Fuenlabrada

Fuenlabrada
Municipality
Fuenlabrada
Flag of Fuenlabrada Flag Coat of arms of Fuenlabrada Coat of arms
Fuenlabrada Location in Spain
Coordinates:
Country	Spain
Region	Community of Madrid
Comarca	Madrid metropolitan area
Government
• Mayor	Manuel Robles Delgado (PSOE)
Area
• Total	39.41 km2 (15.22 sq mi)
Elevation	664 m (2,178 ft)
Population (2009)
• Total	197,836
• Density	5,000/km2 (13,000/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	28940-28947
Official language(s)	Spanish
Website	www.ayto-fuenlabrada.es

Fuenlabrada (Spanish pronunciation: [fwenlaˈβɾaða]) is a city and municipality located in the Madrid Metropolitan Area, in the autonomous community of Madrid in central Spain. It is located to the southwest of the region, 22.5 km from the capital, and it had a population of 197,836 by 2009. It is the fourth most populated city of Madrid after the capital, Móstoles and Alcalá de Henares. The name of Fuenlabrada probably has its origin in Fuente Labrada (Spanish for 'carved fountain') after a fountain built in Loranca, which is currently one of the city's districts, and the expansion of the village began in the 12th century. However, Fuenlabrada witnessed a dramatic population explosion that started in the 1980s, due to large scale immigration of young workers coming from the capital city and other agrarian regions (chiefly Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha, Andalusia and Galicia) seeking affordable prices in housing. By 1975, the municipality had already reached a population of 18,442. In recent years, just like in other developed areas, foreign workers have also settled in the city, most of them coming from Latin America, Africa, the Maghreb, China and Romania. Famous people from Fuenlabrada include ex-Liverpool and current Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres, and Olympiacos F.C. goalkeeper Roberto.

Origins

The first news about Fuenlabrada came out 200 years later after its founding because of an ambitious project promoted by Philip II of Spain. All the cities, towns and villages received a royal order by which they were obliged to answer an extensive questionnaire about everything related to history, geography, economics, demography, customs... It is all about the historic-geographic relations of all the villages of Spain. With the many pieces of information gathered by that questionnaire an accurate report of Fuenlabrada was created in the 16th century.

Transport

Roads

The city is linked with the M-50, A-42, M-506, M-407 and M-409 highways. It is connected as well to the neighbouring towns of Humanes de Madrid and Moraleja de Enmedio through the M-413 and M-405 local roads, respectively.

Metro

Fuenlabrada has good transport connections with Madrid, Móstoles, Getafe, Alcorcón and Leganés through the Madrid Metro line 12 (also known as Metrosur -South Metro Network-), including five stations:

• Loranca.
• Hospital de Fuenlabrada.
• Parque Europa.
• Fuenlabrada Central (Transfer with Fuenlabrada Cercanías station).
• Parque de los Estados.

Railway

As for the railway system, Fuenlabrada is connected to Madrid via the Cercanías Madrid line C-5, a commuter train service, having two stations:

• Fuenlabrada (Transfer with Fuenlabrada Central metro station).
• La Serna.

File:Fuenlabrada Central.jpg

Fuenlabrada Central Railway (and Metro) Station.

Education

Primary and Secondary education

Fuenlabrada has 33 kindergarten and daycare centers, 50 primary schools and 15 secondary schools.

Higher education

The Universidad Rey Juan Carlos has a campus in the city, housing the faculties of communication sciences, telecommunications engineering, tourism, business administration, among other courses.

The UNED (National Open University) also has a branch here.

Sports

The city is home to ACB basketball team Baloncesto Fuenlabrada, currently relegated to the second tier division (ULEB). It is one of the foremost teams, having competed in the top flight division of Spanish basketball for several years. Their home games are played at Fernando Martín sports centre, which has a capacity of 5,700.

CF Fuenlabrada is the local football team, playing in 2ª División B (third tier in Spanish league). Their current coach is famous former striker Fernando Morientes. They play as home team at the Fernando Torres stadium, inaugurated by the footballer himself on September 1, 2011. The stadium has a capacity of 2,500.

Famous people

Fernando Torres was born in Fuenlabrada on March 20, 1984.

External links

• Official website of Fuenlabrada