Biscay

Biscay
Bizkaia (Basque)
Vizcaya (Spanish)
Historical Territory of Biscay1
Flag of Biscay
Coat-of-arms of Biscay
Coordinates: 43°15′43″N 2°55′56″W / 43.26194°N 2.93222°W / 43.26194; -2.93222
CountrySpain
Autonomous community Basque Country
CapitalBilbao
Government
 • Deputy GeneralElixabete Etxanobe (PNV)
Area
 • Total
2,217 km2 (856 sq mi)
Population
 (2023)
 • Total
1,153,282
 • Density520/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
 • Ranked
9
 • Percent
2.47%
DemonymsBiscayne, Biscayan, bizkaitar(ra), vizcaíno/a
Official languagesBasque • Spanish
ParliamentJuntas Generales
Congress seats8
Senate seats4
Juntas Generales de Vizcaya51
WebsiteDiputación Foral de Vizcaya
1.^ Complete official names: Bizkaiko Lurralde Historikoa (Basque) and Territorio Histórico de Bizkaia (Spanish)

Biscay (/ˈbɪsk, ˈbɪski/ BISK-ay, BISK-ee;[1][2] Basque: Bizkaia [bis̻kai.a]; Spanish: Vizcaya [biθˈkaʝa]) or Bizkaia, is a province of the Basque Autonomous Community, heir of the ancient Lordship of Biscay, lying on the south shore of the eponymous bay. The capital and largest city is Bilbao.

Biscay is one of the most renowned and prosperous provinces of Spain, historically a major trading hub in the Atlantic Ocean since medieval times and, later on, one of the largest industrial and financial centers of the Iberian Peninsula. Since the extensive deindustrialization that took place throughout the 1970s, the economy has come to rely more on the services sector.

  1. ^ "Biscay". Collins English Dictionary. HarperCollins. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
  2. ^ "Vizcaya". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 18 May 2019.