Utebo

Utebo is a municipality located in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. At the time of the 2012 census (INE), the municipality had a population of 18,281 inhabitants, being the third most populated town of the province, only overcome by Zaragoza and Calatayud, and one of the most populated in Aragon.

Location

Utebo is distributed in three neighborhoods: the Old Town, El Monte (area developed in the 40's) and the neighborhood of Malpica (bordering the neighborhood of Casetas, which belongs to Zaragoza). The town is in the right bank of the River Ebro. Its municipal area is flat and the 67% of the municipal area are farmland, from which the 70% are irrigated supplied by the River Ebro canals, by the River Jalon canals and the Imperial Canal of Aragon.

Utebo belongs to Campo de Zaragoza, being the most populated town behind the capital city. Its municipal area borders Casetas neighborhood on the west, Alfocea on the north, Garrapinillos on the south and Zaragoza on the east.

History

The name Utebo proceeds from the Latin 'Octavius'. Octavius was founded with Caesar Augusta (Zaragoza) in 24-13 BC. After the conquest of Zaragoza by Alfonso the Battler in 1118, Utebo belonged to the Christian kingdoms. At that time, Utebo had a population of 115 inhabitants. The Peninsular War made of Utebo an almost abandoned town in 1808. However, from 1850 the population begins to grow, it had a population of 585 inhabitants. From 1906 Utebo begins to be an independent municipality.

Demography

In 2012 Utebo had a population of 18,281 inhabitants, this implies that from 1900 -when it had a population of only 1,799 inhabitants- its population has increased tenfold.

Economy

The agriculture and the industry are the main economic activities. The most important crops are vegetables, corn and cereals. Utebo has an industrial area on the N-232 road, between Zaragoza and Casetas neighborhood. In this area there are five industrial parks: El Águila, La Casaza, La Estación, San Idelfonso y Utebo, the largest. The industry is not excessively specialized, with metallurgy activities, construction, production of chemicals, furniture and food.

Patrimony

Church of Our Lady of the Assumption

The church of Our Lady of the Assumption was built in two phases, the first in the 16th century in Gothic-Mudejar style and the second in the 18th century in Baroque style. It has a beautiful mudejar tower, called Torre de los Espejos (Tower of the Mirrors), for its ceramic ornaments with more of 8000 tiling. Considered one of the most beautiful tower of Aragon, it is represented in the Pueblo Español de Barcelona. Inside the temple, the altarpiece, made of gilded wood, is dedicated to the Virgin. It is a Baroque-Rococo work of the 18th century. There are two other altarpieces dedicated to the Immaculate and to the Sacred Heart.

Civil architecture

In the Old Town of Utebo there are several brick houses with three floors, with access cover of centered arch, lintelled hollow galleries on the upper floor, and brick, wood or tile eaves. Also in the Plaza de la Constitución we can find the unique buildings of the Town Hall, the Day Centre, and the 'El Molino' Centre. The latter is situated on the remains of the old Utebo Mill, the only old building situated in El Monte. The mill was used for flour production.

Cultural heritage

Utebo has a museum-cultural centre named Centro Cultural Mariano Mesonada (Mariano Mesonada Cultural Centre). It houses the Museo Orús (Orus Museum), which exhibits the paintings of José Orús, an Aragonese artist.

Festivities

Celebrations of San Lamberto, June 19
Celebrations of Santa Ana, July 26

Famous people

Pedro Cerrada (1815-1895). Doctor.
Venancio Sarría Simón (1883-1936). Politician.
Gil Bel Mesonada (1895-1949). Writer.
José Orús (1931). Artist.
Jaime Latas Fuertes (1953). Historian.
Carmen París (1966). Singer
Teresa María. Singer.

