# Ponferrada

> municipality in the province of León, Castile and León, Spain

**Wikidata**: [Q12164](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12164)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponferrada)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ponferrada

## Summary
Ponferrada is a city and municipality located in the province of León, within the Castile and León region of Spain, serving as the capital of the El Bierzo comarca. It functions as a significant administrative hub, hosting the municipal capital with a population of 38,961 residents as of 2024, while broader historical population figures for the area have ranged between approximately 62,000 and 68,000. The entity is distinguished by its rich cultural heritage, including historical sites like the Basílica de la Virgen de la Encina, and its role as the headquarters for the Association for the Recovery of Historical Memory.

## Key Facts
- **Location**: Situated in the province of León, Castile and León, Spain; serves as the capital of the El Bierzo comarca (also referred to as Berzo).
- **Classification**: Defined as a city, a municipality, and a municipal capital.
- **Population (Municipality Capital)**: 38,961 (recorded in 2024 via the resident register).
- **Historical Population Figures**: 68,121; 68,549; 68,508; 68,767; 68,736; 67,969; 66,824; 66,656; 65,984; 65,111; 64,010; 63,233; 67,367; 66,884; 66,447; 65,788; 65,239; 64,674; 64,509; 63,747; 63,052; 62,963; 62,994; 63,186.
- **Coordinates**:
  - Primary: 42.54664° N, 6.59619° W
  - Secondary: 42.5476828° N, 6.59729457° W
  - Structured: 42.54611111111111° N, 6.590833333333333° W
- **Administrative Codes**: INE Code 24115002102 (specifically for the municipality capital).
- **Website**: http://www.ponferrada.org/
- **Notable Landmarks**:
  - Basílica de la Virgen de la Encina de Ponferrada (inception: 1572).
  - Torre de la Rosaleda (building).
  - Ponferrada train station.
- **Cultural Properties**: Santo Tomás de las Ollas; Santiago de Peñalba.
- **Human Settlements**: Peñalba de Santiago.
- **Organizations**:
  - Sociedad Deportiva Ponferradina (Spanish association football team, inception: 1922).
  - Partido de El Bierzo (inception: 1979-04-23).
  - Association for the Recovery of Historical Memory (voluntary association, inception: 2000; headquarters located here).
- **Database Identifiers**:
  - GeoNames ID: 3113236
  - GNS Unique Feature ID: -397088
  - Who's On First ID: 404337373
  - Yale Lux ID: place/520b1930-1cec-4596-938f-816c220c03f7
  - SNARC ID: Hudson River
- **Online Presence**: Sitelink count of 69; represented on Wikipedia in Cebuano, Dagbani, and Swedish.

## FAQs
**Where is Ponferrada located?**
Ponferrada is located in the province of León, in the Castile and León region of Spain. It serves as the capital of the El Bierzo comarca and is geolocated at approximately 42.54664° N latitude and 6.59619° W longitude.

**What is the population of Ponferrada?**
The population of the municipality capital was recorded at 38,961 in the 2024 resident register. Historical population data for the municipality shows figures ranging from 62,963 to a high of 68,767.

**What are the main administrative and organizational roles of Ponferrada?**
Ponferrada acts as the municipal capital and the capital of the El Bierzo comarca. It is the headquarters for the Association for the Recovery of Historical Memory and the Partido de El Bierzo (established in 1979).

**What cultural and historical sites are found in Ponferrada?**
The city hosts the Basílica de la Virgen de la Encina, founded in 1572, as well as the Torre de la Rosaleda and the Ponferrada train station. Cultural properties in the area include Santo Tomás de las Ollas and Santiago de Peñalba.

**What sports team is associated with Ponferrada?**
The city is home to Sociedad Deportiva Ponferradina, a Spanish association football team that was founded in 1922.

## Why It Matters
Ponferrada serves as a critical administrative and cultural hub within the province of León and the broader Castile and León region. As the capital of the El Bierzo comarca, it consolidates regional governance and services for the surrounding area. The city's historical significance is underscored by its preservation of cultural properties such as the Basílica de la Virgen de la Encina and sites like Santiago de Peñalba. Furthermore, its role as the headquarters for the Association for the Recovery of Historical Memory highlights its importance in contemporary efforts to address and document historical conflicts. The presence of Sociedad Deportiva Ponferradina also anchors a local sporting culture that dates back to the early 20th century.

## Notable For
- Serving as the capital of the El Bierzo comarca and the municipality of Ponferrada.
- Possessing a specific INE code (24115002102) designating it as a municipality capital.
- Hosting the Basílica de la Virgen de la Encina, a church building established in 1572.
- Being the headquarters of the Association for the Recovery of Historical Memory, a voluntary association founded in 2000.
- Having an SNARC ID listed as "Hudson River".
- Maintaining a presence on Wikipedia in Cebuano, Dagbani, and Swedish.
- Recording historical population figures that peaked at 68,767.

