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Alaquàs

Coordinates: 39°27′30″N 0°27′46″W / 39.45833°N 0.46278°W / 39.45833; -0.46278
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Alaquàs
Coat of arms of Alaquàs
Alaquàs is located in Spain
Alaquàs
Alaquàs
Location in Spain
Coordinates: 39°27′30″N 0°27′46″W / 39.45833°N 0.46278°W / 39.45833; -0.46278
Country Spain
Autonomous community Valencian Community
ProvinceValencia
ComarcaHorta Oest
Judicial districtTorrent
Government
 • AlcaldeAntonio "Toni" Saura (2019) (PSPV-PSOE)
Area
 • Total3.9 km2 (1.5 sq mi)
Elevation
42 m (138 ft)
Population
 (2018)[1]
 • Total29,341
 • Density7,500/km2 (19,000/sq mi)
DemonymsAlaquaser, alaquasera
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
46970
Official language(s)Valencian
WebsiteOfficial website

Alaquàs (Valencian pronunciation: [alaˈkwas]; Spanish: Alacuás) is a municipality in the Horta Oest comarca in the Valencian Community.

Etymology

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The town's name is of Arabic origin, coming from al-aquas (الأقواس), meaning "the arches", believed to be a reference to a bridge of Moorish origin near the town.

Heritage

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Economy

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In 2008, Alaquàs was mainly employed in industry (45% of those) and services (53%). Agriculture, with just over 2% of those employed, is a residual sector. In the same year, there were 134 hectares of irrigated land, specifically dedicated to citrus (99 ha) and herbaceous crops (35 ha).

Specialization in bricks and jars gave way to the wood (furniture) industry, metal products manufacture and the food industry. The industrial land occupies about 160 ha, divided between El Bovalar (32 ha; west), Els Mollons and other isolated enclaves. The sectoral distribution of companies was: 59% in the industrial sector, 24% in business services, 9% in consumer services, 3% in agri-food and the remaining 5% in other services.

Local politics

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Alaquàs is located in l'Horta, an area known as the red belt (Valencian: cinturó roig) due to its tendency to vote for left wing parties.[2] The Communist Party of Spain won most seats at the 1979 local election and remained strong in the area until the 1990s when they declined, losing their last seat at the 1995 elections. The People's Party received the most votes for the first time at the 2011 local elections.

Summary of council seats won

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1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019 2023
United Left (IU) 8* 6* 8 3 4 1 1
Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) 7 10 8 11 9 11 15 13 10 9 11 10
Union of the Democratic Centre (UCD) 6
People's Party (PP) 5# 3# 3 7 8 6 8 10 5 5 6
Valencian Union (UV) 1 2 1 1
Workers' Party - Communist Unity (PTE-UC) 1
Democratic and Social Centre (CDS) 1
Coalició Compromís (Compromís) 1 1 3 2 2
Podemos (CET) 2 1
Citizens (C's) 1 2
Vox (Vox) 3
Total number of seats 21

Source:[3]

*Results for the Communist Party of Spain. In 1986 they joined with other parties to form the current United Left.

#In 1983, the People's Alliance (AP), Democratic Popular Party (PDP), Liberal Union (UL) and Valencian Union (UV) formed a four party electoral alliance. The electoral alliance ended in 1986 and the AP and UV contested the 1987 local elections separately. In 1989 the AP merged with the PDP and UL to form the current People's Party.

Results for the Valencian People's Union, who later formed the Valencian Nationalist Bloc (BNV).

Climate

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Climate data for Alaquàs (data from 1941–1963, altitude: 43m)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 14.0
(57.2)
15.9
(60.6)
18.5
(65.3)
19.8
(67.6)
22.6
(72.7)
26.1
(79.0)
28.5
(83.3)
28.9
(84.0)
26.6
(79.9)
22.7
(72.9)
18.6
(65.5)
15.3
(59.5)
21.5
(70.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) 9.8
(49.6)
10.8
(51.4)
13.1
(55.6)
15.0
(59.0)
18.0
(64.4)
21.2
(70.2)
24.0
(75.2)
24.7
(76.5)
22.3
(72.1)
18.1
(64.6)
14.0
(57.2)
10.8
(51.4)
16.8
(62.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 5.6
(42.1)
5.7
(42.3)
7.8
(46.0)
10.1
(50.2)
13.3
(55.9)
16.3
(61.3)
19.6
(67.3)
20.6
(69.1)
18.1
(64.6)
13.6
(56.5)
9.5
(49.1)
6.3
(43.3)
12.2
(54.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 23
(0.9)
31
(1.2)
29
(1.1)
30
(1.2)
39
(1.5)
27
(1.1)
6
(0.2)
28
(1.1)
49
(1.9)
83
(3.3)
40
(1.6)
47
(1.9)
432
(17.0)
Source: Sistema de Clasificación Bioclimática Mundial[4]

International relations

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Twin towns – sister cities

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Alaquàs is twinned with:

Culture

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Festivals

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  • Village festivals (Held from the end of August to the beginning of September), which include, among others, the Correfocs, Moros y cristianos and El Canto de la Carxofa.
  • Fallas (Held on March). Alaquàs has 11 commissions and its own prizes.
  • Fiesta del Porrat (Celebrated in spring in honor of San Francisco de Paula)

International events

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Bordering towns

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North: Aldaya
West: Aldaya East: Xirivella
South: Torrent, Picanya

References

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  1. ^ Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
  2. ^ El denominado 'cinturón rojo' se afloja más en favor del PP, que gana en Xirivella y Burjassot, Las Provincias, 23 May 2011
  3. ^ "Alaquàs election results". Archived from the original on 2011-09-24. Retrieved 2011-07-18.
  4. ^ "ESP VALENCIA - ALAQUAS". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
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