Bilbao metropolitan area
Encyclopedia
Basque language
Basque is the ancestral language of the Basque people, who inhabit the Basque Country, a region spanning an area in northeastern Spain and southwestern France. It is spoken by 25.7% of Basques in all territories...
: Bilbo Handia, in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
: Área metropolitana de Bilbao) is the metropolitan area
Metropolitan area
The term metropolitan area refers to a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing. A metropolitan area usually encompasses multiple jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships,...
or continuous urban area based around the city of Bilbao
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
, in the Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. It comprises the city of Bilbao, the 25 municipalities that make the comarca
Comarcas of Spain
In Spain traditionally and historically, some autonomous communities are also divided into comarcas .In other languages of Spain:*Catalan/Valencian , sing comarca.*Galician , sing. comarca....
of Greater Bilbao plus ten other surrounding municipalities, all of them in the province of Biscay
Biscay
Biscay is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Biscay. Its capital city is Bilbao...
.
It is the fifth most populated metropolitan area
Metropolitan area
The term metropolitan area refers to a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing. A metropolitan area usually encompasses multiple jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships,...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
Almost 80% of the population of Biscay
Biscay
Biscay is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Biscay. Its capital city is Bilbao...
and 43% of the population of the Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
is concentrated in the Greater Bilbao area or the wider metropolitan area. The metropolitan area's municipalities, are defined by the Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
's Territorial Directives Other six satellite cities exist within the province of Biscay
Biscay
Biscay is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Biscay. Its capital city is Bilbao...
and the community of Cantabria
Cantabria
Cantabria is a Spanish historical region and autonomous community with Santander as its capital city. It is bordered on the east by the Basque Autonomous Community , on the south by Castile and León , on the west by the Principality of Asturias, and on the north by the Cantabrian Sea.Cantabria...
, where commute between the cities and the metropolitan area in common.
Constituent parts
Comarcas of Spain
In Spain traditionally and historically, some autonomous communities are also divided into comarcas .In other languages of Spain:*Catalan/Valencian , sing comarca.*Galician , sing. comarca....
, an administrative division of the province of Biscay
Biscay
Biscay is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Biscay. Its capital city is Bilbao...
and smaller than the wider metropolitan area. Plus, six municipalities outside the actual metropolitan area are considered satellite cities.
Greater Bilbao
Within Greater Bilbao there are 25 municipalitiesMunicipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
corresponding to the city of Bilbao
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
and the conurbation
Conurbation
A conurbation is a region comprising a number of cities, large towns, and other urban areas that, through population growth and physical expansion, have merged to form one continuous urban and industrially developed area...
next to it, conformed by municipalities located along the Nervión River
Estuary of Bilbao
The Estuary of Bilbao lies at the common mouth of the rivers Nervion, Ibaizabal and Cadagua, that drain most of Biscay and part of Alava in the Basque Country, Spain. It is a large estuary long that extends from Bilbao to the Bilbao Abra bay, a widening that makes the final transition between...
.
- Abanto Zierbena
- AlonsotegiAlonsotegiAlonsotegi is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain. It has a population of 2,835 people.-Notable people:* Fray Martín de Coscojales, monk* Fray Miguel de Alonsótegui , monk...
- ArrigorriagaArrigorriagaArrigorriaga is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain. Arrigorriaga is located 7 km south of Bilbao and is part of Bilbao's metropolitan area...
- BarakaldoBarakaldoBarakaldo , is a municipality in the Basque Country in Spain. It is located in the Biscay province, administratively included in the "Basque Autonomous Community", on the left bank of the Estuary of Bilbao.Barakaldo is part of Bilbao's metropolitan area , and its official population...
- BasauriBasauriBasauri is a major municipality of Biscay, in the Basque Country, an Autonomous Community in northern Spain.The town is a part of the Greater Bilbao conurbation, being only a few kilometers south of Bilbao. It is an industrial town that also includes monuments such as the tower-house of Ariz. It...
- BilbaoBilbaoBilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
- DerioDerioDerio is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain. It's part of Greater Bilbao and was part of the municipality of Bilbao until 1983 and hosts Bilbao's biggest municipal cemetery. It has a population of 5,107 .-External...
- ZierbenaZierbenaZierbena is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain.-External links:*...
- EtxebarriEtxebarriEtxebarri, Doneztebeko Elizatea is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the Autonomous Basque Community, in the North of Spain....
- ErandioErandioErandio is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain.In 1415, during the War of the Bands, the corregidor, the royally-appointed governor of the Biscayan hermandad, acting on royal orders, siphoned off Biscayan wheat to...
- GaldakaoGaldakaoGaldakao is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain.It is located in the Greater Bilbao, in the valley of the Ibaizabal river, near the Ganguren mountain range...
- GetxoGetxoGetxo is a town located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country, in the north of Spain.It is part of the metropolitan area of Bilbao , and has about 83,000 inhabitants...
- LarrabetzuLarrabetzuLarrabetzu is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain.-External links:*...
