# Beniel

> municipality of Spain

**Wikidata**: [Q1989408](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1989408)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beniel)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/beniel

## Summary

Beniel is a municipality located in the autonomous community of the Region of Murcia in southeastern Spain, situated approximately 20 kilometers from the city of Murcia. The municipality was officially established in 1842 and serves as a administrative territorial entity within the Province of Murcia. Beniel is home to a train station and had a population of approximately 11,582 residents as of the most recent census data.

## Key Facts

- **Location:** Region of Murcia, Spain (southeastern Spain)
- **Coordinates:** 38.04638889° N latitude, -1.00138889° W longitude
- **Administrative Status:** Municipality of Spain (established 1842)
- **Province:** Province of Murcia
- **Autonomous Community:** Region of Murcia (established 1982)
- **Country:** Spain (Q29 - Kingdom of Spain)
- **Website:** http://www.beniel.es/
- **Train Station:** Beniel train station (located in the Region of Murcia)
- **Population (various years):** 8,470; 8,962; 9,420; 9,814; 10,085; 10,294; 10,581; 10,933; 11,027; 11,068; 11,160; 11,198; 11,112; 11,096; 11,114; 11,233; 11,274; 11,318; 11,465; 11,508; 11,578; 11,501; 11,535; 11,582
- **Wikipedia Title:** Beniel
- **Wikidata ID:** Q??? (municipality classification)
- **Sitelink Count:** 41

## FAQs

**What type of administrative area is Beniel?**

Beniel is a municipality (municipio) in Spain, which is the lowest level of administrative territorial entity in the Spanish system. Municipalities in Spain are governed by a city council (ayuntamiento) and are the basic units of local administration.

**Which province and autonomous community does Beniel belong to?**

Beniel belongs to the Province of Murcia and the Region of Murcia, which is one of Spain's 17 autonomous communities. The Region of Murcia was officially established as an autonomous community in 1982.

**What is the population of Beniel?**

Beniel's population has fluctuated over the years, with recorded figures ranging from approximately 8,470 to 11,582 residents across multiple census periods. The most recent population figure in the data shows 11,582 residents.

**What transportation infrastructure exists in Beniel?**

Beniel has a train station (Estación de Beniel) that serves the municipality and surrounding areas, providing rail connectivity within the Region of Murcia and the broader Spanish railway network.

**When was Beniel established as a municipality?**

Beniel was officially established as a municipality in 1842, following the reorganization of local administration in Spain during the 19th century.

## Why It Matters

Beniel represents a typical Spanish municipality that plays a crucial role in the decentralized administrative structure of Spain. As one of the 8,124 municipalities in Spain, Beniel demonstrates how local governance operates within the country's autonomous community system. The municipality's location in the Region of Murcia places it in one of Spain's economically active regions known for agriculture, industry, and services.

The establishment of Beniel as a municipality in 1842 reflects the modernization of Spanish local administration following the Napoleonic Wars and the liberal reforms of the 19th century. Today, as part of the Province of Murcia, Beniel participates in the provincial and regional governance structures while maintaining its own municipal administration.

For understanding Spain's territorial organization, Beniel serves as an example of how the country balances national unity with regional autonomy through its three-tier system of autonomous communities, provinces, and municipalities. The municipality's population fluctuations also reflect broader demographic trends in rural and semi-urban areas of southeastern Spain.

## Notable For

- **Administrative History:** One of 8,124 municipalities in Spain, established in 1842 during Spain's administrative reorganization
- **Regional Identity:** Located in the Region of Murcia, one of Spain's 17 autonomous communities established in 1982
- **Transportation Connectivity:** Home to Beniel train station providing rail services within the Region of Murcia
- **Geographic Position:** Situated at approximately 38.05° N latitude and 1.00° W longitude in southeastern Spain
- **Municipal Website:** Maintains an official online presence through http://www.beniel.es/

## Body

### Geography and Location

Beniel is situated in the southeastern part of Spain, within the autonomous community of the Region of Murcia. The municipality lies at coordinates 38.04638889° north latitude and -1.00138889° west longitude, placing it approximately 20 kilometers from the city of Murcia, the capital of both the province and the autonomous community. The terrain in this region is characterized by the Segura River basin, with agricultural lands surrounding the urban center. The municipality's location in the Mediterranean climate zone of Spain means it experiences hot, dry summers and mild winters, typical of the southeastern Iberian Peninsula.

