# Alcantarilla

> municipality of Spain

**Wikidata**: [Q954542](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q954542)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcantarilla)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/alcantarilla

## Summary
Alcantarilla is a municipality located in the Region of Murcia, an autonomous community within the country of Spain. Situated in southwestern Europe, it serves as an administrative territorial entity with a recorded inception dating back to the year 730. The municipality is characterized by its specific geographic coordinates and a fluctuating population history ranging from approximately 34,000 to over 43,000 residents in recent decades.

## Key Facts
- **Entity Type:** Municipality of Spain and administrative territorial entity.
- **Location:** Situated in the Region of Murcia, which is an autonomous community of Spain.
- **Country:** Spain (Kingdom of Spain), a sovereign state in southwestern Europe with territories in Africa.
- **Inception Date:** +0730-00-00T00:00:00Z (Year 730).
- **Geographic Coordinates:** Latitude 37.972222222222, Longitude -1.2094444444444.
- **Official Website:** http://www.alcantarilla.es/
- **Population History:** Recorded values include 43,876, 43,547, 43,049, 42,630, 42,559, 42,345, 42,048, 41,622, 41,331, 41,155, 41,021, 40,907, 41,568, 41,381, 41,326, 41,084, 40,695, 40,458, 39,636, 38,584, 37,439, 36,496, 34,997, and 34,263.
- **Administrative Hierarchy:** Part of the 8,124 municipalities in Spain; the Region of Murcia is one of 17 autonomous communities.
- **Digital Identifiers:** Wikipedia title is "Alcantarilla"; Sitelink count is 44.
- **Parent Entity:** Region of Murcia (Inception: +1982-00-00T00:00:00Z).
- **National Context:** Spain's capital is Madrid; the country uses the Euro and has a population of over 48 million.

## FAQs
**Where is Alcantarilla located and what is its administrative status?**
Alcantarilla is a municipality situated within the Region of Murcia, which functions as an autonomous community in Spain. As an administrative territorial entity, it falls under the broader jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Spain, a country primarily located in southwestern Europe.

**When was Alcantarilla established and how has its population changed?**
The municipality traces its inception back to the year 730. Over time, its population has varied significantly, with recorded figures ranging from a low of 34,263 to a high of 43,876 across different census periods.

**How can I access official information about Alcantarilla?**
Official information and resources for the municipality are available through its dedicated website at http://www.alcantarilla.es/. Additionally, the entity is documented on Wikipedia under the title "Alcantarilla" and has a significant presence with 44 sitelinks across various language editions.

**What is the relationship between Alcantarilla, the Region of Murcia, and Spain?**
Alcantarilla is a specific municipality that forms part of the Region of Murcia, an autonomous community established in 1982. The Region of Murcia, in turn, is a constituent part of Spain, a sovereign state that includes 17 autonomous communities and over 8,000 municipalities.

## Why It Matters
Alcantarilla represents a significant historical and administrative node within the Region of Murcia and the broader Spanish state. Its existence since the year 730 highlights a continuous settlement history that predates the modern formation of the Spanish nation-state, which saw key constitutional developments in 1812, 1931, and 1978. As one of 8,124 municipalities, it contributes to the complex administrative model of Spain, which balances national unity with regional autonomy. The municipality's demographic fluctuations reflect broader social and economic trends within the autonomous community of Murcia, serving as a microcosm of regional development in southern Europe.

## Notable For
- **Ancient Origins:** One of the few municipalities with a documented inception date as early as 730, indicating a long-standing historical presence.
- **Regional Integration:** A key component of the Region of Murcia, an autonomous community established in 1982 that operates under the Spanish constitutional framework.
- **Demographic Volatility:** Exhibits a wide range of population figures in recorded history, shifting from roughly 34,000 to nearly 44,000 residents.
- **Geographic Specificity:** Defined by precise coordinates (37.972222222222 N, -1.2094444444444 W) within the Iberian Peninsula.
- **Digital Presence:** Maintains a dedicated official web portal and holds a substantial number of 44 Wikipedia sitelinks, indicating cross-linguistic recognition.

## Body

### Geography and Location
Alcantarilla is geographically positioned within the Region of Murcia, an autonomous community in southeastern Spain. The municipality is located at latitude 37.972222222222 and longitude -1.2094444444444. This places it within the broader context of Spain, a country that occupies the majority of the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe. Spain itself is a transcontinental nation, with territories in Africa including the Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla, though Alcantarilla is situated on the European mainland. The region is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea and shares land borders with other Spanish provinces and autonomous communities.

