Getafe
| Getafe | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipality | |||
|
|||
|
|||
 Getafe
|
|||
| Coordinates: 40°18′17″N 3°43′52″W / 40.30472°N 3.73111°WCoordinates: 40°18′17″N 3°43′52″W / 40.30472°N 3.73111°W | |||
| Country |
 Spain
|
||
| Region |
 Madrid
|
||
| Comarca | Madrid metropolitan area | ||
| Founded | Around 1326 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Alcalde | Sara Hernández Barroso (2015) (PSOE) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Municipality | 78.74 km2 (30.40 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 622 m (2,041 ft) | ||
| Highest elevation | 704 m (2,310 ft) | ||
| Lowest elevation | 540 m (1,770 ft) | ||
| Population (January, 1st, 2014) | |||
| • Urban | 173,057 | ||
| Demonym(s) | getafense (es) | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Postal code | 28901–28909 | ||
| Dialing code | +34 (ES) + 91 (M) | ||
| Website | Official website | ||
Getafe (Spanish pronunciation: [xeˈtafe]) is a city in the south of the Madrid metropolitan area, Spain, and one of the most populated and industrialised cities in the area. It is home to one of the oldest Spanish military air bases and the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. Within the city is the Cerro de los Ángeles, or Hill of the Angels, a site considered the geographical center of the Iberian Peninsula. Getafe is located 13 km south of Madrid's city centre, within a flat area of Spain's Meseta Central in the Manzanares River basin.
Getafe's proximity to Madrid fostered industrial development during the 20th and 21st centuries. The city's industrialisation led to an increase in population, reaching 170,115 in 2011. Due to its industrial and social networks, the majority of residents work or study within the city. The increase in population led to the construction of numerous access roads, an increase in available public services, and the creation of new neighborhoods at the end of the 20th century.
During the Middle Ages, a number of villages were located in the present-day area of Getafe. One of the main villages was Alarnes, which was very close to the current urban center. In 1326, the villagers united themselves into one town, situated on the royal road that linked Madrid with Toledo. This new town was called Xatafi, a name which came from the Arab word jata ("something long"). It is assumed that the name Xatafi referred to the royal road, which also served as the town's main street. The town's name evolved over time, from Xetafe to Jetafee to Jetaphe to Jetafe to Getafe.
The history of Getafe can be split into three clearly defined eras. In the first era, which lasted from Prehistory until 1326, there existed distinct villages in the area, though Getafe itself did not exist as a municipality. The second era lasted from the 14th century until the 20th century, during which Getafe was established as a town and developed slowly. In the third era, which began in the 20th century and continues to the present day, Getafe changed in nature from a small agricultural town to a large industrial city, with a noticeable increase in commerce, industry, population and size.
...
Wikipedia