Meco, Spain facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Meco
Municipality
Flag Coat of arms
Meco Location in Spain
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Madrid
Province	Madrid
Comarca	Comarca de Alcalá
Area
• Total	35.07 km2 (13.54 sq mi)
Elevation	673 m (2,208 ft)
Population  (2018)
• Total	13,959
• Density	398.03/km2 (1,030.90/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Mequero
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	28880

Meco (Spanish: [ˈmeko]) is a town in the eastern part of the Community of Madrid in Spain. In 2018, about 13,959 people lived there.

Meco is located north of the Henares River. This area is known for its wide grain fields and gentle hills. The town is about 8 kilometers (5 miles) north of Alcalá de Henares. It is also close to the University of Alcalá, providing homes for students and staff. Meco is part of an important industrial area called the Henares Industrial Corridor.

To the east, Meco borders towns like Azuqueca de Henares and Villanueva de la Torre. These towns are in the province of Guadalajara and the region of Castile-La Mancha. You can reach Meco by old paths like the Royal Cattle Track of Galiana. The Henares Canal also runs nearby.

Geography of Meco

Meco is located on the edge of a flat area near the Henares River. It is about 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Madrid, the capital city.

• Altitude: 673 meters (2,208 feet) above sea level.
• Latitude: 40° 33′ 00″ N
• Longitude: 003° 19′ 59″ W

Small rivers like Las Monjas and Villanueva flow through the area. Meco is also known for being the town in Spain that is furthest from the sea.

Meco's Economy

For a long time, Meco was an agricultural town. Farmers grew crops like wheat in the dry soil. Meco used to send wheat, flour, and bread to nearby cities. These cities included Alcalá de Henares, Guadalajara, and Madrid. Today, the town's economy also includes salt mining.

History of Meco

People have lived in the Meco area for a very long time. Archaeologists have found remains from the Iron Age. They also found an old necropolis (a burial ground) from Ancient Rome. It is thought that Meco might have started as a Roman farm. Later, during Muslim times, it might have been a place where wheat was stored.

After the Reconquista (when Christian kingdoms took back land in Spain), Meco became part of the area around Guadalajara. In the 1400s, King Juan II of Castile gave Meco to a nobleman. Later, in 1801, Meco became part of the region of Alcalá de Henares.

Art and Architecture

Meco has several interesting old buildings.

Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción

The most important building is the beautiful parish Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (Meco). It is dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption. You can find it in the main square, Plaza de la Constitución.

• Construction: Building started in the mid-1500s. It was built in a style that mixed Gothic and Baroque styles. The church was finished in the 1600s.
• Design: The church has three main sections, called naves. The central nave has a rounded ceiling. The sides have pointed arches. It also has a Baroque dome (a rounded roof). An atrium (an open court) surrounds the church.
• Importance: This church was recognized as an important historical monument in 1982. It has been part of the cultural heritage of the Community of Madrid since 1992.

Other Historic Buildings

The main street in Meco also has many beautiful old houses. These houses show the town's history.

There are also two small chapels, called hermitages:

• The Hermitage of Christ of Succour (Christo del Socorro), possibly from the late 1500s.
• The Hermitage of the Virgin (Virgen de la Cabeza), from the 1600s.

Population Changes

The table below shows how Meco's population has grown over the years. You can see that the number of people living in Meco has increased quite a lot since 1980.

Getting Around Meco

Meco has good public transport options.

Train Station

Meco has a train station. This station connects the town to several cities and villages, including:

• Guadalajara
• Alcalá de Henares
• Madrid

Roads

The town is also connected to the A-2 highway, a major road.

Bus Lines

Meco has two main bus lines:

• Line 222: Travels between Madrid (Avenida de América) and Meco. This line is operated by ALSA.
• Line 250: Travels between Alcalá de Henares and Meco. This line is also operated by ALSA.

See also

In Spanish: Meco para niños