Jimena de la Frontera
Jimena de la Frontera is a historic town and municipality located in the province of Cádiz, Spain. According to estimates made by the National Statistics Institute of Spain (INE), the municipality has a population of 9,773 inhabitants in 2018. It is surrounded by the Los Alcornocales Natural Park.
Jimena de la Frontera | |
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 View of the medieval castle of Jimena de la Frontera as seen from one of its streets. | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
  Jimena de la Frontera Location in the Province of Cádiz  Jimena de la Frontera Jimena de la Frontera (Andalusia)  Jimena de la Frontera Jimena de la Frontera (Spain) | |
| Coordinates: 36°26′N 5°27′W | |
| Country |  Spain |
| Autonomous community |  Andalusia |
| Province |  Cádiz |
| Comarca |  Campo de Gibraltar |
| Municipality | Jimena de la Frontera |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Francisco José Gómez Pérez (2015) (IU) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 345.66 km2 (133.46 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 99 m (325 ft) |
| Population (2018)[1] | |
| • Total | 9,773 |
| • Density | 28/km2 (73/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | Jimenato, ta |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 11330 11339 (Estación de Jimena) |
| Dialing code | (+34) 956 |
| Website | jimenadelafrontera.es |
The municipality contains three major towns, Jimena de la Frontera, Estación and San Pablo de Buceite.
History
The town has been inhabited by the Phoenicians, Iberians, Carthaginians, and the Romans. The Moors used the town's position on the hill to their advantage, using it as a strategic military position.
The village of Jimena de la Frontera became a town in 1879, during the reign of Alfonso XII.[2]
In its past it was most likely a very important trading hub as the Roman coins found near the castle have script in both Latin and Phoenician.
Today
Today, Jimena's population of around 10,000 has been made up of an increasing number of British ex-pats.
The town is served by road and rail. The main road stretches north to Ronda, and south to San Roque. The railway station is situated just outside the town in nearby Estación de Jimena. Several trains a day stop at Jimena on the line between Algeciras and Granada.
Castle
The castle was built on the hill by the Moors around 750 A.D. as part of making Jimena a strategic military position, today it is known as Castle of Jimena de la Frontera. Views stretch as far Gibraltar to the south. It is believed that the castle was built on Roman ruins, constructed using locally sourced limestone.
Demographics
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 9,127 | — |
| 2000 | 9,109 | −0.2% |
| 2001 | 9,182 | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 9,200 | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 9,343 | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 9,355 | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 9,754 | +4.3% |
| 2006 | 9,893 | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 10,025 | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 10,330 | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 10,431 | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 10,440 | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 10,447 | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 10,480 | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 10,412 | −0.6% |
| 2014 | 9,710 | −6.7% |
| 2015 | 9,772 | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 9,756 | −0.2% |
| 2017 | 9,685 | −0.7% |
| 2018 | 9,773 | +0.9% |
| Source: INE (Spain) | ||
Festivals
- Town Carnival - February (March in 2019)
- Agricultural Fair - Second week of May
- Annual Village Fair - Second week of August
- Devotion to the Reina de los Angeles - First week of September
- Festival de Música de Jimena de la Frontera- Second week of July [3]
Gallery
Jimena from its castle
At night. Castle lit up in background
Hozgarganta river near Jimena
Prehistoric paintings inside Cueva de la Laja Alta
References
- Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
- "Jimena". andalucia.com. Retrieved Mar 2010. Check date values in:
|accessdate=(help) - Jimena Music Festival
External links
- Jimena de la Frontera - Sistema de Información Multiterritorial de Andalucía
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jimena de la Frontera. |