- LeioaLeioaLeioa is a municipality in Biscay, Basque Country, in northern Spain. Today it is part of the Bilbao conurbation, and it is the name of a metro station in the Bilbao metro...
- LezamaLezamaLezama is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain. It is home to the training headquarters of the football team Athletic Bilbao, and is accessible by bus - BizkaiBus - from Bilbao.-External links:*...
- LoiuLoiuLoiu is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain.The new Bilbao Airport terminal has been built within the municipality limits.-External links:*...
- MuskizMuskizMuskiz is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain.- Neighborhoods :Muskiz is administratively divided into six neighborhoods or wards:- Demography :- Economy :...
- OrtuellaOrtuellaOrtuella is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the Autonomous Community of Basque Country, northern Spain.Nowadays part of Greater Bilbao region, until the beginning of 19th century it was integrated in the Valley of Somorrostro of the Encartaciones next to the Santurtzi...
- PortugaletePortugaletePortugalete is a town lying to the west of Bilbao in the province of Biscay in the Autonomous Community of Basque Country, northern Spain.The town has 51,066 inhabitants and is part of Bilbao's metropolitan area. It is located at the mouth of the Estuary of Bilbao, on the left bank...
- SanturtziSanturtziSanturtzi is a port town in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, Spain. It is located in the Bilbao Abra bay, near the mouth of the Nervión river, on its left bank, 14km downriver from Bilbao and forms part of the Greater Bilbao agglomeration...
- SestaoSestaoSestao is a town and municipality of 30,000 inhabitants located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain...
- SondikaSondikaSondika is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the Autonomous Community of Basque Country, northern Spain....
- Trapagaran
- ZamudioZamudioZamudio is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the Autonomous Community of Basque Country, northern Spain.-External links:* * in Basque and Spanish*...
- ZaratamoZaratamoZaratamo is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the Autonomous Community of Basque Country, northern Spain.-External links:*...
Outside Greater Bilbao
These municipalities are located outside the comarca of Greater Bilbao but inside the wider metropolitan area.- ArrankudiagaArrankudiagaArrankudiaga is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain.-External links:* *...
- BarrikaBarrikaBarrika is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain.-External links:* * with information on history, geography, and local services...
- BerangoBerangoBerango is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, Basque Country-External links:*...
- GorlizGorlizGorliz is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, which lies within the autonomous community of the Basque Country, in northern Spain. The town has 5,503 inhabitants .-External links:*...
- LemoizLemoizLemoiz is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain. It has a population of about 1000....
- PlentziaPlentziaPlentzia is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country, in northern Spain. The town has 4,146 inhabitants ....
- SopelanaSopelanaSopelana is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain....
- Ugao-MiraballesUgao-MiraballesUgao-Miraballes is a town and municipality in the province of Biscay and autonomous community of the Basque Country in northern Spain.-External links:*...
- UrdulizUrdulizUrduliz is a municipality of Biscay, in the Basque Country, an Autonomous Community in northern Spain.It is connected to the rest of the Greater Bilbao conurbation by the subway and bus services. The municipality shows a mixture of industrial and rural qualities, being divided in three separate...
- ZeberioZeberioZeberio isnt a municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain.-External links:*...
Satellite towns
These municipalities are located both outside Greater Bilbao and outside the metropolitan area itself, but they are considered "satellite townSatellite town
A satellite town or satellite city is a concept in urban planning that refers essentially to smaller metropolitan areas which are located somewhat near to, but are mostly independent of, larger metropolitan areas.-Characteristics:...
s". All of them, with the exception of Castro Urdiales
Castro Urdiales
Castro Urdiales is a seaport of northern Spain, in the autonomous community of Cantabria, situated on the bay of Biscay.Castro Urdiales is a modern town, although its castle and the Gothic-style parish church of Santa María de la Asunción, date from the Middle Ages. Its chief industries are...
which is located in the community of Cantabria
Cantabria
Cantabria is a Spanish historical region and autonomous community with Santander as its capital city. It is bordered on the east by the Basque Autonomous Community , on the south by Castile and León , on the west by the Principality of Asturias, and on the north by the Cantabrian Sea.Cantabria...
(outside the community of the Basque Country) and Laudio which is located in Álava
Álava
Álava is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Álava. Its capital city is Vitoria-Gasteiz which is also the capital of the autonomous community...
, are located in the province of Biscay
Biscay
Biscay is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Biscay. Its capital city is Bilbao...
, on different comarcas.
- Amorebieta-EtxanoAmorebieta-EtxanoAmorebieta-Etxano or Zornotza are two different names for the same town and municipality located in Biscay in the Basque Country, an Autonomous Community in northern Spain. Athletic Bilbao defender Xabier Etxeita was born in Zornotza, as is Beñat Intxausti, a professional cyclist.-External links:*...
- Castro UrdialesCastro UrdialesCastro Urdiales is a seaport of northern Spain, in the autonomous community of Cantabria, situated on the bay of Biscay.Castro Urdiales is a modern town, although its castle and the Gothic-style parish church of Santa María de la Asunción, date from the Middle Ages. Its chief industries are...
