Although theSpanish Constitution of 1812 loosely created the province of València, a stable administrative entity does not arise until the territorial division of Spain in 1833,[4] remaining today without major changes. The Provincial Council of Valencia dates from that period. After the Valencian Statute of Autonomy of 1982, the province became part of theValencian Community.Valencian andSpanish are the official languages.
The province of Valencia, like the rest of the region, is mountainous in the interior, particularly in the north and west,[6] with theSistema Central running from north to south and the foothills of Andalusia from west to east. This mountainous interior features deep and steep valleys formed by the major rivers running through it. The plain of Valencia, is the second largest coastal plain of the country, located in the low region between theJúcar andTuria river valleys. It is about thirty miles long and twenty wide; on three sides it is bounded by the mountains of Segura, and on the fourth by the sea. In 1843 it was cited as "one of the most fertile and best cultivated spots in Europe".[6] The other main rivers include thePalancia and theSerpis. The Altiplano de Requena-Utiel range, in the interior of the Valencia region,[7] has an average height of about 750 m. The principal mountains in the province areCerro Calderón (1837 m),Sierra del Caroche (1126 m),Sierra del Benicadell (1104 m),Serra Calderona (1015 m),Sierra Martés (1085 m),Sierra de Utiel (1306 m),Sierra de Enguera (1056 m), and theSierra de Mondúver (841 m).[8]
As of 2024, minors make up 17.9% of the population, and seniors make up 19.8%, compared to the nationwide average of 17.6% and 20.4% respectively.[2]
The foreign-born population is 520,271, equal to 19.2% of the total population. The 5 largest foreign nationalities areColombians (64,559),Venezuelans (38,485),Moroccans (37,571),Romanians (34,013) andArgentinians (31,618).[2]
The València plains are known for their olive, mulberry, ilex, algaroba, orange, and palm trees, with the appearance of an "immense garden".[6] Such is the fertility of the soil, that two and three crops in the year are generally obtained, and the greater part of the land returns eight per cent. The rice crops are the most valuable, and are chiefly produced in the tract which is irrigated by theAlbufera, a large lake in the neighbourhood of València.[6] Rice being the principal food of the lower classes, the crop is generally consumed in the province, with the exception of a small quantity which finds its way intoCastile andAndalusia. The other chief product is the white mulberry, once the source of great wealth: it was worked in the silk-factories of València. In 1828, the produce of silk from the vega of València amounted to one million of pounds yearly, the greater part of which was exported in its raw state, but the produce has greatly increased since, owing to demands from the manufacturers of Lyon and other towns in the south of France.[6] The province of València is a notable producer of satins, silk ribbons, and velvets.[6] The export of fruit from Valencia is also considerable, particularly of raisins. The raisins are of two kinds, the muscatel, and an inferior and smaller raisin, calledpasa de legia.[6] The export of figs, oil, and wine from the province and ports of València is also considerable, with a wine known asBeni Carlo, which as of 1843 was shipped toCette.[6] Mercury, copper, sulphur, arsenic, argentiferous lead, iron, coal, etc. are among the mineral products, but they are procured only in small quantities.[6] Today, tourism is a major source of income, with the city ofValencia and the resort towns along the coast being the primary earners during the summer months.[10]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain:Penny Cyclopaedia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, by C. Knight (1843)
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