Analysis of Spain's Industrial and Agricultural Landscapes in 1975

Analysis of Industrial Density in 1975

Worker Density per Square Kilometer

• Over 30: Madrid, Baleares, Comunidad Valenciana, Catalonia, Basque Country, Asturias, and Cantabria
• 16 to 30: Andalusia, Navarra, Murcia, and Galicia
• 8 to 15: Aragon
• 4 to 7: Extremadura, Castile and León, Castilla La Mancha, and the Canary Islands

Industrial Contrasts: Center vs. Periphery

Spanish industry is primarily located in the periphery, with the exception of Madrid. Key industrial areas include Catalonia, the Basque Country, Asturias, Cantabria, and major inland capitals.

Land Ownership Distribution by Province

Large Estates (Over 50% of Total Land Ownership)

Cáceres, Badajoz, Huelva, Córdoba, Jaén, Ciudad Real, Albacete, and Guadalajara

Smallholdings (Over 50% of Total Land Ownership)

Valencia, Segovia, La Coruña, Lugo, Orense, Pontevedra, Santander, and León

Causes and Consequences of Land Distribution

Spain's territorial structure is marked by a duality: smallholdings versus large estates. This duality has historical roots:

• Smallholdings: Originating during the Christian conquest of a narrow strip north of the Ebro basin, increasing population led to land fragmentation.
• Large Estates: Rooted in land grants to Roman legions, the Church, and nobles. Later confiscations and auctions exacerbated the issue, as nobles often purchased the seized lands.

This configuration poses a significant challenge to Spain's agrarian structure. Smallholdings suffer from fragmented production and diversified supply, impacting profitability. Conversely, large estates are typically vast and concentrated, offering economies of scale.

Agricultural Landscapes in Spain

• Wet Spain: North and northwest peninsula
• Peninsular Interior: Uplands and Ebro basin
• Mediterranean: Coastal areas, including the Guadalquivir valley and the Balearic Islands
• Mountain Peaks: High-altitude areas like the Pyrenees
• Canary Islands: Volcanic environment