Editing L'Hospitalet de Llobregat

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = L'Hospitalet de Llobregat
| settlement_type         = [[Municipalities of Catalonia|Municipality]]
| official_name           = <!-- L'Hospitalet de Llobregat (official)-->
| native_name             = 
| image_skyline           = L'Hospitalet de Llobregat.jpg
| image_alt               =
| image_caption           = 
| image_flag              = Bandera de l'Hospitalet de Llobregat.svg
| image_shield            = Escut de L'Hospitalet de Llobregat.svg
| nickname                =
| motto                   =
| image_map          = {{Maplink|frame=yes|plain=y|frame-width=285|frame-height=180|frame-align=center|frame-coordinates={{Coord|39.5|N|3.7|W}}|zoom=4|type=point|title=L'Hospitalet de Llobregat|marker=city|type2=shape|stroke-width2=2|stroke-color2=#808080|text=Interactive map of L'Hospitalet de Llobregat.}}
| image_map1         = [[File:Localització de l'Hospitalet de Llobregat respecte del Barcelonès.svg|150px]]
| map_caption1       = Location in Barcelonès county
|map_caption              = Location of L'Hospitalet de Llobregat
| pushpin_map             = Spain Catalonia vegueries#Spain
| pushpin_map_caption     = Location within Catalonia##Location within Spain
| coordinates             = {{coord|41|21|35|N|2|6|00|E|region:ES_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes   =
| subdivision_type  = [[Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name  = [[Spain]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[Autonomous communities of Spain|Community]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Catalonia]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Vegueries of Catalonia|Region]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Àmbit metropolità de Barcelona|Barcelona]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[Comarques of Catalonia|County]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Barcelonès]]
| subdivision_type4  = [[Provinces of Spain|Province]]
| subdivision_name4  = [[Province of Barcelona|Barcelona]]
<!-- established --------------->
| established_title       = Founded
| established_date        = 12th century
<!-- seat, smaller parts ------->
| seat_type               = <!-- Capital -->
| seat                    =
<!-- government type, leaders -->
| government_type         = [[Ayuntamiento (Spain)|Ajuntament]]
| governing_body          = {{nowrap|Ajuntament de L'Hospitalet}}
| leader_title            = Mayor
| leader_name             = [[David Quirós]] (2024)
| leader_party            = [[Socialists' Party of Catalonia|PSC]]
<!-- area ---------------------->
| area_footnotes          =<ref name=idescat>{{cite web|url=http://www.idescat.cat/emex/?lang=en&id=081017|title=El municipi en xifres: L'Hospitalet de Llobregat|publisher=[[Institut d'Estadística de Catalunya|Statistical Institute of Catalonia]]|access-date=2015-11-23}}</ref>
| total_type              = City
| area_total_km2          = 12.4
<!-- elevation ----------------->
| elevation_footnotes     = &nbsp;([[Above mean sea level|AMSL]])
| elevation_m             = 8
| elevation_min_m         =
| elevation_max_m         =
<!-- population ---------------->
| population_as_of        = {{Spain metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
|population_footnotes    =  {{Spain metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
| population_total        = {{Spain metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
| population_demonyms      = ''hospitalenc, -ca'' &nbsp;([[Catalan language|ca]])<br>''hospitalense'' &nbsp;([[Spanish language|es]])
| population_note         =
| population_density_km2  = auto
<!-- time zone(s) -------------->
| 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 codes, area code --->
| postal_code             = 0890x
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in Spain|Dialing code]]
| area_code               = [[+34]] ([[Spain|E]]) 93 ([[province of Barcelona|B]])
<!-- INE code, city budget ----------->
| blank_name_sec1         = [[Instituto Nacional de Estadística (Spain)|INE code]]
| blank_info_sec1         = 08 1017
| blank1_name_sec1        = [[City budget]] {{nobold|(2014)}}
| blank1_info_sec1        = €200&nbsp;million
<!-- language(s), patron saint(s), main festivity --------------->
| blank1_name_sec2        = [[Fiesta patronal|Main festitivity]]
| blank1_info_sec2        = ?
| blank2_name_sec2        = [[Patron saint]]
| blank2_info_sec2        = [[Eulalia of Barcelona|Saint Eulalia]]
<!-- website, footnotes -------->
| website                 = {{URL|l-h.cat}}|
| footnotes               =
}}

