Getafe
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Getafe | |||||
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Location | |||||
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Coordinates : 40° 18’N , 3°43′0″W Time Zone : CET (GMT +1) - summer: CEST (GMT +2) |
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General information | |||||
Native name | Getafe (Spanish) | ||||
Spanish name | Getafe | ||||
Founded | 1326 | ||||
Postal code | 28901-28909 | ||||
Area code | 34 (Spain) + 91 (Madrid) | ||||
Website | http://www.ayto-getafe.org | ||||
Administration | |||||
Country | Spain | ||||
Autonomous Community | Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid | ||||
Province | Madrid | ||||
Comarca | Madrid metropolitan area | ||||
Administrative Divisions | 1 | ||||
Neighborhoods | 14 | ||||
Mayor | Pedro Castro Vázquez (PSOE) | ||||
Geography | |||||
Land Area | 78,74 km² | ||||
Altitude | 623 m AMSL | ||||
Population | |||||
Population | 158,364 (2005) | ||||
- rank in Spain: | 41st | ||||
Density | 2,011 hab./km² (2005) |
Getafe is a city in the southern metropolitan area of Madrid, Spain, 12 km from downtown. The town's population is 155,997 (INE December 2004). Getafe has an industrial and commercial center, military airport ("Cradle of Spanish aviation" says the slogan), and the town has good transportation links with Madrid by several highways (A-4, A-42 (previous N-401), M-45) and the metropolitan Metro. Among the several industries located in Getafe, there is a factory of EADS (formerly CASA), where several parts of the Airbus are manufactured.
Directly to the east of Getafe we find the Cerro de los Ángeles, historically considered to be the geographical center of Spain. Recently declared head of a diocese, its cathedral is the church of the Magdalena (XVI century). Getafe is also head of the University Carlos III, installed in an old military barracks, perfectly renewed for their new use.
The town's football team, Getafe CF, plays in the Spanish first division (2004-2005). They play at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez (capacity 14000). On the south eastern side of the city, some parts of the airframe of the Airbus A380 are built. It is not too uncommon to see an A380 fly in and out of the air base. Getafe is linked to Madrid by the bus lines 441,442,443,444,447,and 448 as well as two commuter trains lines (C-4 and C-5) and the new metrosur with eight stations (Arroyo Culebro, Conservatorio, Alonso de Mendoza, Getafe Central, Juan de la Cierva, El Casar, Los Espartales and El Bercial ).
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