Editing Guadalajara, Spain

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Expand Spanish|topic=geo|date=October 2012|Guadalajara (España)}}

{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Guadalajara
| settlement_type         = [[Municipalities of Spain|Municipality]]
| official_name           = <!-- if different from name -->
| native_name             = <!-- if different from name -->
| image_skyline           = Guadalajara, vista aérea (tone, contrast, color).jpg
| image_alt               =
| image_caption           = Aerial view
| image_flag              = Flag of Guadalajara.svg
| image_shield            = Coat of Arms of Guadalajara (Spain).svg
| shield_size             = 70px
| nickname                =
| motto                   =
| image_map               =
| pushpin_map             = Spain#Spain Castilla-La Mancha#Spain Province of Guadalajara
| pushpin_map_caption     = Location in the Province of Guadalajara, Castilla–La Mancha and Spain
| pushpin_relief                  = 1
| pushpin_label_position  =
| subdivision_type        = Country
| subdivision_name        = [[Spain]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[Autonomous communities of Spain|Region]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Castilla–La Mancha]]
| subdivision_type2       = [[Provinces of Spain|Province]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[Province of Guadalajara|Guadalajara]]
| seat_type               = <!-- [[Capital (political)|Capital]] -->
| seat                    =
| coordinates             = {{coord|40|38|1.36|N|3|10|2.62|W|dim:30_region:ES_type:city(83609)|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes   =
| elevation_m             = 708
| elevation_min_m         = 620 <!-- msnm, aprox., en la vega del Henares -->
| elevation_max_m         = 972 <!-- msnm en el alto de las Quebradas, en el llano de la [[peña Hueva]] -->
| area_footnotes          =
| area_total_km2          = 235.49
| population_footnotes    = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| population_total        = 93,470
| population_as_of        = 2025
| population_urban        = 
| population_demonyms     = ''Guadalajareño/a''{{refn|group=lower-alpha|''Guadalajareño/a'' is the most popular demonym. Other demonyms include ''arriacense'', ''caracense'', ''caraceño'', ''caracitano'' and ''alcarreño''. Derisive demonyms include ''arrastrao'', ''embustero'' or ''del chascao'' (the latter applied to the wider province).{{Sfn|Cruz Herrera|2000–2001|p=57}}}}
| population_note         =
| population_density_km2  = auto
| blank_name_sec1         = [[Languages of Spain|Official language(s)]]
| blank_info_sec1         =
| timezone                = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset              = +1
| timezone_DST            = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST          = +2
| postal_code_type        = [[List of postal codes in Spain|Postal code]]
| postal_code             = 19001–5
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in Spain|Dialing code]]
| area_code               = 949
| leader_title            = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name             = [[Alberto Rojo Blas]]
| leader_party            = [[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party|PSOE]]
| website                 = {{URL|http://www.guadalajara.es/}}
| module                  =
{{infobox mapframe|zoom=9}}
| footnotes               = Click on the map for a fullscreen view
}}
'''Guadalajara''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|ɡ|w|ɑː|d|ə|l|ə|ˈ|h|ɑːr|ə}} {{respell|GWAH|də|lə|HAR|ə}}, {{IPA|es|ɡwaðalaˈxaɾa|lang|Pronunciation of Guadalajara in Spanish.ogg}})<ref name="Collins3">{{cite web|url=http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/guadalajara?showCookiePolicy=true|title=Guadalajara
| access-date=26 September 2014|publisher=Collins Dictionary|date=n.d.}}</ref> is a city and municipality in [[Spain]], located in the autonomous community of [[Castilla–La Mancha]]. It is the capital of the [[Province of Guadalajara]].

Guadalajara lies on the central part of the [[Iberian Peninsula]] at roughly {{convert|685|m|ft|sp=us}} metres above sea level. Most of the city housing is located on the left (southern bank) of the [[Henares]], in between the river and the moors of [[La Alcarria]]. In addition to the city, the municipality also includes the villages of [[Iriépal]], [[Taracena]], {{ill|Usanos|es}}, and {{ill|Valdenoches|es}}. {{As of|2025|1|1}}, Guadalajara has a registered population of 93,470,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.europapress.es/castilla-lamancha/noticia-guadalajara-alcanza-93470-personas-empadronadas-capital-castilla-mancha-mas-crece-20250321131948.html|website=[[Europa Press]]|title=Guadalajara alcanza las 93.470 personas empadronadas y es la capital de Castilla-La Mancha que más crece|date=21 March 2025}}</ref> which makes it the region's second most populated [[Municipalities in Spain|municipality]].

Founded in the 9th century as Madīnat al-Faraŷ under the [[Emirate of Córdoba]], it became a stronghold of the Masmuda Berber clan of the Banū Sālim. After Christian conquest in 1085 from the [[Taifa of Toledo]], it grew into becoming a sizeable town of the [[Crown of Castile]] under control of the [[House of Mendoza|Mendoza family]]. It was a hub for mystical [[Alumbrados|iluminismo]] in the 16th century in the [[Kingdom of Toledo (Crown of Castile)|Kingdom of Toledo]]. Depopulation and decay of key economy parametres ensued in the 17th century. Growth in the 21st century was caused by its closeness to the functional urban area of [[Madrid]].

