| Viver | |
|---|---|
| — Town — | |
| Location in the Valencian Community, Spain | |
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Spain |
| Province | Castellón |
| Comarca | Alto Palancia |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Francisco Campos Gallur |
| Area | |
| • Total | 44.90 km2 (17.3 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 559 m (1,834 ft) |
| Population (2009) | |
| • Total | 1,711 |
| • Density | 33.84/km2 (87.6/sq mi) |
| • Demonym | Viverense (Spanish) Viverense(Catalan) |
| • Language | Spanish |
| Postcode | 12460 |
| Website | (Spanish) Viver Official Website (English) Viver Official Web Site in English |
Viver is a town in the Castellón province of Valencian Community, Spain. It is in the comarca (region) of Alto Palancia.
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The municipality has an area of 49.9 square kilometres (19.3 sq mi). It is crossed by the river Palancia, and an area in the south is part of the Calderona mountain range. However, no part of the municipality is in the Sierra Calderona National Park.
The town centre is located at a height of 559 metres (1,834 ft), on a rocky promontory along the San Roque Mountain. The population has settled in the opposite direction, staggered along the slope of the hill.
In the municipality of Viver, there are four population centres:
Surrounding Viver are: Teresa, Torás, Barracas, Pina de Montalgrao, Benafer, Jérica, all localities in the province of Castellón.
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1900 | 2,479 | — |
| 1910 | 2,742 | +10.6% |
| 1920 | 2,497 | −8.9% |
| 1930 | 1,949 | −21.9% |
| 1940 | 2,071 | +6.3% |
| 1950 | 3,005 | +45.1% |
| 1960 | 2,248 | −25.2% |
| 1970 | 2,056 | −8.5% |
| 1981 | 1,683 | −18.1% |
| 1991 | 1,205 | −28.4% |
| 2000 | 1,297 | +7.6% |
| 2006 | 1,511 | +16.5% |
| 2007 | 1,611 | +6.6% |
There is evidence of human settlements during the paleolithic period in the cave of El Sargal.
The first historical data documented for Viver is that the Roman Marco Poncio Catón founded this locality, with the name of Belsino, in 193 BC. Later, he changed the name to Vivarium, from which the present name was derived.
Around 1237–1239, King Jaime I conquered Viver from the Arabs. On 24 April 1244, the King granted to the population the title of "Real Villa" (royal estate), and 12 April 1367 the Puebla Letter is granted to him by Juan Alonso, Sire of Jérica.
Later, this villa was given back to the King and finally sold to the Duke of Calabria, Virrey of Valencia, in 1537. The Duke died on 26 October 1550, bequeathing his estate to the monastery of San Miguel of Reyes in Valencia,(which was founded by him), and the monks took possession of Viver.
During the Spanish civil war, Viver underwent serious deterioration. In 1945, the Parochial Church was recovered, and many of the houses were reconstructed.
The current mayor is Francisco Campos Gaullur of the Socialist Party of Valencian Country, part of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party. He was elected to office in 2003 and reelected in 2007.
Traditionally, the viverense economy has been based mainly in the primary sector, the agricultural, stressing the vine, but as a result of the scourge of phylloxera in the late nineteenth century, the almond and olive had become more important. Destacable is the production of olives of high quality. Lately, rural tourism has been growing, through the construction of several farmhouses.
The simplest access route by road is via the Sagunto to Somport autopista A-23. The town is 69 km (43 mi) from Valencia, 70 km (43 mi) from Castellón de la Plana, 40 km (25 mi) from Sagunto, and 70 km from Teruel.
The town can be accessed by rail with a station (Jérica-Viver) at 2 km (1.2 mi). The town is on the C-5 del núcleo de cercanías de Valencia Valencia-Caudiel that connects Valencia and Castellón de la Plana.
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