'''L'Hospitalet de Llobregat''' ({{IPA|ca|luspitəˈlɛd də ʎuβɾəˈɣat; ˌlɔs-}}; {{langx|es|Hospitalet de Llobregat}}), often shortened to '''L'Hospitalet''' or just '''L'H''', is a [[Municipalities of Spain|municipality]] in the [[Barcelonès]] [[Comarques of Catalonia|''comarca'']], in [[Catalonia]] ([[Spain]]). It is part of the [[Barcelona metropolitan area]], the [[province of Barcelona|Barcelona province]], and of the Barcelona [[conurbation]].

By population, it is the second largest municipality in Catalonia and the [[Ranked lists of Spanish municipalities|sixteenth in Spain]]. It is one of the most densely populated cities in the [[European Union]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rae|first=Alasdair|date=2018-03-22|title=Europe's most densely populated square kilometres – mapped|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/cities/gallery/2018/mar/22/most-densely-populated-square-kilometres-europe-mapped|access-date=2021-09-23|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

== Name ==
The name of L'Hospitalet (literally, 'the small hospital' in [[Catalan language|Catalan]]) makes reference to a [[hostel]].<ref name=cvc /> The name of the river [[Llobregat]] is added to differentiate it from other towns with the same name.<ref name=cvc>{{Cite journal|url=https://cvc.cervantes.es/el_rinconete/anteriores/septiembre_05/13092005_01.htm|journal=Rinconete|title=Cataluña y sus topónimos (y V)|first=Jairo J.|last=García Sánchez|date=13 September 2005|publisher=[[Centro Virtual Cervantes]]|issn=1885-5008}}</ref>

==History ==
The first records of the settlement date to the [[Neolithic|Neolithic era]] with artefacts showing human habitation in the [[Llobregat]] river area. Roman artefacts have been found dating to the 2nd century BC such as a funeral decoration representing the head of [[Medusa]], now in the [[Archaeology Museum of Catalonia|Archaeological Museum of Catalonia]]. However it is not until the 10th century that written references to ''Provençana'' (the city's original name) appear.

The place had about 5,000 inhabitants by the turn of the 20th century.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://raco.cat/index.php/QuadernsCELH/article/view/276296/378062|page=136|title=El patrimoni de l'Hospitalet: una història i algunes propostes|first=Manuel|last=Domínguez|journal=Quaderns d'Estudi|year=2014|issue=27<!--|pages=135–164-->|issn=2013-9691}}</ref> Throughout the early 20th century, it consisted of three different urban settlements, Centre, Sta. Eulàlia and Collblanc.{{Sfn|Domínguez|2011|p=91}} Local agricultural output and profitability experienced a peak in this period.{{Sfn|Domínguez|2011|p=91}} A chunk of the municipality (900 ha) was lost to the municipality of Barcelona in 1920.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://raco.cat/index.php/QuadernsCELH/article/view/250000/357497|journal=Quaderns d'Estudi|page=91|year=2011<!--pages=87–125-->|issue=25|issn=2013-9691|first=Manuel|last=Domínguez|title=El pistolerisme a l'Hospitalet}}</ref> L'Hospitalet then became a primarily industrial municipality, focused on textile, metalworking, ceramic and building materials industries.{{Sfn|Domínguez|2011|p=92}}

The 1960s and 1970s saw a second population boom, caused by immigration from poorer regions of Spain: however this was not matched by construction of the necessary amenities and it was only in the 1990s that public investment resulted in additional schools, leisure facilities and housing.

