La Sénia

Material remains have been found that demonstrate the presence of inhabitants in prehistoric times. The area of La Sénia has been occupied since ancient times. The caves of dels Rossegadors and de la Tenalla contain Levantine rock art, which are evidence of the seasonal nomadic life of small groups of humans during the Epipaleolithic period. These paintings depict the fauna of the time, hunting human figures, details of male and female clothing, as well as scenes of hunting activities and compositions of unknown meaning.

La Sénia was officially recognized with a charter of population on April 17, 1232. On September 13, 1233, Peter II of Montcada granted the fiefdom of the town, then known as Cenia, to Lord Guillem Moragues, originally from Tortosa, for repopulation. On January 25, 1336, Guillem Moragues delivered the Carta Puebla to twenty-one residents, thus establishing the town of La Sénia under the jurisdiction of the castle of Ulldecona. During the Catalan Civil War in 1462, La Sénia actively participated against John II of Aragon and was assaulted several times by royal troops until it finally surrendered in June 1466. In 1536, it was incorporated into the commandery of Mirambel.

In 1716, after the War of Spanish Succession, the population lost numerous privileges and local liberties with the implementation of the Nueva Planta decrees of Philip V.

During the Peninsular War, the town of La Sénia made significant contributions. When it was conquered along with the rest of Montsià and Baix Ebre, it became part of the French department of Bouches-de-l'Èbre. During this period, La Sénia gained importance for its shipbuilding industry. After the expulsion of the French from the region of Montsià, absolutism was restored with the return of Ferdinand VII to the Spanish throne.

When Spain was divided into provinces in 1833, La Sénia became part of Tarragona. In the same year, the First Carlist War began in the area, with the conquest of the town by general Ramón Cabrera, leading to constant sieges by Isabelline troops until 1840 when general Leopoldo O'Donnell defeated Ramón Cabrera.

On April 18, 1871, the Spanish noble title of Marquesado de la Cenia was established by king Amadeo I in favor of Fernando Cotoner y Chacón, who held the ranks of lieutenant general, captain general of Puerto Rico and minister of war. Subsequently, on August 15, 1882, Alfonso XII granted the title the Grandee distinction.

In the early 20th century, in 1907, electricity was installed in the town.

During the early stages of the Spanish Civil War, in 1937, the Spanish Republican Air Force built an air base in the area known as els Plans. Republican aviators initially flew from this airfield, which was later used by German forces. Nationalist troops entered the town on April 14, 1938, after the Aragon Offensive. Afterward, the personnel of the German Condor Legion settled in the airfield, which became their most important operating base. During the summer, the airfield was highly active as the Germans carried out numerous operations in the Levante Offensive and the Battle of the Ebro. On December 16 of that same year, a group of Republican Tupolev SB bombers conducted a surprise attack on the Condor Legion facilities, destroying seven German Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters and causing severe damage to the ground installations. It was one of the most audacious attacks by the Republican Air Force during the war.

In the 1980s, a significant change occurred in the official name of the municipality, which had remained unchanged since its founding in 1232. This change involved the translation of the previous and original name Cenia into Catalan, and the municipality has been officially known as La Sénia ever since.

La Sénia is composed of two population entities.

List of population by entities (2022 census)