Province of Teruel - Depopulation and Neglect

Depopulation and Neglect

Teruel Province has undergone massive depopulation since the second half of the 20th century. The exodus from the rural mountainous areas in Teruel rose after General Franco's Plan de Estabilización in 1959. The population declined steeply as people emigrated towards the industrial areas of the large cities and the coastal towns where tourism grew exponentially, leaving behind their small villages where living conditions were often harsh, with cold snowy winters and very basic facilities. As a consequence there are many ghost towns in different parts of the province.

A great number of surviving towns in Teruel province have only a residual population, reviving somewhat during the summer when city-dwellers spend their holidays there. Other causes of the strong emigration have been the abandonment of traditional agricultural practices, like sheep and goat rearing, by the local youth, the closure of mines, like the large Sierra Menera mine near Ojos Negros, as well as the lifestyle changes that swept over rural Spain during the second half of the 20th century.

The "Teruel exists" (Spanish: Teruel existe) movement began at the turn of the century. It is a platform of provincial authorities, institutions and sympathizers seeking to reverse the long-standing neglect of this province.