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations|1842|2504|1857|3072|1877|3604|1887|4148|1900|4891|1910|6226|1920|12393|1930|33567|1940|50070|1950|69748|1960|121995|1970|240630|1981|295074|1991|272578|2001|239019|2011|256509|2021|265003|source=[[National Statistics Institute (Spain)|INE]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Changes in the municipalities in the population census since 1842|url=https://www.ine.es/intercensal/inicio.do|publisher=[[National Institute of Statistics (Spain)|INE]]|language=es}}</ref>|align=right|cols=1}}As of 2020, the registered population stands at 274,320, of which 126,237 were born in Catalonia, 54,098 were born in other Spanish regions, 93,984 were born abroad and 1 person was born in former Spanish territories.<ref name=hospitalet />

As of 2020, the foreign population amounts for 67,213 people.<ref name=hospitalet>{{Cite book|url=https://www.l-h.cat/utils/obreFitxer.aspx?cplFxazMqazAIt02zOe0D1MYqazA0DVEqazAXjL31YDwqazCkAv6oy8ZlAagWEFWZSN5suQ6FvxB|publisher=Ajuntament de L'Hospitalet|pages=50–53|chapter=Població estrangera segons nacionalitat i sexe 2020|title=Demografia}}</ref> The largest groups of foreign citizens are listed as follows:<ref name=hospitalet />
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto;"
|+ Foreign nationals
! Country of citizenship 
! Population (2020)<ref name=hospitalet />
|-
|-
| [[Morocco]] || align = "right" | {{nts|6218}}
|-
| [[Bolivia]] || align = "right" | {{nts|5848}}
|-
| [[Honduras]] || align = "right" | {{nts|4558}}
|-
| [[India]] || align = "right" | {{nts|4490}}
|-
| [[Pakistan]] || align = "right" | {{nts|4481}}
|-
| [[Peru]] || align = "right" | {{nts|4338}}
|-
| [[Dominican Republic]] || align = "right" | {{nts|4331}}
|-
| [[Ecuador]] || align = "right" | {{nts|4107}}
|-
| [[China]] || align = "right" | {{nts|3698}}
|-
| [[Colombia]] || align = "right" | {{nts|3668}}
|-
| [[Romania]] || align = "right" | {{nts|2131}}
|-
| [[Venezuela]] || align = "right" | {{nts|1796}}
|-
| [[Italy]] || align = "right" | {{nts|1662}}
|-
| [[Paraguay]] || align = "right" | {{nts|1634}}
|-
| [[El Salvador]] || align = "right" | {{nts|1204}}
|}

==Geography==
L'Hospitalet's surface is {{cvt|12.49|km2}}. The area on which the city is constructed may be divided in two different geological areas. 
One of them follows the coast typology and is called [[La Marina (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat)|La Marina]], similarly to two coast areas of neighbouring [[Barcelona]]'s [[Zona Franca]]: [[La Marina del Prat Vermell]] and [[La Marina de Port]]. The latter half of L'Hospitalet is called [[El Samontà]], which consists of hills and a more elevated area.

==Economy==
[[File:Spanair headquarters Hospitalet.JPG|thumb|left|[[Spanair]] head office in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat]]
The city's reputation is largely still that of a depressed suburb,<ref>Lonely Planet Barcelona, p8, Damien Simonis</ref> drawing on its proletarian origins and its reliance on Barcelona. But its economy has improved recently, as can be seen from the city's new skyline and relocation of companies to the city's new financial centre. Urban regeneration and construction took place during the 2000s, as well as ongoing work on improving [[public transportation]] in the second municipality of the [[Barcelona metropolitan area]]. The former airline [[Spanair]]'s headquarters were in L'Hospitalet.<ref>[http://www.urbanity.es/foro/viajes-ciudades-y-naturaleza-cat/7240-lhospitalet-de-llobregat-bcn.html L'Hospitalet de Llobregat] (in Spanish), www.urbanity.es</ref><ref>"[http://www.spanair.com/web/en-gb/Contacts/ Contacts]." [[Spanair]]. Retrieved on 29 December 2009.</ref> Former mayor [[Celestino Corbacho]] campaigned to improve the city's infrastructure from his position in the Ministry of Work.
{{clear}}