== History ==
=== Alleged identification with Arriaca ===

A Roman town called ''Arriaca'', possibly founded by a pre-Roman culture, is suggested to have been located in that region. There is however no archeological proof of its existence, only references in texts such as the ''[[Antonine Itinerary|Ruta Antonina]]'', which describe it as being in the hands of the [[Carpetani]]<ref>''[[Antonine Itinerary]]'' pp. 436, 438.</ref> when encountered by the [[Roman Republic|Romans]]. The city, as ''Caracca'',<ref>[[Greek language|Greek]]: {{lang|grc|Κάραιεκα}}, [[Ptolemy|Ptol.]] ii. 6. § 57; Geog. Rav. iv. 44) or '''Caraca''' ([[Friedrich August Ukert]], i. 2. p. 429.</ref> was incorporated into the Roman province of [[Hispania Tarraconensis]]. The city was on the high road from Emerita (modern [[Mérida, Spain|Mérida]]) to Caesaraugusta (modern [[Zaragoza]]), 22 M. P. northeast of Complutum (modern [[Alcalá de Henares]]).{{cn|date=January 2024}}

=== Early Middle Ages ===

The founding of Guadalajara, dating from the Islamic period, is attributed to a person named "Faraŷ".{{Refn|group=lower-alpha|This Faray has been identified either with Faraŷ Ibn Masarra Ibn Sālim (d. 832) or with Faraŷ b. Sālim (son of the founder of [[Medinaceli]]),{{Sfn|Chavarría Vargas|2007|p=137}} who would have probably settled in the area after his father founded Medinaceli.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-SeQEbwLLNcC&pg=PA124|page=124|title=Identidad y onomástica de los Beréberes de Al-Andalus|first=Helna de |last=Felipe|publisher=[[Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas]]|location=Madrid|year=1997|isbn=84-00-07693-1}}</ref> According to a fuzzy passage by the geographer [[Ya'qubi]], Tariq and Musa handed Arriaca to M. Ibn Faraŷ al-Sinhâyî and the place was hereby renamed.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://cvc.cervantes.es/literatura/alirfan/pdf/alirfan5/alirfan_5_07.pdf|year=2019|page=137|last=Chavarría Vargas|title=Una muestra de la presencia de etnónimos beréberes en la toponimia histórica de la región de Castilla-la Mancha (España)|journal=Al Irfan|issue=5|issn=2351-8189|first=Juan Antonio}}</ref>}} It was officially known as Madīnat al-Faraŷ in the 9th and 10th centuries.{{Sfn|Chavarría Vargas|2007|p=96}} The town was later known as Wādī Al-Ḥijāra ({{langx|ar|وادي الحجارة|links=no}}), possibly meaning "Valley of Stones" (as in [[river gravel]]);{{Sfn|Chavarría Vargas|2007|p=95}} in theory it may be a literal translation of the Iberian name ''Arriaca''.{{Sfn|Chavarría Vargas|2007|p=95}} It has also been proposed that ''Ḥajāra'' should not be understood as 'stones'/'gravel', but in the sense of 'castles' or 'fortified rocks'.{{Sfn|Chavarría Vargas|2007|p=95}}

Wādī Al-Ḥijāra and its surroundings were part of the Middle March of Al-Andalus, controlled by the [[Masmuda]] Berber clan of the Banū Sālim who governed on behalf of the Umayyad rulers of Córdoba.{{Sfn|Chavarría Vargas|2007|p=95}} During the Muslim period an ''[[alcázar]]'' (fortress) was built by the mid-9th century,{{Sfn|Herrera Casado|1986|pp=424–426}} as well as the [[Bridge of Henares (Guadalajara)|Bridge over the Henares]] (its construction has been tentatively dated by the late 10th century or early 11th century).{{Sfn|Torres Balbás|1940|p=232}} Walls enclosing the city were also built by then.{{Sfn|Herrera Casado|1986|p=426}} In 920, the Banū Sālim were routed from Wādī Al-Ḥijāra (reportedly because the local population resented their rule) by [[Abd al-Rahman III]], who attempted to directly rule the territory.<ref>{{Cite book|chapter=Power and rural communities in the Banû Salîm area (eighth-eleventh centuries): Peasant and frontier landscapes as social construction|first=Marisa|last=Bueno Sánchez|title=Power and rural communities in Al-Andalus: Ideological and material representations|year=2015|isbn=9782503553429|page=24<!-- |pages=17–51 -->|editor-first=Adela|editor-last=Fábregas|editor-first2=Flocel|editor-last2=Sabaté|publisher=[[Brepols]]}}</ref>

[[File:RuinasAlcazarGuadalajara2006.jpg|thumb|left|Remains of the "Alcázar of Guadalajara", built in the 9th century]]

The city was part of the territory annexed by [[Alfonso VI of León and Castile]] in the 1085 conquest of the [[Taifa of Toledo]], with Wādī Al-Ḥijāra surrendering and offering no resistance.{{Sfn|Herrera Casado|1986|p=420}} Tradition claims however that a contingent led by [[Álvar Fáñez|Álvar Fáñez de Minaya]] (one of the lieutenants of [[El Cid]]) seized the city on 24 June, at night.{{Sfn|Herrera Casado|1986|p=420}}

The area was repopulated with people from the North ([[Castilians]] from the mountains and [[Merindades]], [[Basques]] and [[Navarre]]ses mainly).{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

[[Alfonso VII]] granted Guadalajara its first ''[[fuero]]'' on 3 May 1133.{{Sfn|Chamocho Cantudo|2017|p=78}} This charter progressively incorporated several amendments.{{Sfn|Chamocho Cantudo|2017|p=79}} The second ''fuero'', probably conceived during the reign of [[Alfonso VIII]], was anyway confirmed by [[Ferdinand III of Castile|Ferdinand III]] on 26 May 1219 and 13 April 1251.{{Sfn|Chamocho Cantudo|2017|pp=79–80}}

For most of its history, up until the 20th century, Guadalajara's water supply came from two sources: the Henares river and the springs located along the cornice formed by the border of the limestone moors of [[La Alcarria]].{{Sfn|Plaza de Agustín|2016|p=253}} Control over the scarce water resources was fought over and it became a symbol of social status for the local nobility during the Late Middle Ages.{{Sfn|Plaza de Agustín|2016|p=250}}

