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Santander

Flag of Santander

Cantabria Population (2004) 183,799 inhabitants Area 34 km2 Altitude 15 metres, at its peak Population density (2004) 5406 people/km2 The port city of Santander is the capital of the autonomous community of Cantabria situated on the north coast of Spain between Asturias (to the west) and the Basque Country (to the east). Population in 1998 was about 184,000. Just over a third of Cantabrians live in Santander.

Demography

As of 2004, Santander has a population of 183,800. This number has remained fairly steady since 1981. Spain's low fecundity rate and aging population have combined with rising immigration figures to keep the population growth fairly stagnant. Nevertheless, the Santander conurbation continues to sprawl as young families move away from the high cost of living in the heart of the city.

History

In the Roman Empire, the town was known as Portus Victoriae Iuliobrigensium. Its present name is derived from St Emeterio, a martyr whose head was brought there in the 3rd century, according to legend. In 1187, King Alfonso VIII made the abbot of San Emeterio lord of the town, and in 1248 Santander participated in the battle for Seville, receiving a coat of arms as reward.

Santander was an important port for Castile in the later Middle Ages, and also for trade with the New World. It officially became a city in 1755.

In 1893 the freighter Cabo Machichaco exploded in the harbor, killing 500 people. Santander became the favored summer location for King Alfonso XIII, and it remains popular for vacations, although a fire in 1941 destroyed much of the old part of the city.

Great Fire of 1941

Santander fell victim to a great fire in 1941. Fanned by a strong south wind, the fire burned for two days. There was only one casualty, a firefighter killed in the line of duty, but thousands of families were left homeless and the city was plunged into chaos.

When it was over, the historic part of Santander was almost completely destroyed. The fire destroyed the greater part of the medieval downtown and gutted the city’s Romanesque cathedral.

Tourism

Today Santander remains a popular tourist destination. It is renowned for its mild, (though rainy) climate.

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Santander, Cantabria".

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