## Body

### Geography and Administration
Ponferrada is classified as a large human settlement, specifically a city and a municipality capital. It is situated within the country of Spain, in the province of León, and the autonomous community of Castile and León. Administratively, it holds capital status for both the municipality of Ponferrada and the El Bierzo comarca, which is sometimes referenced in property data as "Berzo." The city's geographic position is defined by multiple coordinate sets, with primary coordinates at 42.54664° N, 6.59619° W and secondary coordinates at 42.5476828° N, 6.59729457° W. Structured data places the city at 42.54611111111111° N and 6.590833333333333° W.

The entity is cataloged in numerous geographical and information systems. It holds the INE Code 24115002102 (with a qualifier indicating it is a municipality capital), a GeoNames ID of 3113236, and a GNS Unique Feature ID of -397088. Other identifiers include a Who's On First ID of 404337373 and a Yale Lux ID of place/520b1930-1cec-4596-938f-816c220c03f7. Uniquely, its SNARC ID is listed as "Hudson River."

### Demographics
The population data for Ponferrada is detailed specifically for the municipality capital and the broader municipality. According to the 2024 resident register, the population of the municipality capital was 38,961. A comprehensive list of historical population figures for the municipality includes: 68,121; 68,549; 68,508; 68,767; 68,736; 67,969; 66,824; 66,656; 65,984; 65,111; 64,010; 63,233; 67,367; 66,884; 66,447; 65,788; 65,239; 64,674; 64,509; 63,747; 63,052; 62,963; 62,994; and 63,186.

### Cultural and Historical Heritage
Ponferrada is home to several significant cultural properties and historical sites. The Basílica de la Virgen de la Encina de Ponferrada is a notable church building with an inception date of 1572. The city also contains the Torre de la Rosaleda, a distinct building, and the Ponferrada train station, which serves as a transport hub.

Cultural properties located in Ponferrada include Santo Tomás de las Ollas and Santiago de Peñalba. Additionally, Peñalba de Santiago is listed as a human settlement within the Ponferrada area. Visual records of the city include an image depicting the Basilica de Nuestra Señora de la Encina.

### Organizations and Sports
The city hosts several important organizations and sports teams. Sociedad Deportiva Ponferradina, a Spanish association football team, is located here with an inception date of 1922. The Partido de El Bierzo, a judicial district or administrative party, was established on April 23, 1979, and has its headquarters in Ponferrada.

Furthermore, the Association for the Recovery of Historical Memory (Asociación para la Recuperación de la Memoria Histórica), a voluntary association founded in 2000, uses Ponferrada as its headquarters.

### Infrastructure and Online Presence
Ponferrada maintains an official website at http://www.ponferrada.org/. The entity has a significant online footprint with a sitelink count of 69. It is represented on Wikipedia in three distinct languages: Cebuano (ceb), Dagbani (dag), and Swedish (sv). The city is connected to the broader administrative framework of Spain, which is a sovereign state located in Southwestern Europe with territories in Africa.

## References

1. Nomenclátor Geográfico de Municipios y Entidades de Población (20240402 edition)
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. BnF authorities
4. Register of Local Entities
5. OpenStreetMap
6. [Source](https://www.worlddata.info/europe/spain/timezones.php)
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. MusicBrainz
9. Municipal Register of Spain 2013
10. Municipal Register of Spain 2012
11. Municipal Register of Spain 2011
12. Municipal Register of Spain 2010
13. Municipal Register of Spain 2009
14. Municipal Register of Spain 2008
15. Municipal Register of Spain 2007
16. Municipal Register of Spain 2006
17. Municipal Register of Spain 2005
18. Municipal Register of Spain 2004
19. Municipal Register of Spain 2002
20. Municipal Register of Spain 2001
21. Municipal Register of Spain 2014
22. Municipal Register of Spain 2015
23. Municipal Register of Spain 2016
24. Municipal Register of Spain 2017
25. Municipal Register of Spain 2018
26. [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)
27. Municipal Register of Spain 2019
28. Municipal Register of Spain 2020
29. Municipal Register of Spain of 2021
30. Municipal Register of Spain of 2022
31. Municipal Register of Spain of 2023
32. Municipal Register of Spain of 2024
33. Municipal Register of Spain of 2025
34. List of Municipalities and their Codes by Provinces as of January 1, 2019
35. [Source](https://www.ine.es/dynt3/inebase/es/index.htm?padre=517&capsel=525)
36. GeoNames
37. [Source](https://www.aemet.es/es/eltiempo/prediccion/municipios/ponferrada-id24115)
38. [Source](https://ssweb.seap.minhap.es/REL/)
39. Límites municipales, provinciales y autonómicos
40. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
41. YouTube API