The province of Valencia (, , ), officially València (Província de València, ), is a province of Spain, in the central part of the Valencian Community. Of the province's 2.7 million people, almost one-third live in the capital, Valencia, which is also the capital of the autonomous community and the 3rd biggest city in Spain, with a metropolitan area of 2,522,383 people it is also one of the most populated cities of Southern Europe. There are 266 municipalities in the province.
History Although the Spanish Constitution of 1812 loosely created the province of València, a stable administrative entity does not arise until the territorial division of Spain in 1833, remaining today without major changes. The Provincial Council of Valencia dates from that period. After the Valencian Statute of Autonomy of 1982, the province became part of the Valencian Community. Valencian and Spanish are the official languages.
Geography It is bordered by the provinces of Alicante, Albacete, Cuenca, Teruel, Castellón, and the Mediterranean Sea. The northwestern side of the province is in the mountainous Sistema Ibérico area. Part of its territory, the Rincón de Ademuz, is an exclave sandwiched between the provinces of Cuenca and Teruel. The province is historically subdivided into the comarques of Camp de Túria, Camp de Morvedre, Canal de Navarrés, Costera, Hoya de Buñol, Horta de València, Horta Nord, Horta Oest, Horta Sud, Valencia, Requena-Utiel, Rincón de Ademuz, Ribera Alta, Ribera Baixa, Safor, Los Serranos, Vall d'Albaida and Valle de Cofrentes.
The province of Valencia, like the rest of the region, is mountainous in the interior, particularly in the north and west, with the Sistema Central running from north to south and the foothills of Andalusia from west to east. This mountainous interior features deep and steep valleys formed by the major rivers running through it. The plain of Valencia, is the second largest coastal plain of the country, located in the low region between the Júcar and Turia river valleys. It is about thirty miles long and twenty wide; on three sides it is bounded by the mountains of Segura, and on the fourth by the sea. In 1843 it was cited as "one of the most fertile and best cultivated spots in Europe". The other main rivers include the Palancia and the Serpis. The Altiplano de Requena-Utiel range, in the interior of the Valencia region, has an average height of about 750 m. The principal mountains in the province are Cerro Calderón (1837 m), Sierra del Caroche (1126 m), Sierra del Benicadell (1104 m), Serra Calderona (907 m), Sierra Martés (1085 m), Sierra de Utiel (1306 m), Sierra de Enguera (1056 m), and the Sierra de Mondúver (841 m).
Demographics As of 2025, the population is 2,763,996, of which 48.9% are male, and 51.1% are female. Minors make up 16.4% of the population, and seniors make up 20.0%.
Immigration As of 2025, immigrants make up 20.9% of the population. The 5 largest foreign countries of birth are Colombia, Venezuela, Morocco, Argentina, and Romania. +Foreign-born population (2025)Country of birthPopulation77,12546,14740,83836,37933,88328,07824,60624,05517,20815,71415,25214,62213,89112,76812,604
Municipalities The province has 266 municipalities: Ademuz Ador Agullent Aielo de Malferit Aielo de Rugat Alaquàs Albaida Albal Albalat de la Ribera Albalat dels Sorells Albalat dels Tarongers Alberic Alborache Alboraya Albuixech Alcàntera de Xúquer Alcàsser Alcublas L'Alcúdia L'Alcúdia de Crespins Aldaia Alfafar Alfara de la Baronia Alfara del Patriarca Alfarp Alfarrasí Alfauir Algar de Palancia Algemesí Algímia d'Alfara Alginet Almàssera Almiserà Almoines Almussafes Alpuente L'Alqueria de la Comtessa Alzira Andilla Anna Antella Aras de los Olmos Atzeneta d'Albaida Ayora Barx Barxeta Bèlgida Bellreguard Bellús Benagéber Benaguasil Benavites Beneixida Benetússer Beniarjó Beniatjar Benicolet Benicull de Xúquer Benifaió Benifairó de la Valldigna Benifairó de les Valls Beniflá Benigànim Benimodo Benimuslem Beniparrell Benirredrà Benissanó Benissoda