Sabadell () is a city and municipality in the autonomous community of Catalonia in Spain. It is in the south of the comarca of Vallès Occidental, where it is one of the two capitals, the other being Terrassa. It is located on the River Ripoll, north of Barcelona, above sea level. With a population of 224,589, it is the 5th-largest city in Catalonia and the 23rd-largest in Spain.

The growth of industry and population favored the emergence of an important workers' movement, and Catalanist, socialist and anarchist parties were very influential up until the upheavals of the Spanish Civil War (1936–39). The victory of the Fascist faction in the war was a step backwards for the city, but in the fifties industry recovered and grew once more. Industries needed workers, and many people came from Andalusia, Murcia, Extremadura, Castile and other parts of Spain to work in the textile and the metal industry. Again, a new workers' and Catalanist movement emerged, this time against Francisco Franco's regime and with the support of the Roman Catholic Church.

Sabadell was the host of some sessions of the Assemblea de Catalunya, a multi-party organization that brought together communists, socialists, Catalan nationalists, Catholics and others against the Franco regime. The 1973 oil crisis and Franco's death in 1975 meant an important change in Spain and, of course, in Sabadell. The economic crisis compelled the city to diversify its economic activities. New commercial and leisure areas (the Eix Macià) appeared next to the traditional industries, leading to important economic development for the city. An ETA car bombing in 1990 killed six police officers.

Geography

Sabadell is located in the middle of the comarca named Vallès Occidental, approximately from Barcelona. It borders (clockwise, starting from the north) with Castellar del Vallès, Sentmenat, Polinyà, Santa Perpètua de Mogoda, Barberà del Vallès, Badia del Vallès, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Sant Quirze del Vallès, and Terrassa.

The city covers an area of and its population density is as of 2007. The altitude is .

Climate

Demographics

As of 2024, the population of Sabadell is 221,564, of whom 48.6% are male and 51.4% are female, compared to the nationwide average of 49.0% and 51.0% respectively. People under 16 years old make up 15.7% of the population, and people over 65 years old make up 19.2%, compared to the nationwide average of 14.3% and 20.4% respectively.

Notable people

thumb|First 2 de 8 amb folre carregat by [[Castellers Sabadell in the Festa Major in 2011]]

  • Agnès Armengol (1852–1934), writer, pianist, composer
  • Ramon Barnils i Folguera (1940–2001): journalist and translator born in Sabadell
  • Alfons Borrell i Palazón, painter
  • Sergio Busquets (born 1988), footballer
  • Aïcha Cámara (2006), footballer for Barcelona
  • Benet Casablancas (1956–): composer and musicologist
  • Sergio Dalma (1964–): pop singer
  • Alberto Edjogo-Owono (born 1984), footballer (Equatorial Guinea's international)
  • Juvenal Edjogo Owono (born 1979), footballer (Equatorial Guinea's international)
  • Juan Fernández (1930–2020): racing driver
  • Óscar García Junyent (born 1973), former footballer
  • Roger García Junyent (born 1976), former footballer
  • Jordi Gené (1970–): racing driver
  • Marc Gené (1974–): racing driver and former F1 driver
  • Aleix Gómez Abello (born 1997): handball player
  • Moisés Hurtado (born 1981), footballer
  • Kilian Jornet Burgada (born 1987), mountain runner
  • Jimmy Jump, pitch invader
  • Miguel Ángel Lozano (born 1978), footballer
  • Jordi Masip (born 1989), footballer
  • David Meca (1974–): professional swimmer
  • Manel Navarro (born 1996), singer, entering Eurovision Song Contest 2017 with 'Do It for Your Lover'
  • Eva Olid (born 1985), football manager
  • Xavier Oriach (1927–): painter
  • Dani Pedrosa (born 1985), Moto GP racer
  • Oleguer Presas (born 1980), footballer
  • Bernat Quintana: Actor in El Cor de la Ciutat, Max
  • Joan Oliver i Sallarès (1899–1986): Catalan-language poet and playwright, also known as Pere Quart
  • Isaías Sánchez (born 1987), footballer
  • Cristian Tello (born 1991), footballer
  • Aschwin Wildeboer (1986–): swimmer
  • Olaf Wildeboer (1983–): swimmer
  • Ricard Zapata-Barrero (born 1965), scholar of migration studies

See also

  • Transport in Sabadell
  • Sabadell Metro
  • Murder of Helena Jubany

References

  • Panareda Clopés, Josep Maria; Rios Calvet, Jaume; Rabella Vives, Josep Maria (1989). Guia de Catalunya, Barcelona: Caixa de Catalunya. (Spanish). (Catalan).
  • The Ajuntament (Town Hall) web site
  • Government data pages