During the reign of [[Alfonso X of Castile]] (r. 1253-1284), the protection of the king allowed the city to develop its economy by protecting merchants and allowing markets.{{cn|date=January 2024}}

=== Rule of the Mendozas ===

[[File:1004 03 Guadalajara-Palacio Infantes (11).JPG|thumb|right|[[Isabelline style]] [[Palacio del Infantado]] (15th century)]]
Traditionally a ''{{ill|realengo (type of town)|es|realengo|lt=realengo}}'' ('royal demesne') town, with a vote in the Cortes of Castile, the town came under the influence of the powerful [[House of Mendoza|Mendoza family]] until well into the Early Modern period.{{Sfn|Ortego Rico|2008|p=280}} Despite the former meddling that underpinned the political control of the city, Guadalajara was not enshrined as formal seigneurial jurisdiction of the Mendozas in a legal sense.{{Sfn|Ortego Rico|2008|p=280}} The family included [[Íñigo López de Mendoza]], also known as Marqués de [[Santillana del Mar|Santillana]] (1398–1458), and [[Pedro González de Mendoza]] (1428–1495), Great Cardinal of Spain and adviser of the [[Catholic Monarchs]].{{cn|date=January 2024}}

The Mendoza family held the title of Dukes and Duchesses of [[El Infantado]] from 1475. On 25 March 1460, [[Henry IV of Castile|Henry IV]] granted Guadalajara the status of 'City'.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.guadalajara.es/es/reproduccion-y-transcripcion-del-documento-original.html|publisher=Ayuntamiento de Guadalajara|title=Título de ciudad a favor de Guadalajara}}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In this period, the Mendoza Family ordered the building of El Palacio del Infantado as their main residence. It was completed in the early 1480s and it is considered by many the oldest surviving building built in a pure Renaissance style outside Italy.{{cn|date=January 2024}}

The city's economy prospered thanks to the development of a specialised artisanate and a bustling trade.{{Sfn|Villaverde Sastre|1996|p=12}}

In the early 16th century, the city was one of the main focal points of the ''iluminismo'' (or ''[[alumbrados]]'') in the [[Castilian Kingdom of Toledo|Kingdom of Toledo]],{{Sfn|Santiago Otero|1955|p=624}} linked to heterodox religious figures such as [[Isabel de la Cruz]] and [[María de Cazalla]].

In the context of the [[Revolt of the Comuneros]] across the Crown of Castile, the ''comunero'' rebels in Guadalajara, as early as 5 June 1520, asked the Duke of the Infantado, [[Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, 3rd Duke of the Infantado|Diego Hurtado de Mendoza]], to join the anti-imperial revolt.<ref name=belinchon /> The demonstrators lit the houses of the ''[[Procurador en Cortes (Spain)|procurators]]'' who went to the Cortes of La Coruña to vote in favour of the taxes and obligations levied by Emperor [[Charles I of Spain|Charles V]].<ref name=belinchon /> The Duke of Infantado played a cautious waiting game to see which side would win, finally choosing to endorse the Emperor in 1521. He ordered the beheading of the local leaders of the insurgency and the deportation of his own son and successor [[Íñigo López de Mendoza, 4th Duke of the Infantado|Íñigo López de Mendoza]], who had leaned towards the ''comunero'' cause.<ref name=belinchon>{{Cite web|url=https://nuevaalcarria.com/articulos/los-comuneros-de-guadalajara|first=José|last=Serrano Belinchón|date=10 November 2019|website=Nueva Alcarria|title=Los comuneros de Guadalajara}}</ref>

By 1591, the city had a population of 6,754.{{Sfn|Velasco Sánchez|2008|p=183}}

[[File:Anthonis van den Wijngaerde (1565) Guadalajara.png|thumb|upright=3.3|center|Drawing of Guadalajara in the 1560s, by [[Anton van den Wyngaerde]]. The view, from the North, visibly features the [[Bridge of Henares (Guadalajara)|Bridge over the Henares]], then a turreted bridge.]]

=== Crisis ===

The [[The General Crisis|Crisis of the 17th century]] took a heavy toll in many Castilian cities, and particularly in Guadalajara.{{Sfn|Villaverde Sastre|1996|p=12}} The city was affected by the 1610 [[expulsion of the moriscos]] both in terms of the net demographic loss (10% of the population) as well as by their critical weight in key sectors of the local economy such as the artisanate and trade.{{Sfn|Villaverde Sastre|1996|p=12}} Many palaces were left forsaken.{{Sfn|Villaverde Sastre|1996|p=13}} The Mendozas left the city for good in 1657.{{Sfn|Villaverde Sastre|1996|p=13}}

During the [[War of the Spanish Succession]], in the early 18th century, Guadalajara was sacked. Ravaged by the ''Austracist'' army, a largely ruined Guadalajara hit then its lowest demographic point, with only around 2,200 inhabitants.{{Sfn|Alegre Carvajal|1999|p=235}} Without external assistance the city may have simply ceased to exist.{{Sfn|Villaverde Sastre|1996|p=21}} The 20,000,000 ''[[maravedies]]'' indebted to the Royal Treasury were forgiven in 1716.{{Sfn|Villaverde Sastre|1996|p=21}} [[Philip V of Spain|Philip V]] ordered the establishment of the Real Fábrica de Paños (Royal Factory of Clothes), which was opened in the city in 1719 in the Palacio del Marqués de Montesclaros,{{Sfn|Alegre Carvajal|1999|pp=235–236}} critically helping the city to move on from the calamitous situation it found itself.{{Sfn|Villaverde Sastre|1996|p=21}}

