Hellín

Hellín is a city and municipality of Spain located in the province of Albacete, Castilla–La Mancha.[2] The municipality spans across a total area of 781.66 km2.[2] As of 1 January 2020, it has a population of 30,200,[2] which makes it the second largest municipality in the province. It belongs to the comarca of Campos de Hellín.

Hellín
Municipality
Flag of Hellín
Flag
Coat of arms of Hellín
Coat of arms
Hellín is located in Castilla-La Mancha
Hellín
Hellín
Hellín is located in Province of Albacete
Hellín
Hellín
Hellín is located in Spain
Hellín
Hellín
Coordinates: 38°31′0″N 1°41′00″W
CountrySpain
Autonomous communityCastilla–La Mancha
ProvinceAlbacete
Government
 • MayorRamón García Rodríguez (PSOE-CLM)
Area
 • Total781.66 km2 (301.80 sq mi)
Elevation
555 m (1,821 ft)
Population
 (2018)[1]
 • Total30,268
 • Density39/km2 (100/sq mi)
DemonymHellineros or Ilunenses
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
02400
WebsiteOfficial website

History

There is an archaeological site at Tolmo de Minateda hill near Hellín, with phases of Iberian, Roman and Visigoth occupation.[3] There are archaeological evidences suggesting that the Minateda site may have stood at some point at the Byzantine side of the limes.[4] A tentative identification with the Iyih mentioned in the Pact of Theodemir has been also proposed.[5] Minateda was thus probably known as Madinat Iyyuh during the Islamic period.[6] The Arabic name of Hellín was however Falyān, which eventually evolved into 'Felín', and then 'Hellín'.[6]

The importance of the Sulfur-rich mining district in the south of the municipality led to the creation of a mining community in the area (Las Minas), that became a leading producer of sulfur in southwestern Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries.[7]

Railway arrived to the town in 1864, with the opening of the Chinchilla–Hellín stretch on 18 January and the Hellín–Agramón stretch on 8 October.[8]

See also: Chinchilla–Cartagena railway

Hellín was granted the title of city (ciudad) in 1898.[9] Esparto cultivation increased in the first decades of the 20th century, peaking in importance during the Autarky period of the Francoist dictatorship, with the expansion of irrigated crops.[10]

Culture

Main celebrations, such as the processions and the traditional tamborada (drumming), declared of international tourist interest, occur during the Holy Week (in Spanish, Semana Santa).

Main sights

Notable people

Twinned cities

References
Citations
  1. Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
  2. "Datos del Registro de Entidades Locales". Ministerio de Asuntos Económicos y Transformación Digital. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  3. Abad Casal, Gamo Parras & Gutiérrez Lloret 2004, pp. 145–150.
  4. Abad Casal & Gutiérrez Lloret 1997, p. 591.
  5. Abad Casal & Gutiérrez Lloret 1997, p. 592.
  6. Abad Casal, Gamo Parras & Gutiérrez Lloret 2004, p. 160.
  7. Romera Tébar 2018, pp. 359–360.
  8. Mirón López 2018, p. 18.
  9. Losada Azorín 2002, p. 147.
  10. Losada Azorín 2002, pp. 150, 158.
Bibliography
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