Hellín

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Hellín
Municipality
Flag of Hellín
Flag
Coat of arms of Hellín
Coat of arms
Hellín is located in Castilla-La Mancha
Hellín
Hellín
Hellín is located in Province of Albacete
Hellín
Hellín
Hellín is located in Spain
Hellín
Hellín
Coordinates: 38°31′0″N 1°41′00″W / 38.51667°N 1.68333°W / 38.51667; -1.68333
CountrySpain
Autonomous communityCastilla–La Mancha
ProvinceAlbacete
Government
 • MayorRamón García Rodríguez (PSOE-CLM)
Area
 • Total781.66 km2 (301.80 sq mi)
Elevation
555 m (1,821 ft)
Population
 (2018)[1]
 • Total30,268
 • Density39/km2 (100/sq mi)
DemonymHellineros or Ilunenses
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
02400
WebsiteOfficial website

Hellín is a city and municipality of Spain located in the province of Albacete, Castilla–La Mancha.[2] The municipality spans across a total area of 781.66 km2.[2] As of 1 January 2020, it has a population of 30,200,[2] which makes it the second largest municipality in the province. It belongs to the comarca of Campos de Hellín.

History

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There is an archaeological site at Tolmo de Minateda hill near Hellín, with phases of Iberian, Roman and Visigoth occupation.[3] There are archaeological evidences suggesting that the Minateda site may have stood at some point at the Byzantine side of the limes.[4] A tentative identification with the Iyih mentioned in the Pact of Theodemir has been also proposed.[5] Minateda was thus probably known as Madinat Iyyuh during the Islamic period.[6] The Arabic name of Hellín was however Falyān, which eventually evolved into 'Felín', and then 'Hellín'.[6]

The importance of the Sulfur-rich mining district in the south of the municipality led to the creation of a mining community in the area (Las Minas), that became a leading producer of sulfur in southwestern Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries.[7]

Railway arrived to the town in 1864, with the opening of the Chinchilla–Hellín stretch on 18 January and the Hellín–Agramón [es] stretch on 8 October.[8]

See also: Chinchilla–Cartagena railway

Hellín was granted the title of city (ciudad) in 1898.[9] Esparto cultivation increased in the first decades of the 20th century, peaking in importance during the Autarky period of the Francoist dictatorship, with the expansion of irrigated crops.[10]

Culture

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Main celebrations, such as the processions and the traditional tamborada (drumming), declared of international tourist interest, occur during the Holy Week (in Spanish, Semana Santa).

Main sights

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Notable people

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Twinned cities

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References

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Citations
  1. ^ Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
  2. ^ a b c "Datos del Registro de Entidades Locales". Ministerio de Asuntos Económicos y Transformación Digital. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  3. ^ Abad Casal, Gamo Parras & Gutiérrez Lloret 2004, pp. 145–150.
  4. ^ Abad Casal & Gutiérrez Lloret 1997, p. 591.
  5. ^ Abad Casal & Gutiérrez Lloret 1997, p. 592.
  6. ^ a b Abad Casal, Gamo Parras & Gutiérrez Lloret 2004, p. 160.
  7. ^ Romera Tébar 2018, pp. 359–360.
  8. ^ Mirón López 2018, p. 18.
  9. ^ Losada Azorín 2002, p. 147.
  10. ^ Losada Azorín 2002, pp. 150, 158.
Bibliography
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