Elche

Elche
Elche (Spanish)
Elx (Valencian)
Municipality
Panoramic view
Palm trees
Replica of the Lady of Elche
Flag of Elche
Flag
Coat of arms of Elche
Coat of arms
Map
Location of Elche
Elche is located in Province of Alicante
Elche
Elche
Location in the Province of Alicante
Elche is located in Valencian Community
Elche
Elche
Location in the Valencian Community
Elche is located in Spain
Elche
Elche
Location in Spain
Coordinates: 38°16′1″N 0°41′54″W / 38.26694°N 0.69833°W / 38.26694; -0.69833
CountrySpain
Autonomous communityValencian Community
ProvinceAlicante / Alacant
ComarcaBaix Vinalopó
Judicial districtElche
Founded5th century BC (Iberian settlement)
Government
 • MayorCarlos González Serna (2015) (PSPV-PSOE)
Area
 • Total326.1 km2 (125.9 sq mi)
Elevation
86 m (282 ft)
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total234,765
 • Density720/km2 (1,900/sq mi)
Demonym(s)il·licità, -ana (Val.)
ilicitano, -a (Sp.)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
03200–03299
Dialing code+34 96
Websitewww.elche.es

Elche (/ˈɛltʃeɪ/,[2] Spanish: [ˈeltʃe]; Valencian: Elx, UK: /ɛltʃ/,[3] US: /eɪlʃ/,[4] Valencian: [ˈɛʎtʃ] is a city and municipality of Spain, belonging to the province of Alicante, in the Valencian Community. According to 2024's data, Elche has a population of 234,800 inhabitants,[5] making it the third most populated municipality in the region (after Valencia and Alicante) and the 20th largest Spanish municipality. It is part of the comarca of Baix Vinalopó.

Part of the municipality is coastal yet the city proper is roughly 15 km (9 mi) away from the Mediterranean Sea. A small creek called Vinalopó flows through the city. Elche is the centre of the footwear industry in Spain.[6] The main airport of the province of Alicante (Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport) is located inside Elche's municipality, and it serves both Elche and Alicante, being the fifth-busiest airport in Spain.

Together with Alicante and other municipalities, Elche forms a conurbation of some 800,000 inhabitants. The city is noted for its urban Palm Grove, designated as World Heritage Site.

  1. ^ Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
  2. ^ "Elche" Archived 2016-09-29 at the Wayback Machine (US) and "Elche". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 2020-03-22.
  3. ^ "Elx". Collins English Dictionary. HarperCollins. Archived from the original on 9 February 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  4. ^ "Elche". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  5. ^ Elche supera ya los 228.300 habitantes, INFORMACION.es, December 31, 2008, Editorial Prensa Ibérica
  6. ^ Marco Lajara et al. 2021, p. 189.