=== Contemporary times ===

[[File:Vista de Guadalajara sobre 1872.jpg|thumb|right|Guadalajara circa 1872, by [[Jean Laurent (photographer)|Laurent]].]]
The 19th century started with two major setbacks: the damages caused by the [[Peninsular War]] (1808–1814) and the closing of the Real Fábrica de Paños in 1822. In 1808, Guadalajara was taken by the [[French Army]] led by [[General Hugo]] and the city was destroyed. During the war, the 14 convents in the city were abandoned and turned into barracks, paving the way for the future processes of ''[[desamortización]]'', most decisively in between 1833 and 1843.{{Sfn|Redondo González|García Ballesteros|1983|p=532}}

The ''desamortización'' entailed the change of use of religious buildings (turned to hospitals, high schools, military workshops),{{Sfn|Redondo González|García Ballesteros|1983|p=533}} the demolition of some convents to widen street space and to erect new residential areas,{{Sfn|Redondo González|García Ballesteros|1983|p=534}} and the reduction of the share of church properties in the estate structure.{{Sfn|Redondo González|García Ballesteros|1983|p=535}}

Both the declaration of Guadalajara as provincial capital and the parallel installment of the [[Academia de Ingenieros de Guadalajara|Academy of Military Engineers]] in the city in 1833, fostered some slow growth.{{Sfn|Redondo González|García Ballesteros|1983|pp=525; 533}}

Railway transport arrived to the city with the opening of the Madrid–Guadalajara stretch of the Madrid–Zaragoza line (built by the [[Compañía de los Ferrocarriles de Madrid a Zaragoza y Alicante]], MZA) on 3 May 1859.<ref name=guada>{{Cite journal|url=http://amigosmuseodeguada.es/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/B.A.M.GU-N%C2%BA-6.pdf|page=10|title=El despoblado de Santas Gracias (Espinosa de Henares, Guadalajara) y las obras del ferrocarril de 1859-1860|first=Juan Manuel|last=Abascal Palazón|journal=Boletín de la Asociación de Amigos del Museo de Guadalajara|issue=6|year=2015}}</ref> Conversely, the Guadalajara–[[Jadraque]] stretch to the northeast was opened on 5 October 1860.<ref name=guada />

The municipality had a population of 12,662 in 1900, the most populated municipality in the province, followed by [[Sigüenza]] (10,581).<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.fbbva.es/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/dat/cp_39_guadalajara.pdf|title=La población de Guadalajara|page=5|year=2017|publisher=[[BBVA|Fundación BBVA]]}}</ref> The 20th century saw the construction of the current water supply system bringing the waters of the [[Sorbe]] to the city.{{Sfn|Plaza de Agustín|2016|p=253}}

On 21 July 1936, following the general [[Spanish coup of July 1936|coup d'état of 18 July]] that sparked the [[Spanish Civil War]] (1936–1939), the conspiring officers in the city (joined by the forces of public order and some civilians, amounting to an overall force of roughly 800) seized control of the city.{{Sfn|Schnell Quiertant|2007|p=25}} The next day, the Republican Government in Madrid sent [[Ildefonso Puigdendolas]] to quell the rebellion and secure the city.{{Sfn|Schnell Quiertant|2007|p=25}} The rebels were pushed in retreat to the ''Cuartel de Aerostación'', where they surrendered.{{Sfn|Schnell Quiertant|2007|p=25}} The militias executed roughly one hundred of them.{{Sfn|Schnell Quiertant|2007|p=25}}

The city was the target of several [[Aerial bombing of cities|aerial bombing attacks]] by the Francoists;{{Sfn|Schnell Quiertant|2007|p=35}} the most famous, in December 1936, struck the Palacio del Infantado.{{Sfn|Schnell Quiertant|2007|p=35}}

[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-2006-1204-500, Spanien, Schlacht um Guadalajara.jpg|thumb|Soldiers of the [[Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War)|Rebel faction]] during the [[Battle of Guadalajara]] (1937).]]
On 8 March 1937, the four divisions of the Italian [[Corpo Truppe Volontarie]] (CTV), attacked Republican positions {{convert|10|mi|km|order=flip}} outside Guadalajara as a supporting diversionary attack supporting the Nationalist [[Jarama]] Offensive began at the beginning of February. After four days of a slow, cautious advance during rainy weather, the tanks started attacking along paved roads and outran the air and anti-aircraft artillery support. Shortly thereafter, Republican airplanes in newly clear skies found the tanks and infantry in a traffic jam on the main road into Guadalajara.<ref>Airpower: Theory and Practice, John Gooch, Psychology Press, 1995, {{ISBN|0-7146-4657-1}}</ref> The Republican aircraft attacked and destroyed all the vehicles in the mechanized spearhead. The CTV retreated with casualties in the thousands. Ernest Hemingway labeled the attack "Italian débâcle at Guadalajara." As a result of the victory, Republican forces enjoyed an increase in recruitment.{{cn|date=January 2024}}

This defeat at Guadalajara had two long-standing effects. First, the Italian Army of the Mussolini dictatorship acquired a reputation for incompetence that lasted until the armistice of 1943. Second, some observing nations adopted a doctrine that ruled out tanks operating as an independent force but emphasized tying them tightly to large infantry formations.<ref>Forging the Thunderbolt: History of the U.S. Army's Armored Force, 1917–45, Mildred Hanson Gillie/Jacob L. Devers, 1947, {{ISBN|0-8117-3343-2}} Forging the Thunderbolt: History of the U.S. Army's Armored Force, 1917–45, Mildred Hanson Gillie/Jacob L. Devers, 1947, {{ISBN|0-8117-3343-2}}</ref>

The Civil War and the heavy fighting around the city caused significant damage. After two decades of slow rebuilding, Guadalajara was included in 1959 in the development plans for alleviating the congestion of Madrid's industrial estates (''El Plan de Descongestión Industrial de Madrid en Castilla-La Mancha''). These plans attempted to move industrial and accompanying residential growth to the periphery, including in Guadalajara. Since then, Guadalajara has been one of the fast-growing Spanish cities.{{cn|date=January 2024}}