==Skyscrapers==
{{see also|List of skyscrapers in Europe}}
* [[Hotel Porta Fira]] (2010) – {{convert|113|m|ft}}– Completed
* [[Torre Realia BCN]] (2009) – {{convert|112|m|ft}} – Completed
* [[Hotel Catalonia Plaza Europa]] (2011) – {{convert|105|m|ft}} – Completed
* [[Hesperia Tower]] (2006) – {{convert|106|m|ft}} – Completed
* Tower Caixa Catalunya (?) – {{convert|106|m|ft}} – Planned
* [[Torre Inbisa]] (2010) – {{convert|104|m|ft}} – Completed
* [[Torre Zenit]] (2009) – {{convert|104|m|ft}} – Completed
* Hospital de Bellvitge (1972) – {{convert|82|m|ft}} – Completed
* Tower Colonial (?) – {{convert|75|m|ft}} – Under Construction (on hold)
* Tower Fadesa I (2009) – {{convert|65|m|ft}} – Completed
* Tower Fadesa II (2009) – {{convert|65|m|ft}} – Completed
* Tower Fadesa III (2009) – {{convert|65|m|ft}} – Completed
* City Judicial Building A (2008) – {{convert|62|m|ft}} – Completed
* City Judicial Building C (2008) – {{convert|58|m|ft}} – Completed
* Torre Melina (Hotel Rey Juan Carlos) (1992) – {{convert|60|m|ft}} – Completed

<gallery>
File:Spain.Catalonia.Hospitalet.Hospital.de.Bellvitge.1.JPG|Hospital de Bellvitge
File:Hesperia Tower.jpg|Hesperia Tower
File:Barcelona 2010 August 005 Hotel.JPG|Toyo Ito Towers
</gallery>

==Administrative units==

===District I===
;[[El Centre (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat)|El Centre]]
[[File:Spain.Hospitalet.Centre.Casino.del.Centre.jpeg|thumb|Casino del Centre]]
El Centre is the historical centre of the city, the oldest neighbourhood, where the City Council is, as well as the centre of activities such as La Farga and many of the cultural buildings, such as the History Museum, the Can Sumarro library, the cultural centre ''Barradas'' or the ''Sala Alexandre Cirici''. It borders the district of Sanfeliu and Can Serra to the north, Bellvitge to the south, Sant Josep to the east, and the city of [[Cornellà de Llobregat]] to the west.

;[[Sant Josep (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat)|Sant Josep]]
Sant Josep remains framed by the square that is formed by the avenue of the Fabregada and that of Isabella The Catholic (''Isabel la Catòlica'') to the west, the Torrent Gornal to the east, the railroad on the north side Carrilet to the south. In this area, all the industrial activities that Hospitalet had through the ages left their mark: from the flour mills and the distilleries, up to the different energetic exploitation of the waterfalls of the Canal de la Infanta or the ceramic, textile, metallurgical and chemical industries. In fact, Sant Josep was originally an industrial suburb, but the subsequent disappearance of many factories, as well as the population increase, have given it a residential character.

;[[Sanfeliu (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat)|Sanfeliu]]
Civic life in this quarter centres on the avenue of the Cirerers and the Communities Square (''Plaça de les Comunitats''). This public space is the scene of the greatest holiday celebrations, such as the festival of Sant Joan, the Carnival, and many other popular events. The cultural centre is also at the heart of many of the activities.

===District II===
;[[Collblanc (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat)|Collblanc]]
This ward has a marked commercial character, centred near the Collblanc Metro stop. The Market Square (''Plaça del Mercat'') and the surroundings are the main centre of cultural life.