Twin towns

Utebo is twinned with:

Plaisance-du-Touch, France

Municipalities of the province of Zaragoza

List of municipalities of Zaragoza

Abanto Acered Agón Aguarón Aguilón Ainzón Aladrén Alagón Alarba Alberite de San Juan Albeta Alborge Alcalá de Ebro Alcalá de Moncayo Alconchel de Ariza Aldehuela de Liestos Alfajarín Alfamén Alforque Alhama de Aragón Almochuel La Almolda Almonacid de la Cuba Almonacid de la Sierra La Almunia de Doña Godina Alpartir Ambel Anento Aniñón Añón de Moncayo Aranda de Moncayo Arándiga Ardisa Ariza Artieda Asín Atea Ateca Azuara Badules Bagüés Balconchán Bárboles Bardallur Belchite Belmonte de Gracián Berdejo Berrueco Biel Bijuesca Biota Bisimbre Boquiñeni Bordalba Borja Botorrita Brea de Aragón Bubierca Bujaraloz Bulbuente Bureta El Burgo de Ebro El Buste Cabañas de Ebro Cabolafuente Cadrete Calatayud Calatorao Calcena Calmarza Campillo de Aragón Carenas Cariñena Caspe Castejón de Alarba Castejón de las Armas Castejón de Valdejasa Castiliscar Cervera de la Cañada Cerveruela Cetina Chiprana Chodes Cimballa Cinco Olivas Clarés de Ribota Codo Codos Contamina Cosuenda Cuarte de Huerva Cubel Las Cuerlas Daroca Ejea de los Caballeros Embid de Ariza Encinacorba Épila Erla Escatrón Fabara Farlete Fayón Los Fayos Figueruelas Fombuena El Frago El Frasno Fréscano Fuendejalón Fuendetodos Fuentes de Ebro Fuentes de Jiloca Gallocanta Gallur Gelsa Godojos Gotor Grisel Grisén Herrera de los Navarros Ibdes Illueca Isuerre Jaraba Jarque Jaulín La Joyosa Lagata Langa del Castillo Layana Lécera Lechón Leciñena Letux Litago Lituénigo Lobera de Onsella Longares Longás Lucena de Jalón Luceni Luesia Luesma Lumpiaque Luna Maella Magallón Mainar Malanquilla Maleján Mallén Malón Maluenda Manchones Mara María de Huerva Marracos Mediana de Aragón Mequinenza Mesones de Isuela Mezalocha Mianos Miedes de Aragón Monegrillo Moneva Monreal de Ariza Monterde Montón Morata de Jalón Morata de Jiloca Morés Moros Moyuela Mozota Muel La Muela Munébrega Murero Murillo de Gállego Navardún Nigüella Nombrevilla Nonaspe Novallas Novillas Nuévalos Nuez de Ebro Olvés Orcajo Orera Orés Oseja Osera de Ebro Paniza Paracuellos de Jiloca Paracuellos de la Ribera Pastriz Pedrola Las Pedrosas Perdiguera Piedratajada Pina de Ebro Pinseque Los Pintanos Plasencia de Jalón Pleitas Plenas Pomer Pozuel de Ariza Pozuelo de Aragón Pradilla de Ebro Puebla de Albortón La Puebla de Alfindén Puendeluna Purujosa Quinto Remolinos Retascón Ricla Romanos Rueda de Jalón Ruesca Sabiñán Sádaba Salillas de Jalón Salvatierra de Esca Samper del Salz San Martín de la Virgen de Moncayo San Mateo de Gállego Santa Cruz de Grío Santa Cruz de Moncayo Santa Eulalia de Gállego Santed Sástago Sediles Sestrica Sierra de Luna Sigüés Sisamón Sobradiel Sos del Rey Católico Tabuenca Talamantes Tarazona Tauste Terrer Tierga Tobed Torralba de los Frailes Torralba de Ribota Torralbilla Torrehermosa Torrelapaja Torrellas Torres de Berrellén Torrijo de la Cañada Tosos Trasmoz Trasobares Uncastillo Undués de Lerda Urrea de Jalón Urriés Used Utebo Val de San Martín Valdehorna Valmadrid Valpalmas Valtorres Velilla de Ebro Velilla de Jiloca Vera de Moncayo Vierlas Villadoz Villafeliche Villafranca de Ebro Villalba de Perejil Villalengua Villanueva de Gállego Villanueva de Huerva Villanueva de Jiloca Villar de los Navarros Villarreal de Huerva Villarroya de la Sierra Villarroya del Campo La Vilueña Vistabella de Huerva La Zaida Zaragoza Zuera

Coordinates: 41°43′N 1°00′W / 41.717°N 1.000°W / 41.717; -1.000

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