Population
The City and its Metropolitan Area
The total population of Barcelona grew visibly in between 1960s and 1970s. The population of Barcelona in 1970 had risen seven times from its population of 250,000 in 1890. Near the end of 1980, the city of Barcelona had a total population of 1.75 million and the Barcelona metropolitan area had a population of approximately 4 million. Although the city of Barcelona itself did experienced strong growth in its population habitants in the last century, the majority of the population growth actually took place around the Barcelona metropolitan area.
The population in Barcelona's metropolitan area nearly doubled from 2 million to 4 million in between the years of 1950s to 1980s. The metropolitan area is considered to be the province of Barcelona, which is divided into different comarques (counties). The largest comarca (county) of the Barcelona province is Hospitalet de Llobregat, holding a population of 250,000. [1]
As the province began to industrialized, more and more immigrants from other parts of Spain moved into the comarques to search for work. [2] The areas with significant urban development are the comarques by the Mediterranean coast including Baix Lllobregat in the southwest to Maresme in the northwest. The Barcelona province covers approximately 415 square miles of land with a population density of 11,000 persons per square mile. With such high density, Barcelona is considered one of the most dense West European urban areas. The continuous population growth along with its already high population density in Barcelona's metropolitan area pushed for developmental trend towards the constructions of high rise buildings, such as tall, multi-family buildings for public housing demands. [1]
The total population of Barcelona grew visibly in between 1960s and 1970s. The population of Barcelona in 1970 had risen seven times from its population of 250,000 in 1890. Near the end of 1980, the city of Barcelona had a total population of 1.75 million and the Barcelona metropolitan area had a population of approximately 4 million. Although the city of Barcelona itself did experienced strong growth in its population habitants in the last century, the majority of the population growth actually took place around the Barcelona metropolitan area.
The population in Barcelona's metropolitan area nearly doubled from 2 million to 4 million in between the years of 1950s to 1980s. The metropolitan area is considered to be the province of Barcelona, which is divided into different comarques (counties). The largest comarca (county) of the Barcelona province is Hospitalet de Llobregat, holding a population of 250,000. [1]
As the province began to industrialized, more and more immigrants from other parts of Spain moved into the comarques to search for work. [2] The areas with significant urban development are the comarques by the Mediterranean coast including Baix Lllobregat in the southwest to Maresme in the northwest. The Barcelona province covers approximately 415 square miles of land with a population density of 11,000 persons per square mile. With such high density, Barcelona is considered one of the most dense West European urban areas. The continuous population growth along with its already high population density in Barcelona's metropolitan area pushed for developmental trend towards the constructions of high rise buildings, such as tall, multi-family buildings for public housing demands. [1]
References
[1] Cox, W. (2012, October 8). The Evolving Urban Form: Barcelona. Retrieved February 15, 2015, from http://www.newgeography.com/content/003123-the-evolving-urban-form-barcelona
[2] Barcelona Urban Development and Change. (2015, February 26). Retrieved February 26, 2015, from http://geographyfieldwork.com/BarcelonaUrbanDetail.htm
Media
[1][2] Cox, W. (2012, October 8). The Evolving Urban Form: Barcelona. Retrieved from http://www.newgeography.com/content/003123-the-evolving-urban-form-barcelona