Vagos Municipality
| Vagos | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipality | |||
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| Coordinates: 40°33′N 8°40′W / 40.550°N 8.667°WCoordinates: 40°33′N 8°40′W / 40.550°N 8.667°W | |||
| Country |
 Portugal | ||
| Region | Centro | ||
| Subregion | Baixo Vouga | ||
| District/A.R. | Aveiro | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Rui Cruz (PSD) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 164.9 km2 (63.7 sq mi) | ||
| Population | |||
| • Total | 22,904 | ||
| • Density | 141/km2 (370/sq mi) | ||
| Parishes (no.) | 11 | ||
| Municipal holiday |
Monday after the Whit Sunday | ||
| Website | http://www.cm-vagos.pt | ||
Vagos (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈvaɣuʃ] (
)) is a municipality in Aveiro District, belonging to Centro Region of Portugal. The district capital which goes by the same name, Aveiro, is the nearest largest city to Vagos.
The municipality has a total area of 164.9 km² and a total population of approximately 22,904 inhabitants, and 17,204 electors.
In Roman times, the municipality was then called "Vacus" and it had both ocean and large sand dune valleys situated just east of the town center. Increase in sedimentation and sand drifts have leveled and lengthened this distance. Antonio Gomes da Rocha Madail and other writers state that there is tradition among the native population that they are descendents of the seafaring salt farmers from Phoenicia.
Due to the fertile soils, agriculture plays a major role in the economy of the municipality and consequently in its prosperity. The green meadows bring about exceptional conditions for the breeding of cattle and production of milk at a national level. The forest areas and the production of vegetables are another source of richness for the municipality. In the industrial sector, ceramics are the predominant money-maker.
The municipality is composed of 11 parishes, and is located in the District of Aveiro. It is included in the Greater Metropolitan Area of Aveiro.
The present Mayor is Rui Miguel Rocha Cruz, elected by the Social Democratic Party.
The municipal holiday is the Monday after the Whit Sunday. The mother church for the municipality is in honor of Saint James.
Demographics
| Population of Vagos Municipality (1801–2004) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1801 | 1849 | 1900 | 1930 | 1960 | 1981 | 1991 | 2001 | 2004 |
| 4047 | 6961 | 11954 | 15860 | 20250 | 18548 | 19068 | 22017 | 23205 |
Cities and towns
- Sosa (town)
- Vagos (town)
Parishes
- Calvão
- Covão do Lobo
- Fonte de Angeão
- Gafanha da Boa-Hora
- Ponte de Vagos
- Santa Catarina
- Santo André de Vagos
- Santo António de Vagos
- Sosa
- Vagos
- Ouca
Famous people
- Manuel Freire, born in 25 April 1942, Portuguese singer and composer.
See also
- Associação Desportiva de Vagos, women's basketball club founded in 1994.
- Vagos Open Air, metal festival since 2009.
External links
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