Guadalajara absorbed the municipalities of [[Taracena]], [[Valdenoches]] and [[Iriépal]] in 1969, [[Marchamalo]] in 1972 and [[Usanos]] in 1973.<ref>{{Cite book|year=1995|isbn=84-8138-975-7|title=Textos para la historia del español. Vol. II. Archivo Municipal de Guadalajara|chapter-url=https://fdocuments.ec/document/introduccion-pedro-sanchez-prieto-borja-introduccion-pedro-sanchez-prieto.html|chapter=Introducción|first=Pedro|last=Sánchez-Prieto Borja|page=12|access-date=16 May 2021|archive-date=16 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230716081933/https://fdocuments.ec/document/introduccion-pedro-sanchez-prieto-borja-introduccion-pedro-sanchez-prieto.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hacienda.gob.es/Documentacion/Publico/SGT/CATALOGO_SEFP/100_Variaciones-INTERNET.pdf|publisher=Ministerio de Administraciones Públicas|title=Variaciones de los municipios de España desde 1842|access-date=16 May 2021|archive-date=26 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221026082039/https://www.hacienda.gob.es/Documentacion/Publico/SGT/CATALOGO_SEFP/100_Variaciones-INTERNET.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Later, in 1999, Marchamalo segregated from Guadalajara, becoming a standalone municipality again.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.guadalajaradiario.es/32593|website=Guadalajara Diario|title=El PSOE, único partido que ha gobernado Marchamalo desde su independencia|date=22 January 2019}}</ref>

Nowadays, Guadalajara is involved in urban development plans that are quickly increasing the population of the city. New districts like Aguas Vivas (Live Waters) have {{when|date=November 2020}} been inaugurated.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

Ciudad Valdeluz was planned to increase the number of inhabitants of Guadalajara by 30,000, creating a new city around the [[AVE]] Station (Spanish High-Speed Trains). The company investing in the construction of Ciudad Valdeluz went bankrupt. Fewer than 500 inhabitants decided to occupy their flats and the remaining infrastructure is slow degrading. The AVE trains are used by only 60 passengers a day.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/oct/03/spain-niemeyer-centre-closes |title=Spain's €44m Niemeyer centre is shut in galleries glut |author=Giles Tremlett |date=3 October 2011 |access-date=4 October 2011 |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref>

== Geography ==

=== Location ===

[[File:Guadalajara-aire (retocada).jpg|thumb|Aerial view of the city, as seen from the northeast.]]
Guadalajara is located in the central part of the [[Iberian Peninsula]], in the southern half of the [[Meseta Central|Inner Plateau]].{{cn|date=January 2024}}

Chosen as settlement on the basis of defensive purposes, the historic urban core of the city lies on a small elevation near the left-bank of the [[Henares River]], also enclosed to the East and West by two small ditches corresponding to two watercourses, {{ill|Barranco del Alamín|es|lt=Alamín}} and San Antonio, respectively, forming a narrow and easily defendable space upon their confluence with the Henares.{{Sfn|Plaza de Agustín|2016|p=252}}

The municipality spans across a total area of 235.49&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name=rel>{{Cite web|url=https://ssweb.seap.minhap.es/REL/frontend/inicio/municipios/8/13413/100|access-date=16 May 2021|publisher=[[Ministry of Economy (Spain)|Ministerio de Asuntos Económicos y Transformación Digital]]|title=Datos del Registro de Entidades Locales}}</ref>

=== Climate ===

<!-- [[File:Landscape one.jpg|thumb|Alcarria lands, near Guadalajara]]
[[File:Trijueque.JPG|thumb|Guadalajara mountains seen from Trijueque]]
 -->
Guadalajara enjoys a [[semi-arid climate|cold semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''BSk'') bordering on a [[mediterranean climate]] (Köppen: ''Csa'') with continental influences for being well inland at 700 meters above sea level. Summers are hot with relatively cool nights, while winters are cool with cold nights. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Guadalajara is {{convert|-12.5|C|F}} on 12 January 2009. The highest temperature ever recorded is {{convert|43.5|C|F}} on 10 August 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/efemerides_extremos*?w=0&k=clm&l=3168C&datos=det&x=3168C&m=13&v=todos |title=Valores extremos. Guadalajara, El Serranillo |work=[[Agencia Estatal de Meteorología]] |publisher=[[Gobierno de España]] |access-date=22 May 2019 |language=es}}</ref>

