Sant Boi de Llobregat facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sant Boi de Llobregat
Municipality
Parish of St. Baldiri
Flag Coat of arms
Sant Boi de Llobregat Location in Catalonia Show map of Catalonia Sant Boi de Llobregat Location in Spain Show map of Spain
Country	Spain
Community	Catalonia
Province	Barcelona
Comarca	Baix Llobregat
Area
• Total	21.5 km2 (8.3 sq mi)
Population  (2018)
• Total	82,904
• Density	3,856/km2 (9,987/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Santboià/-na

Sant Boi de Llobregat is a city in Catalonia, Spain. It is located in the Province of Barcelona, right next to the Llobregat river. In 2019, about 83,605 people lived there.

The city is divided into six main areas, called barris in the Catalan language. These areas are Ciutat Cooperativa-Molí Nou, Marianao-Can Paulet, Barri Centre, Vinyets-Molí Vell, Camps Blancs-Canons-Orioles, and Casablanca.

Sant Boi de Llobregat is surrounded by other towns. To the north are Santa Coloma de Cervelló and Sant Joan Despí, and the village of Sant Climent de Llobregat. To the east is Cornellà de Llobregat. To the west is Viladecans. To the south, it borders El Prat de Llobregat and even reaches the Mediterranean Sea through a narrow strip of land.

Economy of Sant Boi

Sant Boi is a busy place for business, especially in the service industry, which means many shops and services. It is also known for its factories, particularly those involved in working with metals.

The area has a mild climate and rich, wet land near the Llobregat river. This makes it great for growing many different vegetables. One very famous vegetable from this region is the Llobregat Delta artichoke.

Farmers grow three types of artichokes here: the white artichoke from Tudela, the camús from Bretagne (which is the biggest kind), and the artichoke from Benicarló. Most artichokes are harvested in March, but you can find them in local markets all year round.

History of Sant Boi

People have lived in the Sant Boi area for a very long time. Scientists have found old remains from Iberian settlements (from 600 to 1 BC) and Roman times (from 1 to 500 AD). There's even a Roman bathhouse near the river, which shows how old the city is.

From the 8th to the 11th century, the Moors controlled the town, like much of the surrounding land. They called it Alcalá, which means "castle," because there was a hill that overlooked the river and valley. The Moors were later expelled during the Reconquista. The city's current name comes from Saint Baudilus, who is known as Boi or Baldiri in Catalonia.

During the Middle Ages, the village slowly grew. It started around the castle and spread to nearby areas. A beautiful church in the baroque style was built in the 16th century. Growth continued in the centuries that followed, with many "masies" (traditional Catalan farmhouses) appearing near the river and fertile lands. By the late 1800s, Sant Boi was a village of almost 5,000 people, mostly working in agriculture.

In the early 1900s, factories and industries came to Sant Boi and grew quickly. These industries made things like bricks and metal products. After the Spanish Civil War ended in 1939, many people moved to Sant Boi from other parts of Spain. They were often from smaller towns and came looking for jobs in Barcelona, as industries there were growing again after the war.

The population of Sant Boi jumped from 10,000 people in 1940 to 65,000 in 1975. During this time, whole new neighborhoods like Casablanca, Camps Blancs, and Cooperativa were built to house the new residents. Today, Sant Boi is a city with over 80,000 people. It has strong industrial and service businesses, along with good cultural and fun activities for everyone.

Population Growth

The table below shows how the population of Sant Boi de Llobregat has grown over the years.

Places to Visit

• Sant Baldiri's Church
• Roman Bathhouses
• Sant Ramon Hermitage

Sports in Sant Boi

The city has two main sports clubs. One is a rugby union club called UE Santboiana. The other is a football (soccer) club called FC Santboià.

Famous People from Sant Boi

• Sergio Aguza – a footballer
• Carlos Casquero – a former footballer
• Pau Gasol – a famous NBA basketball player who played for teams like the San Antonio Spurs
• Marc Gasol – also an NBA basketball player, who played for teams like the Toronto Raptors
  • Both Gasol brothers were born in Barcelona, at the hospital where their parents worked. Their family moved to Sant Boi when Pau was 6 years old and Marc was 1 year old.
• Oriol Ripol – a professional rugby player
• Manel Esteller – a scientist

See also

In Spanish: San Baudilio de Llobregat para niños