- Durango
- Laudio
- LemoaLemoaLemona or Lemoa is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain.-Sports in Lemoa:* SD Lemona in Segunda División B...
- MungiaMungiaMungia is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the Basque Country of northern Spain. Thetown has 15,000 inhabitants.-Geography:...
Structure
The area is usually structured into different zones:- The city of BilbaoBilbaoBilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
: The main business and services hub of the metropolitan area, with roughly 40% of its population. - The left bankLeft Bank (Biscay)The left bank of the Estuary of Bilbao is a part of the Greater Bilbao region, its main towns are Barakaldo, Sestao, Santurtzi and Portugalete and in addition to the iron mines , was the heart of the intense industrialisation of Biscay...
: Traditionally an industrial, port, and manufacturing zone. It includes Barakaldo, Sestao, Portugalete and Santurtzi. - The right bankRight Bank (Biscay)The right bank of the estuary of the river Nervión in Biscay, Spain is part of the Metropolitan Area of Bilbao and is formed by the towns of Getxo, Leioa and Erandio. It includes affluent neighbourhoods like Neguri and Las Arenas, traditionally the residential areas of the industrial bourgeoisie...
: A residential area, including Erandio, Leioa, and the more affluent Getxo,. - The miningMiningMining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
zone, where the main iron ore resources were located: Muskiz, Gallarta, Ortuella - Txoriherri, wide expansion zone where the international airportBilbao AirportBilbao Airport is a public airport located north of Bilbao, in the municipality of Loiu, in the Basque Country. It is the most important airport of the Basque Country and northern Spain, with 4,172,903 passengers on 2008...
and the University of the Basque CountryUniversity of the Basque CountryThe University of the Basque Country is the only public university in the Basque Country, in Northern Spain...
are located. - Hego UribeHego UribeHego Uribe is a modern conventional subdivision of Biscay, Basque Country. It includes the towns of Basauri, Galdakao and Arrigorriaga among others. It is noted for its production of high quality wool....
, including Basauri, Galdakao and Arrigorriaga. - Uribe-KostaUribe-KostaUribe-Kosta is a modern conventional division of the Basque province of Biscay. It includes part of the coastal strip of the historical division of Uribealdea. The division is used for statistical and electoral purposes. It includes the following...
: the coastal area north of Getxo is being integrated into the metropolitan area in the recent years, with the development of low density residential areas connected by the metro.
Urban regeneration
The Bilbao Ria 2000 corporation was founded in 1992 by the BilbaoBilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
and Barakaldo
Barakaldo
Barakaldo , is a municipality in the Basque Country in Spain. It is located in the Biscay province, administratively included in the "Basque Autonomous Community", on the left bank of the Estuary of Bilbao.Barakaldo is part of Bilbao's metropolitan area , and its official population...
municipalities, the Greater Bilbao metropolitan area, and the Basque and Spanish Governments. The corporation's aim was to regenerate the city-planning of Bilbao and its surroundings, which were heavily punished by intense industrial contamination and decay. Among the projects this institution implemented was the recovery of Abandoibarra, once an industrial ground and now the site of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is a museum of modern and contemporary art, designed by Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry, built by Ferrovial, and located in Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain. It is built alongside the Nervion River, which runs through the city of Bilbao to the Atlantic Coast. The...
and the Euskalduna Palace.
In parallel to Bilbao Ria 2000 , the Bilbao Metropoli-30 association was constituted in 1991 by the City council of Bilbao, the Biscay and Basque Governments and diverse public and private organizations for the regeneration of Metropolitan Bilbao.
The area is since 1995 fully interconnected by the Metro Bilbao
Metro Bilbao
Metro Bilbao is a rapid transit system serving the city of Bilbao and the region of Greater Bilbao. Its lines have a "Y" shape, with two lines that transit both banks of the Nervión river and then combine to form one line that ends in the south of Bilbao...
.
Population of the Metropolitan Area
- Metropolitan area (35 municipalities)
Area Population Left bank and Mining zone (Barakaldo - Santurtzi) 263,293 Hego Uribe (Basauri - Galdakao) 130,427 Bilbao (Bilbao - Txorierri) 379,116 Right Bank and Uribe Kosta (Getxo - Erandio) 177,319 Total 950,155
- Satellite towns (6 municipalities)
Municipality Population Amorebieta 16,800 Castro Urdiales Castro UrdialesCastro Urdiales is a seaport of northern Spain, in the autonomous community of Cantabria, situated on the bay of Biscay.Castro Urdiales is a modern town, although its castle and the Gothic-style parish church of Santa María de la Asunción, date from the Middle Ages. Its chief industries are...26,800 Durango 26,131 Laudio 18,623 Lemoa LemoaLemona or Lemoa is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain.-Sports in Lemoa:* SD Lemona in Segunda División B...2,831 Mungia MungiaMungia is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the Basque Country of northern Spain. Thetown has 15,000 inhabitants.-Geography:...14,052 Total 98,437 Total Met. Area 1,048,592