{{Weather box
| width = 100%
| location = Guadalajara, El Serranillo, 639 m (1991-2015) {{Coord|40|39|33|N|3|10|24|W|display=inline}}, extremes (1985-2015)
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| Jan record high C = 20.7
| Feb record high C = 22.4
| Mar record high C = 28.2
| Apr record high C = 30.9
| May record high C = 37.2
| Jun record high C = 40.4
| Jul record high C = 41.0
| Aug record high C = 43.5
| Sep record high C = 39.8
| Oct record high C = 31.6
| Nov record high C = 25.4
| Dec record high C = 20.0
| year record high C = 
| Jan high C = 10.8
| Feb high C = 12.6
| Mar high C = 16.9
| Apr high C = 19.0
| May high C = 23.8
| Jun high C = 30.3
| Jul high C = 33.9
| Aug high C = 33.1
| Sep high C = 27.3
| Oct high C = 21.1
| Nov high C = 14.8
| Dec high C = 11.1
| year high C = 
| Jan mean C = 4.9
| Feb mean C = 5.9
| Mar mean C = 9.4
| Apr mean C = 11.5
| May mean C = 15.7
| Jun mean C = 21.1
| Jul mean C = 24.0
| Aug mean C = 23.3
| Sep mean C = 18.7
| Oct mean C = 14.1
| Nov mean C = 8.7
| Dec mean C = 5.4
| year mean C = 
| Jan low C = −1.0
| Feb low C = −0.8
| Mar low C = 1.8
| Apr low C = 4.0
| May low C = 7.6
| Jun low C = 11.7
| Jul low C = 14.0
| Aug low C = 13.5
| Sep low C = 10.0
| Oct low C = 7.0
| Nov low C = 2.5
| Dec low C = −0.4
| year low C = 
| Jan record low C = -12.5
| Feb record low C = -12.0
| Mar record low C = -7.9
| Apr record low C = -5.0
| May record low C = -2.6
| Jun record low C = 1.2
| Jul record low C = 5.5
| Aug record low C = 5.0
| Sep record low C = -1.0
| Oct record low C = -4.4
| Nov record low C = -10.5
| Dec record low C = -11.7
| year record low C = 
| precipitation color = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 33
| Feb precipitation mm = 28
| Mar precipitation mm = 26
| Apr precipitation mm = 45
| May precipitation mm = 52
| Jun precipitation mm = 23
| Jul precipitation mm = 7
| Aug precipitation mm = 7
| Sep precipitation mm = 26
| Oct precipitation mm = 69
| Nov precipitation mm = 46
| Dec precipitation mm = 42
| year precipitation mm =
|unit precipitation days = 1 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 6.1
| Feb precipitation days = 5.1
| Mar precipitation days = 4.7
| Apr precipitation days = 7.2
| May precipitation days = 7.0
| Jun precipitation days = 3.5
| Jul precipitation days = 1.3
| Aug precipitation days = 1.1
| Sep precipitation days = 4.0
| Oct precipitation days = 7.9
| Nov precipitation days = 6.2
| Dec precipitation days = 5.7
| year precipitation days =
| Jan snow days = 0.8
| Feb snow days = 0.9
| Mar snow days = 0.3
| Apr snow days = 0.2
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.0
| Nov snow days = 0.1
| Dec snow days = 0.6
| year snow days =
| source 1 = [[Agencia Estatal de Meteorología]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aemet.es/es/datos_abiertos/AEMET_OpenData |title=AEMET OpenData |publisher=[[Agencia Estatal de Meteorología]]|language=es |access-date=7 June 2010}}</ref>
| date=January 2018
}}

== Politics and administration ==

[[File:Ayuntamiento Guadalajara.jpg|thumb|right|Guadalajara City Hall.]]
Guadalajara is a [[Municipalities of Spain|municipality]], the basic level of local division in Spain. The [[Ayuntamiento (Spain)|Ayuntamiento]] is the body charged with the municipal government and administration. The Plenary of the ''ayuntamiento'' is formed by 25 elected municipal councillors,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/3652583/0/guadalajara-vence-psoe-alberto-rojo-pero-queda-aire-alcaldia-expensas-pactos/|website=[[20minutos.es]]|title=En Guadalajara, vence el PSOE de Alberto Rojo pero queda en el aire la Alcaldía a expensas de los pactos|date=27 May 2019}}</ref> who in turn invest the [[Alcalde|mayor]]. The last municipal election took place on 26 May 2019. Since June 2019, the current mayor is [[Alberto Rojo Blas]] ([[Spanish Socialist Workers' Party]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20190615/462878406232/el-socialista-alberto-rojo-alcalde-de-guadalajara-con-el-apoyo-de-cs.html|website=[[La Vanguardia]]|date=15 June 2019|title=El socialista Alberto Rojo, alcalde de Guadalajara con el apoyo de Cs}}</ref>

== Demographics ==

=== Urban area ===

The 2020 report on urban areas in Spain published by the [[Ministry of Public Works (Spain)|Ministry of Transports, Mobility and Urban Agenda]] identifies an [[urban area]] formed by the municipality of Guadalajara together with the neighbouring municipalities of [[Azuqueca de Henares]], [[Alovera]], [[Cabanillas del Campo]], [[Marchamalo]], [[Villanueva de la Torre]] and [[Chiloeches]], with a population of 161,683 (2019).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apps.fomento.gob.es/CVP/handlers/pdfhandler.ashx?idpub=BAW080|publisher=[[Ministry of Public Works (Spain)|Ministerio de Transportes, Movilidad y Agenda Urbana]]|page=33|title=Áreas urbanas en España|year=2020|access-date=1 June 2021|archive-date=9 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109064453/https://apps.fomento.gob.es/CVP/handlers/pdfhandler.ashx?idpub=BAW080|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Architecture ==

; City proper

[[File:WLM14ES - Panteón de la Condesa de la Vega del Pozo (Guadalajara) - Santi R. Muela (2).jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.7|[[Pantheon of the Duchess of Sevillano|Panteón de la Duquesa de Sevillano]].]]
The bridge across the Henares river is Arab but built on Roman foundations.  It has several historic buildings such as the Palacio del Infantado, as well as many churches, such as [[San Ginés, Guadalajara|the church of San Ginés]]. Although Guadalajara is the biggest city in its diocese, the cathedral is located in the nearby town of Sigüenza. However, in Guadalajara, there is a [[Co-Cathedral of Guadalajara, Spain|"co-cathedral", the church of Saint Mary]], in Mudejar style. Very close to this church, is placed the chapel known as "Capilla de Luis de Lucena", which has several fresco paintings on its walls and ceiling. The [[Church of los Remedios (Guadalajara)|Church of los Remedios]] was declared ''[[Bien de Interés Cultural]]'' in 1924, and currently serves as the auditorium of the [[University of Alcalá]]. The [[Church of la Piedad (Guadalajara)|Church of la Piedad]] was declared ''Bien de Interés Cultural'' in 1931.{{cn|date=January 2024}}

Before the Civil War, Guadalajara was also known to be among the cities with most number of antique [[azulejo]]s in the Iberian Peninsula housed in their buildings,{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} since the city housed the largest collection of azulejos from [[Talavera de la Reina pottery]];{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} now almost all of those azulejos are lost.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

; ''Pedanías''

[[File:Usanos Iglesia.jpg|thumb|right|Church of Asunción in [[Usanos]] example of religious and [[Romanesque architecture]] in Guadalajara.]]
The small villages (''pedanías'') of [[Iriépal]], [[Taracena]], Usanos, and Valdenoches that belong to the municipality feature few monumental landmarks other than their humble rural churches. Thus, in Iriépal there is the Concepción church, constructed in the 16th century, which is known for its Mudéjar tower. In Taracena there is the 17th century Church of the Immaculate, in a very simple Renaissance style. In Usanos, there is the 13th-century Romanesque church of the Assumption, considerably remodeled in later periods and which features a crenelated tower.

