Don Benito

Don Benito (Spanish pronunciation: [dom beˈnito]) is a Spanish town and municipality in the province of Badajoz, Extremadura, near the left bank of the Guadiana river. According to the 2014 census,[2] the municipality has a population of 37,011.

For the early 18th century pirate, see Don Benito (pirate).
Don Benito
Municipality
Parish church of San Juan
Flag
Coat of arms
Don Benito
Location in Extremadura
Coordinates: 38°57′16.3″N 5°51′42.2″W
Country Spain
Autonomous Community Extremadura
ProvinceBadajoz
ComarcaLas Vegas Altas
Founded15th century
Government
 • MayorJose Luis Quintana Álvarez (PSOE-Extremadura)
Area
 • Total561,6 km2 (2,168 sq mi)
Elevation
280 m (920 ft)
Population
 (2018)[1]
 • Total37,010
 • Density6.6/km2 (17/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST (GMT +2))
Postal code
06400
Area code(s)+34 (Spain) + 924 (Badajoz)
WebsiteOfficial website
Ave María Amphitheatre
Las Albercas Park

History

Don Benito dates from the 15th century, when it was founded by refugees from Don Llorente, who deserted their own town due to the danger of floods from the Guadiana.[3]

Battle of Medellín
Main article: Battle of Medellín

On 28 March 1809, the 9 km separating Don Benito from Medellín was the site of a major French victory against Spanish troops during the Peninsular War.

Geography

Don Benito has 37,048 inhabitants, and is part of an urban area with Villanueva de la Serena (26,071 inhabitants) 5 km away.

The municipality is composed by the town of Don Benito and seven villages:

Settlement Population (2012)
Don Benito 32,783
Conquista del Guadiana 133
Gargáligas 549
Hernán Cortés 921
Ruecas 718
El Torviscal 549
Valdehornillos 664
Vivares 731

Demographics

Transport

The town is served by a railway station on the Ciudad Real-Badajoz railway, part of an international line that links Madrid with Lisbon. It has been interested, along with the nearby Villanueva de la Serena, by a project of a tramway, not yet finalized.[4][5] The town is also the southern terminus of the EXA2 motorway from Miajadas.

Famous residents

Twin towns

References
  1. Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
  2. Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE)
  3.  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Don Beníto". Encyclopædia Britannica. 8 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 411.
  4. (in Spanish) "The circular tramway Don Benito-Villanueva in the future". El Periódico Extremadura, 29-9-2007
  5. (in Spanish) "The project of the Don Benito-Villanueva tramway will be taken by the regional board". Hoy, 12-2-2008


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