in the south of Spain. It's located in the province of Alicante, within the Valencian Community. This area is known as the Vega Baja del Segura. About 5,477 people live here, according to numbers from 2023. Most people in Los Montesinos speak Spanish.
Contents
Exploring Los Montesinos' Geography
Los Montesinos is in the very south of the Alicante province. It's part of a dry land area, away from the green, irrigated farms near the Segura River. You can reach this town from Alicante by taking the A-7 highway, then connecting to the CV-945 road.
Climate and Weather
The weather in Los Montesinos is usually very mild. Even in the coldest month, the average temperature is above 10°C. However, the area is quite dry, and rainfall can be unpredictable. This means it doesn't rain very often, and when it does, it might be heavy or light.
Nearby Towns and Borders
Los Montesinos shares its borders with several other towns. These include Algorfa, Almoradí, Rojales, San Miguel de Salinas, and Torrevieja.
A Look at Los Montesinos' History
For a long time, from the 1500s until 1990, Los Montesinos was part of the larger town of Almoradí. But in 1990, Los Montesinos became its own independent municipality. This happened thanks to a special rule from the Valencian government.
The town started to grow when new irrigation systems were built. These systems brought water to the dry lands near the Torrevieja salt flats. The name "Los Montesinos" probably comes from the last name of an old landowner. His farm eventually grew into the town you see today.
Population and People
As of 2023, Los Montesinos has a population of 5,477 people. The town is home to a mix of people from Spain and other countries.
Where People Come From (2022)
This table shows where the people living in Los Montesinos came from in 2022:
| Nationality | Boys and Men | Girls and Women | Total | % | Proportion |
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| Spanish | 1704 | 1583 | 3287 | 63.0% |
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| Foreign | 953 | 977 | 1930 | 37.0% |
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How the Population Has Grown
The number of people living in Los Montesinos has changed over the years.
| Population Changes in Los Montesinos | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Year | 1991 | 1996 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | |||||||||
| Population | 2,232 | 2,436 | 2,472 | 2,526 | 2,617 | 2,674 | 2,807 | 2,964 | 3,081 | 3,319 | 3,654 | 4,284 | 4,949 | 5,147 | 5,199 | 5,203 | 5,043 | 4,966 | 4,921 | 4,912 | |||||||||
Los Montesinos' Economy
The economy of Los Montesinos has grown thanks to two main things: better irrigation for farming and tourism. During the 20th century, new engineering projects brought water to the dry land. This helped farming a lot. Also, tourism and building new homes along the coast since the 1980s have boosted the economy.
Farming and Industry
Los Montesinos has a thriving agriculture, especially growing citrus fruits like oranges and lemons, and various vegetables. This also supports a big food processing industry. The town also has factories that make building materials, metal items, and canned fish.
Schools and Learning
Los Montesinos offers several educational opportunities for its residents.
- Municipal Music School: Students here learn music and often perform in concerts and auditions throughout the year. Anyone can come and watch!
- School for Adults: This school helps adults learn new skills. They teach reading, writing, and basic education. They also offer Spanish classes for people from other countries and basic English.
- Municipal Sports Schools: If you love sports, Los Montesinos has many options. They offer training a few times a week with qualified coaches. Students get reports on their progress and a medical check-up. They also get an athlete's card and can join activities organized by the Sports Department.
Interesting Places to Visit
Los Montesinos has several historical and natural spots worth exploring.
- Cisterns: These are old underground tanks used to store water.
- Cistern of the La Marquesa farm: This cistern was built around the mid-1700s. It helped provide water to the first people who settled here.
- Cistern of Lo de Reig: This large cistern shows how important water storage was long ago. It's a rectangular tank dug into the ground, covered with a rounded roof.
- Cistern of Lo de Vigo Viejo: Another example of old water storage, built with stone and plaster. It has a unique hexagonal chapel on top.
- Religious Buildings:
- Hermitage of the Virgin of the Rosary
- Church of Our Lady of the Pillar: Built in 1886, this church shows how the town grew around the Torrevieja lagoon. It has a main area, two smaller sides, an altar, a choir, and a tower.
- Windmill: You can see the remains of an old flour mill at Finca Las Moreras.
- La Marquesa Area: This area has been settled since Roman times! You can find old Roman remains and even parts of the Vía Augusta, an ancient Roman road. From the Islamic period, a collection of Arab coins from the 10th and 11th centuries was found here in 1974. This land was once owned by a noble family and later given to a religious group, which helped start the Los Montesinos settlement.
- Plaza Mayor of the Sacred Heart: This is the main square of the town, a great place to relax and meet people.
- Via Augusta: An ancient Roman road that passed through the area.
- The White Virgin: A local landmark.
- Botanical Garden July 30: A lovely garden to explore different plants.
- Herrada Parks: Green spaces for recreation.
Fun Festivities
Los Montesinos celebrates several important events throughout the year.
- Patronal Festivities: These celebrations honor the Lady of the Pillar and start on October 12. During this time, there are many fun activities.
- Pilgrimage to the Marquesa: A special journey to the La Marquesa area.
- Offering of Flowers: People bring flowers to honor the Lady of the Pillar.
- Floats Parade: Many people in the town dress up and ride on decorated floats through the streets. It's a lively event that brings joy to both residents and visitors!
- Anniversary of Segregation: Celebrated on July 30, this day marks when Los Montesinos became its own independent town.
See also
In Spanish: Los Montesinos para niños