Other types of monuments that are also noteworthy are the Iriépal laundry, work of 1910 in [[historicist]] style with funding from the Jose Santa María de Hita Foundation, and Iriépal (1858) and Valdenoches (1656) funds.

Throughout all the villages there are examples of Castilian mansions, quite modest compared to those in the cities. Of note also is Villaflores, a farming village built in 1887, designed by [[Ricardo Velázquez Bosco]] and commissioned to Maria Diega Desmaissières.

== Transport ==

Guadalajara is served by two railway stations:
* [[Guadalajara railway station]], located in the city centre and part of the classical railway lines, e.g., connecting [[Chamartín Station|Chamartín]] to [[Portbou]]/[[Cerbère]].
* [[Guadalajara–Yebes railway station]], located {{convert|5.6|km}} at the South-East of Guadalajara, on the [[Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line]].

== Sports ==

The local men's football team, [[CD Guadalajara (Spain)|CD Guadalajara]], currently play at the [[Tercera División]], the fourth tier of the Spanish football system. Their home pitch is the [[Estadio Pedro Escartín|Pedro Escartín]].
The [[AD Ciudad de Guadalajara|BM Guadalajara]] play at the [[ASOBAL]] league, the top tier of the men's handball system in Spain. Their home fixtures are played at the [[Palacio Multiusos de Guadalajara]]. Guadalajara was one of the host cities of the [[2013 World Men's Handball Championship]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cope.es/blogs/merinadas-deportivas/2019/01/07/espana-en-los-mundiales-de-balonmano-masculino/|publisher=[[Cadena COPE]]|date=7 January 2019|title=España en los mundiales de balonmano masculino}}</ref>

== International relations ==

; Twin towns and sister cities

{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Spain}}
Guadalajara is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.guadalajara.es/es/ciudad/ciudades-hermanadas/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227143530/https://www.guadalajara.es/es/ciudad/ciudades-hermanadas/|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 February 2020|title=Ciudades hermanadas|publisher=Ayuntamiento de Guadalajara|access-date=27 February 2020}}</ref><ref name="Guadalajara sisters">{{cite web |url=http://www.guadalajara.gob.mx/dependencias/relacionespublicas/versioningles/sistercities.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302011742/http://www.guadalajara.gob.mx/dependencias/relacionespublicas/versioningles/sistercities.html|archive-date=2 March 2012 |title=Sister Cities, Public Relations|publisher=Guadalajara municipal government|access-date=12 March 2013}}</ref>
* [[Livorno]], Italy (since 1979)
* [[Roanne]], France (since 1980)
* [[Parma]], Italy (since 1982)
* [[Guadalajara]], Mexico (since 1982)
* [[Nitra]], Slovakia (since 1988)
* [[Nuneaton]], United Kingdom (since 1990)
* [[Buga, Valle del Cauca|Guadalajara de Buga]], Colombia (since 1996)
; Other city partnerships
* [[Nowy Sącz]], Poland<ref name="Nowy Sącz twinnings">{{cite web|url=http://www.nowysacz.pl/miasta_partnerskie|title=Miasta partnerskie i zaprzyjaźnione Nowego Sącza|access-date=1 August 2013|work=Urząd Miasta Nowego Sącza|language=pl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523172036/http://www.nowysacz.pl/miasta_partnerskie|archive-date=23 May 2013}}</ref>

<!--
[[File:Río henares.jpg|thumb|Henares River crossing the outskirts of Guadalajara]]

== Gallery ==

<gallery>

File:SanNicolásElRealGuadalajara.JPG|San Nicolás El Real Church.
File:Iglesia de San Ginés3.jpg|[[San Ginés, Guadalajara|San Ginés Church]].
File:Ábside de San Gil, Guadalajara.jpg|San Gil Church, apse<br>(12th century).
</gallery>
 -->

== Notable people ==
{{main category|People from Guadalajara, Spain}}
Distinguished people from or related to the town were:
* [[Álvar Fáñez|Álvar Fáñez de Minaya]] (fl. 1076–1114), alleged Christian conqueror of Guadalajara, represented on the city's coat of arms.
* [[Nuño Beltrán de Guzmán]] (c. 1490–1558), founder of [[Guadalajara, Mexico]]
* [[Isabel Muñoz-Caravaca]] (1838–1915), teacher, writer and labour activist.
* {{ill|Francisco Fernández Iparraguirre|es}} (1852–1889), pharmacist, linguist and botanist.
* {{ill|María Diega Desmaissières y Sevillano|es}} (1852–1916), Countess of Vega del Pozo and Duchess of Sevillano.
* [[Jose de Creeft]] (1884–1982), famous sculptor born in Guadalajara.
* [[José Ortiz-Echagüe]] (1886–1980), military engineer and photographer, honorary lifetime president of [[SEAT]] and founder of CASA.
* [[Antonio Buero Vallejo]] (1916–2000), 20th-century writer.