Benissuera Bétera Bicorp Bocairent Bolbaite Bonrepòs i Mirambell Bufali Bugarra Buñol Burjassot Calles Camporrobles Canals Canet d'En Berenguer Carcaixent Càrcer Carlet Carrícola Casas Altas Casas Bajas Casinos Castelló Castelló de Rugat Castellonet de la Conquesta Castielfabib Catadau Catarroja Caudete de las Fuentes Cerdà Chella Chelva Chera Cheste Chiva Chulilla Cofrentes Corbera Cortes de Pallás Cotes Cullera Daimús Domeño Dos Aguas L'Eliana Emperador Enguera L'Énova Estivella Estubeny Faura Favara Foios La Font d'En Carròs La Font de la Figuera Fontanars dels Alforins Fortaleny Fuenterrobles Gandia Gátova Gavarda El Genovés Gestalgar Gilet Godella Godelleta La Granja de la Costera Guadasséquies Guadassuar Guardamar de la Safor Higueruelas Jalance Jarafuel Llanera de Ranes Llaurí Llíria Llocnou de la Corona Llocnou de Sant Jeroni Llocnou d'En Fenollet Llombai La Llosa de Ranes Llutxent Loriguilla Losa del Obispo Macastre Manises Manuel Marines Massalavés Massalfassar Massamagrell Massanassa Meliana Millares Miramar Mislata Mogente / Moixent Moncada Montaverner Montesa Montitxelvo Montroi Montserrat Museros Náquera / Nàquera Navarrés Novetlè Oliva L'Olleria Olocau Ontinyent Otos Paiporta Palma de Gandía Palmera El Palomar Paterna Pedralba Petrés Picanya Picassent Piles Pinet La Pobla de Farnals La Pobla de Vallbona La Pobla del Duc La Pobla Llarga Polinyà de Xúquer Potries Puçol Puebla de San Miguel El Puig de Santa Maria Quart de les Valls Quart de Poblet Quartell Quatretonda Quesa Rafelbunyol Rafelcofer Rafelguaraf Ráfol de Salem Real El Real de Gandia Requena Riba-roja de Túria Riola Rocafort Rotglà i Corberà Ròtova Rugat Sagunto / Sagunt Salem San Antonio de Benagéber Sant Joanet Sedaví Segart Sellent Sempere Senyera Serra Siete Aguas Silla Simat de la Valldigna Sinarcas Sollana Sot de Chera Sueca Sumacàrcer Tavernes Blanques Tavernes de la Valldigna Teresa de Cofrentes Terrateig Titaguas Torrebaja Torrella Torrent Torres Torres Tous Tuéjar Turís Utiel València Vallada Vallanca Vallés Venta del Moro Villalonga / Vilallonga Vilamarxant Villar del Arzobispo Villargordo del Cabriel Vinalesa Xàtiva Xeraco Xeresa Xirivella Yátova La Yesa Zarra
Economy The València plains are known for their olive, mulberry, ilex, algaroba, orange, and palm trees, with the appearance of an "immense garden". Such is the fertility of the soil, that two and three crops in the year are generally obtained, and the greater part of the land returns eight per cent. The rice crops are the most valuable, and are chiefly produced in the tract which is irrigated by the Albufera, a large lake in the neighbourhood of València. Rice being the principal food of the lower classes, the crop is generally consumed in the province, with the exception of a small quantity which finds its way into Castile and Andalusia. The other chief product is the white mulberry, once the source of great wealth: it was worked in the silk-factories of València. In 1828, the produce of silk from the vega of València amounted to one million of pounds yearly, the greater part of which was exported in its raw state, but the produce has greatly increased since, owing to demands from the manufacturers of Lyon and other towns in the south of France. The province of València is a notable producer of satins, silk ribbons, and velvets. The export of fruit from Valencia is also considerable, particularly of raisins. The raisins are of two kinds, the muscatel, and an inferior and smaller raisin, called pasa de legia. The export of figs, oil, and wine from the province and ports of València is also considerable, with a wine known as Beni Carlo, which as of 1843 was shipped to Cette. Mercury, copper, sulphur, arsenic, argentiferous lead, iron, coal, etc. are among the mineral products, but they are procured only in small quantities. Today, tourism is a major source of income, with the city of Valencia and the resort towns along the coast being the primary earners during the summer months.
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