;[[La Torrassa (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat)|La Torrassa]]
Its origins has been linked to [[Collblanc (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat)|Collblanc]]. Today, the Spanish Square (''Plaça Espanyola'') and the new park of La Torrassa are at the heart of this neighbourhood and is where the holiday celebrations at the beginning of every summer are largest.

===District III===
;[[Santa Eulàlia (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat)|Santa Eulàlia]]
[[File:Spain.Hospitalet.Bellvitge.Rotonda.02.jpeg|thumb|Rotonda]]
Its origins are dated back to Medieval times thanks to the presence of the Santa Eulàlia de Provençana hermitage (dated in the 12th century thanks to an inscription in the façade). Also it was very important during the Industrial Revolution thanks to the presence of many industries in the quarter, such as Can Trinxet, L'Aprestadora or Can Pareto.
;[[Gran Via Sud (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat)|Gran Via Sud]]
It is the smallest quarter in the town.

===District IV===
;[[La Florida (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat)|La Florida]]

La Florida is a majority-immigrant neighborhood that is the densest neighborhood in Europe.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.vice.com/es/article/ser-joven-en-la-florida-densidad-de-poblacion-europa/ | title=Ser joven en la Florida, el barrio con más densidad de población de Europa }}</ref>

;[[Les Planes (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat)|Les Planes]]

===District V===
;[[Pubilla Casas (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat)|Pubilla Casas]]
;[[Can Serra (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat)|Can Serra]]

===District VI===
[[File:Cervesa Glops (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Catalunya).jpg|thumb|Craft beer of L'Hospitalet]]
;[[Bellvitge (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat)|Bellvitge]]
In 1964 the Inmobiliaria Ciudad Condal S.A. (ICC) company initiated the construction of this neighbourhood as it stands nowadays, beside the hermitage, on land which had been bought from local farmers. It was designed as a residential area to house the large number of immigrants who came to Catalonia from elsewhere in Spain – more than 126,000 people in 1964 – in search of work.

;[[Gornal (L'Hospitalet de Llobregat)|Gornal]]

===District VII===
;[[Granvia l'Hospitalet]]

==Transport==
{{Main|Transport in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat}}

==International relations==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Spain}}

===Twin towns and sister cities===
L'Hospitalet is [[twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with the following cities:

*[[Bayonne]], France<ref name="Bayonne twinnings">{{cite web| url = http://www.cncd.fr/frontoffice/bdd-region.asp?action=getRegion&id=2#tabs3| title = National Commission for Decentralized Cooperation| access-date = 2013-12-26| work = Délégation pour l'Action Extérieure des Collectivités Territoriales (Ministère des Affaires étrangères)| language = fr| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://archive.today/20131008010503/http://www.cncd.fr/frontoffice/bdd-region.asp?action=getRegion&id=2#tabs3| archive-date = 8 October 2013| df = dmy-all}}</ref>
*[[Tuzla]], Bosnia and Herzegovina

==See also==
{{Portal|Spain}}
*[[Metropolitan area of Barcelona]]
*[[Zona Franca (Barcelona)]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
* {{official website|http://www.l-h.cat/|Website of the city L'Hospitalet de Llobregat}}
* [http://www.poblesdecatalunya.cat/municipi.php?m=081017 Artistic and historical buildings in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat]
* [http://aplicacions.municat.gencat.cat/index.php?page=consulta&mostraEns=0810170005 Government data pages] {{in lang|ca}}

{{Geographic location
|Centre = L'Hospitalet de Llobregat
|N  = 
|NE = 
|E  = [[Barcelona]]
|SE = 
|S  = 
|SW = [[El Prat de Llobregat]]
|W  = [[Cornellà de Llobregat]]
|NW = [[Esplugues de Llobregat]]
}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Articles related to L'Hospitalet de Llobregat
|list=
{{Barcelones}}
{{Municipalities in Barcelona}}
{{Cities in Spain}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hospitalet De Llobregat}}
[[Category:L'Hospitalet de Llobregat| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in Barcelonès]]