Jimena de la Frontera

Jimena de la Frontera
Municipality

View of the medieval castle of Jimena de la Frontera as seen from one of its streets.

Coat of arms

Location of Jimena de la Frontera
Jimena de la Frontera

Location in Spain

Coordinates: 36°26′N 5°27′W / 36.433°N 5.450°W / 36.433; -5.450Coordinates: 36°26′N 5°27′W / 36.433°N 5.450°W / 36.433; -5.450
Country  Spain
Autonomous community  Andalusia
Province Cádiz
Comarca Campo de Gibraltar
Judicial district San Roque
Government
  Alcalde Guillermo Ruiz (2011) (PP)
Area
  Total 345.66 km2 (133.46 sq mi)
Elevation 99 m (325 ft)
Population (2008)
  Total 10,330
  Density 30/km2 (77/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Jimenato, ta
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 11330
11339 (Estación de Jimena)
Dialing code (+34) 956
Website jimenadelafrontera.es

Jimena de la Frontera is a historic town and municipality located in the province of Cádiz, Spain. According to estimates made by the National Statistics Institute of Spain (INE), the municipality has a population of 9,893 inhabitants in 2006. It is surrounded by the Los Alcornocales Natural Park.

History

The town has been inhabited by the Phoenicians, Iberians, Carthaginians, and the Romans. The Moors used the town's position on the hill to their advantage, using it as a strategic military position.

The village of Jimena de la Frontera became a town in 1879, during the reign of Alfonso XII.[1]

Today

Today, Jimena's population of around 10,000 has been made up of an increasing number of British ex-pats.

The town is served by road and rail. The main road stretches north to Ronda, and south to San Roque. The railway station is situated just outside the town in nearby Estación de Jimena. Several trains a day stop at Jimena on the line between Algeciras and Granada.

Castle

The castle was built on the hill by the Moors around 750 A.D. as part of making Jimena a strategic military position, today it is known as Castle of Jimena de la Frontera. Views stretch as far Gibraltar to the south. It is believed that the castle was built on Roman ruins, constructed using locally sourced limestone.

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±%
19992,006    
20009,127+355.0%
20019,109−0.2%
20029,182+0.8%
20039,200+0.2%
20049,343+1.6%
20059,355+0.1%
Source: INE (Spain)

Town Festivals

References

  1. "Jimena". andalucia.com. Retrieved Mar 2010. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  2. Jimena Music Festival
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