== See also ==
* [[Monument to Romanones (Guadalajara)]]
* [[Museum of Guadalajara]]

== References ==

; Informational notes

{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

; Citations

{{Reflist}}

; Bibliography
* {{Cite book|last=Alegre Carvajal|first=Alicia|url=http://e-spacio.uned.es/fez/eserv/tesisuned:GeoHis-Ealegre/Documento.pdf|year=1999|title=Las villas ducales como tipología urbana. El ejemplo de la Villa Ducal de Pastrana|publisher=[[Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia]]}}
* {{Cite book|isbn=978-84-340-2407-6|title=Los fueros del reino de Toledo y Castilla La Nueva|url=https://www.boe.es/biblioteca_juridica/abrir_pdf.php?id=PUB-LH-2017-3|first=Miguel Ángel|last=Chamocho Cantudo|location=Madrid|publisher=Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado|year=2017}}
* {{Cite journal|last=Chavarría Vargas|first=Juan Antonio|location=Madrid|publisher=[[Universidad Complutense de Madrid]]|title=Onomástica árabo-beréber en la toponimia de Castilla-La Mancha: Guadalajara|journal=Anaquel de Estudios Árabes|issue=97|issn=1130-3964|year=2007|volume=18|pages=93–116|url=https://revistas.ucm.es/index.php/ANQE/article/view/ANQE0707110093A/3575}}
* {{Cite journal|title=Diccionario de gentilicios y seudogentilicios de la provincia de Guadalajara|journal=Cuadernos de Etnología de Guadalajara|year=2000–2001|issue=32–33|first=María del Pilar|last=Cruz Herrera|pages=9–110|url=https://ceclmdigital.uclm.es/viewer.vm?id=0001803412&page=1&search=&lang=es&view=global|location=Guadalajara|publisher=Institución Provincial de Cultura "Marqués de Santillana". Diputación Provincial de Guadalajara|issn=0213-7399}}
* {{Cite journal|last=Herrera Casado|first=Antonio|title=La muralla de Guadalajara|journal=Wad-al-Hayara|issue=13|year=1986|pages=419–431|url=http://biblioteca2.uclm.es/biblioteca/CECLM/ARTREVISTAS/Wad/wad13HerreraCasado.pdf|access-date=27 February 2020|archive-date=27 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227144554/http://biblioteca2.uclm.es/biblioteca/CECLM/ARTREVISTAS/Wad/wad13HerreraCasado.pdf|url-status=dead}}
* {{Cite journal|url=https://revistas.ucm.es/index.php/ELEM/article/view/ELEM0808110275A|title=El patrocinio religioso de los Mendoza: siglos XIV y XV|journal=En la España Medieval|year=2008|volume=31|pages=275–308|issn=0214-3038|first=Pablo|last=Ortego Rico|publisher=[[Universidad Complutense de Madrid]]|location=Madrid}}
* {{Cite journal|volume=39|year=2016|title=Agua y desarrollo urbano en la Castilla medieval: aportaciones a su estudio en la ciudad de Guadalajara|first=Javier|last=Plaza de Agustín|doi=10.5209/rev_ELEM.2016.v39.52340|journal=En la España Medieval|pages=249–273|publisher=[[Complutense University of Madrid|Ediciones Complutense]]|url=https://revistas.ucm.es/index.php/ELEM/article/view/52340/48232|issn=0214-3038|doi-access=free}}
* {{Cite journal|title=El papel de la desamortización en la evolución de las ciudades españolas: los ejemplos de Guadalajara y Plasencia|first1=Ángela|last1=Redondo González|first2=Aurora|last2=García Ballesteros|journal=Estudios Geográficos|volume=44|issue=172–173|year=1983|pages=523–544|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1304217221|publisher=[[Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas]]|location=Madrid|issn=0014-1496|id={{ProQuest|1304217221}}}}
* {{Cite journal|title=En torno a los alumbrados del Reino de Toledo|first=Horacio|last=Santiago Otero|journal=Salmanticensis|issn=0036-3537|volume=2|issue=3|year=1955|pages=614–654|url=https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=4620210&orden=1&info=link}}
* {{Cite book|last=Schnell Quiertant|chapter=La Guerra Civil Española en Guadalajara. Desarrollo bélico y restos materiales.|first=Pablo|chapter-url=https://www.academia.edu/7591749|year=2007|title=Catálogo Exposición "Guadalajara en Guerra"|pages=24–36}}
* {{Cite journal|last=Torres Balbás|first=Leopoldo|year=1940|title=El puente de Guadalajara|journal=Al-Andalus|volume=V|pages=449–458|issn=0304-4335|url=http://oa.upm.es/34062/1/1940_puente_guada.pdf}}
* {{Cite book|last=Velasco Sánchez|year=2008|first=Ángel Luis|url=https://repositorio.uam.es/handle/10486/1282|publisher=[[Autonomous University of Madrid|Universidad Autónoma de Madrid]]|location=Madrid|title=La población de Guadalajara, 1500–1650|isbn=978-84-693-2807-1}}
* {{Cite journal|url=http://biblioteca2.uclm.es/biblioteca/ceclm/ARTREVISTAS/Wad/wad23_villaverdeGuadalajara.pdf|title=Guadalajara hasta la guerra de sucesión|first=María Dolores|last=Villaverde Sastre|journal=Wad-al-Hayara|issn=0214-7092|issue=23|year=1996|pages=11–22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051218205104/http://biblioteca2.uclm.es/biblioteca/ceclm/ARTREVISTAS/Wad/wad23_villaverdeGuadalajara.pdf|archive-date=18 December 2005}}

== External links ==
{{Commons}}
* {{SmithDGRG|title=Guadalajara}}
* [http://www.guadalajara.es Municipal Government]

{{Municipalities in Guadalajara}}
{{Capitals of Provinces in Spain}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Guadalajara, Castilla-La Mancha}}

[[Category:Guadalajara, Spain| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities in the Province of Guadalajara]]
[[Category:Roman sites in Spain]]