### Administrative Structure and Hierarchy
As a municipality, Alcantarilla is the third level of administrative division in Spain, following the autonomous communities and provinces. It is part of the Region of Murcia, which was established as an autonomous community in 1982. The Region of Murcia is one of 17 such communities in Spain, which also include Andalusia, Catalonia, and the Community of Madrid. Spain as a whole is divided into 50 provinces and 8,124 municipalities. The municipality operates under the legal framework of the Spanish Constitution of 1978, which established the current parliamentary monarchy and the system of autonomous communities. The entity is classified as an "administrative territorial entity of Spain" with an inception date of 1842 for the general category of municipalities, though Alcantarilla itself dates to 730.

### History and Inception
The historical record indicates that Alcantarilla was established in the year 730. This date places its origin in the early medieval period, long before the unification of the Spanish kingdoms. The broader context of Spain's history includes the dynastic union of Aragon and Castile in 1516, the liberal state established by the Constitution of 1812, the Second Spanish Republic (1931–1939), and the current democratic constitution adopted on December 29, 1978. The Region of Murcia, of which Alcantarilla is a part, gained its autonomous status in 1982. The municipality's long history contrasts with the relatively recent formalization of the autonomous community structure in the late 20th century.

### Demographics and Population Trends
The population of Alcantarilla has shown significant variation over recorded periods. Data points include figures such as 43,876, 43,547, 43,049, 42,630, 42,559, 42,345, 42,048, 41,622, 41,331, 41,155, 41,021, 40,907, 41,568, 41,381, 41,326, 41,084, 40,695, 40,458, 39,636, 38,584, 37,439, 36,496, 34,997, and 34,263. These fluctuations reflect the dynamic nature of the municipality's growth and decline. In the context of the wider nation, Spain's population was recorded at 48,592,909 as of January 1, 2024. The life expectancy in Spain is 83 years, and the unemployment rate was estimated at 16% in 2020.

### Digital Presence and Identifiers
Alcantarilla maintains an official online presence through the website http://www.alcantarilla.es/. The entity is well-documented in digital encyclopedias, with the Wikipedia title "Alcantarilla" and a sitelink count of 44, indicating its recognition across multiple language versions. The municipality is part of the broader digital infrastructure of Spain, which uses the top-level internet domain .es and the country calling code +34. The region and country utilize the Euro as currency, adopted in 1999, and the electrical supply is 230V at 50Hz.

### Contextual Relationships with Spain
Alcantarilla exists within the complex geopolitical and administrative framework of Spain. Spain is a parliamentary monarchy with King Felipe VI as Head of State and Pedro Sánchez as Head of Government. The country is a member of the European Union, NATO, and the United Nations. It shares borders with Andorra, France, Gibraltar, Portugal, and Morocco. The administrative model of Spain allows for significant regional autonomy, as seen in the Region of Murcia. The municipality is one of many entities that contribute to the cultural and linguistic diversity of the nation, where Spanish is the official language alongside co-official languages like Catalan, Galician, and Basque in their respective regions.

## References

1. Nomenclátor Geográfico de Municipios y Entidades de Población (20240402 edition)
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. OpenStreetMap
4. [Source](https://www.worlddata.info/europe/spain/timezones.php)
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. datos.bne.es
7. Municipal Register of Spain 2013
8. Municipal Register of Spain 2012
9. Municipal Register of Spain 2011
10. Municipal Register of Spain 2010
11. Municipal Register of Spain 2009
12. Municipal Register of Spain 2008
13. Municipal Register of Spain 2007
14. Municipal Register of Spain 2006
15. Municipal Register of Spain 2005
16. Municipal Register of Spain 2004
17. Municipal Register of Spain 2002
18. Municipal Register of Spain 2001
19. Municipal Register of Spain 2014
20. Municipal Register of Spain 2015
21. Municipal Register of Spain 2016
22. Municipal Register of Spain 2017
23. Municipal Register of Spain 2018
24. [Cifras oficiales de población resultantes de la revisión del Padrón municipal a 1 de enero. National Statistics Institute](http://www.ine.es/dynt3/inebase/index.htm?padre=525)
25. Municipal Register of Spain 2019
26. Municipal Register of Spain 2020
27. Municipal Register of Spain of 2021
28. Municipal Register of Spain of 2022
29. Municipal Register of Spain of 2023
30. Municipal Register of Spain of 2024
31. Municipal Register of Spain of 2025
32. List of Municipalities and their Codes by Provinces as of January 1, 2019
33. [Source](https://www.ine.es/dynt3/inebase/es/index.htm?padre=517&capsel=525)
34. GeoNames
35. Límites municipales, provinciales y autonómicos
36. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File