### Administrative Structure

Beniel operates as a municipality (municipio) under the Spanish local administration system. As a municipality, it is governed by its own city council (ayuntamiento), which is responsible for local services, urban planning, and municipal administration. The municipality falls under the jurisdiction of the Province of Murcia and the Region of Murcia, one of Spain's 17 autonomous communities established in 1982. Spain's administrative system is characterized by three levels of sub-national governance: autonomous communities, provinces, and municipalities—with Beniel representing the lowest tier of this structure. The country's total of 8,124 municipalities demonstrates the decentralized nature of Spanish governance, where significant authority is delegated to local levels.

### Historical Development

The municipality of Beniel was officially established in 1842, a period that marked significant administrative reforms in Spain following the Napoleonic Wars and the liberal constitutional movements of the early 19th century. This era saw the standardization of municipal boundaries across Spain, with many current municipalities being formally recognized during this reorganization. The establishment of Beniel as a municipality reflects the broader historical process of creating a modern, centralized state while preserving local governance traditions. The Region of Murcia, in which Beniel is located, achieved autonomous community status in 1982, further decentralizing power to the regional level and granting greater self-governance to the area.

### Demographics and Population

Beniel's population has shown variation across different census periods, with figures ranging from approximately 8,470 to 11,582 residents. These population fluctuations reflect broader demographic trends affecting smaller municipalities in Spain, including rural-to-urban migration, economic conditions, and lifestyle changes. The population data shows periods of growth and decline, indicating that Beniel, like many Spanish municipalities, has experienced demographic shifts tied to economic opportunities, housing availability, and quality of life factors. The municipality's population size places it in the category of small to medium-sized Spanish municipalities, typical of rural and semi-urban areas away from major urban centers.

### Transportation and Infrastructure

Beniel is served by a train station that provides rail connectivity to the surrounding region. The Beniel train station is part of the broader railway network serving the Region of Murcia, connecting the municipality to Murcia city and other destinations within the autonomous community and beyond. Spain's railway system, operated by Renfe and other operators, provides both commuter and long-distance services throughout the country. The presence of a train station in Beniel indicates the municipality's integration into the regional transportation network, facilitating commuting and trade for residents and businesses.

### Regional Context: The Region of Murcia

Beniel is located in the Region of Murcia, one of Spain's 17 autonomous communities. Established in 1982, the Region of Murcia occupies the southeastern portion of the Iberian Peninsula and is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, the Valencian Community, Castilla-La Mancha, Andalusia, and the autonomous city of Ceuta. The region is known for its agricultural production, particularly in the Segura River valley, as well as its growing industrial and service sectors. The Region of Murcia is divided into a single province bearing the same name, with Murcia serving as both the regional and provincial capital. The autonomous community operates its own regional government, the Assembly of Murcia, and participates in the broader Spanish political system through its representation in the Cortes Generales (Spanish parliament).

### National Context: Spain

Beniel exists within the framework of the Kingdom of Spain, a parliamentary monarchy located primarily in Southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Spain operates as a democratic state with a constitutional monarchy, where the King serves as head of state and the prime minister serves as head of government. The country is divided into 17 autonomous communities, 50 provinces, and 8,124 municipalities. Spain is a member of the European Union, NATO, and the United Nations, and uses the euro as its official currency. The country's capital is Madrid, and the total population exceeds 48 million residents. Spain's administrative diversity reflects its complex history, regional identities, and linguistic variety, with Spanish as the official language along with co-official languages in various autonomous communities.

### Online Presence

Beniel maintains an official municipal website at http://www.beniel.es/, providing information about local services, government operations, events, and community resources. This digital presence reflects the modern approach to local governance in Spain, where municipalities use online platforms to communicate with residents, provide administrative services, and promote local attractions and events. The website serves as a point of contact between the municipal government and citizens, facilitating access to information about permits, taxes, public services, and community activities.

### Related Entities

Beniel is connected to several administrative and geographic entities through its position within the Spanish territorial system. The municipality is part of the Province of Murcia and the Region of Murcia, both of which provide administrative services and governance structures above the municipal level. The train station in Beniel connects the municipality to the broader Spanish railway network, facilitating transportation and mobility. Spain as a country provides the overarching legal, political, and economic framework within which Beniel operates, including membership in the European Union, NATO, and various international organizations. The classification of Beniel as a municipality (municipio de España) places it within a category of administrative territorial entities that form the basic units of local government throughout the country.

## References

1. Nomenclátor Geográfico de Municipios y Entidades de Población (20240402 edition)
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. Register of Local Entities
4. OpenStreetMap
5. [Source](https://www.worlddata.info/europe/spain/timezones.php)
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