The Local Area: Albox

Albox

Albox is large market town in Almeria, Andalusia located in the northeastern part of the Almanzora Valley and 120 km from the provincial capital, Almería . In 2014 it had 11,715 inhabitants, a surface area of 168.42 km² with a density of 69 inhabitants per square kilometre. The post code is 04800.
Location
The town itself sits between the Sierra de los Filabres and the Sierra de los Estaciones mountain ranges on the banks of the ancient river bed of the Almanzora Valley. North is Velez Rubio, South is Cantoria, West is Oria and East is Arboleas.
The municipality is made up of the villages of Llano de las Animas, Llano del Espino, Llano de Los Olleres, La Molata and Las Pocicas. Other scattered nuclei are Fuente del Marqués and Aljambra with many tiny hamlets dotted around.
The new motorway under development will decrease the length of time it currently takes to get to the coast but Vera playa and Garrucha are about a half an hour's drive from the town centre. Corvera, Murcia's airport, and Almeria airport are almost an equal distance from Albox and approximately an hour and a half away.
History
The name Albox is a derivative from the Moor name for At The Forest and is similar to the Spanish Al Bosque meaning the same.
Albox has had its fair share of action between the Moor and Christian tug-of war for control of the area in the fifteenth century that was rampant all throughout Andalusia. The town has also seen its fair share of natural disasters in the past but like a Phoenix it has risen from the ashes to become the thriving cultural centre it is today. Once famous for pottery and looms its privileged geographical position led to it being an important link used by mining operations, once upon a time by train but in recent years by heavy transport.
Christianity gained a strong foothold here and there are several noteworthy monuments to that. The monastery at Saliente has an annual pilgrimage that draws patrons from all over Spain and has played an important part in the area’s history.
The impressive church in the Plaza Mayor and the recent modernization and reformation of the town centre, rambla and bridges have given Albox a new lease of life. Once a dreary, dusty, backwater it is now a thriving lively market town
Economy
Heavy goods vehicles now bypass the town on the new section of motorway. Agriculture is the mainstay for the surrounding area. Chicken farms are abundant and herds of goats wander the foothills with their goatherds all year round. It is a strong centre for market gardening and almonds, olives and citrus are cultivated here. Historically water was very scarce in this area but with modern engineering is now widely available enabling the growth in both homes and businesses.
The town has a great variety of high quality shops and services in the town centre and in the industrial park to the east of the town. Since there is a fairly high ex-pat populace many have businesses here too but the town remains typically Spanish and extends a friendly welcome to visitors and residents.

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