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History
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First settlers
The first settlements in the Vallčs county were 7,000 years ago, when communities of farmers and stock-rearers were established. Various digs have been carried out n the Can Roqueta area (Sabadell), which have uncovered the largest settlement of farmers and herders in Catalonia between 3,800 and 2,700 years ago.
On the Vallčs plan, farming and stock-rearing societies found landscape favourable for agriculture, grazing and communication.
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Romanisation
Romanisation was a slow process involving the disappearance of the Iberian culture. We can find traces of the Iberians (2,600 and 2,100 years ago) at Can Roqueta (Sabadell).
The first Roman settlements began to appear from the 1st century BC onwards, some built on old existing Iberian foundations (like that at La Salut).
The period of the Emperor Augustus (1st century) was a time of economic prosperity, and villae - very large industrial and residential complexes - were founded. Among the villae of Vallčs, the one at La Salut was outstanding. This villa has traditionally been associated with the name of the Arragonem mansion (Arraona), although there is no archaeological evidence to prove this.
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Middle Ages
The parish of Sant Feliu d'Arraona is named for the first time in a document from the year 1039. It controlled the land within Arraona, an area with a dispersed population.
A grouped population centre emerged on the plain on the right bank of the River Ripoll, with some early buildings constructed beside the chapel of Sant Salvador (current church of Sant Fčlix), documented since 1076. The first flour mills were also built on the river.
In 1111, the Forum Sabatelli, where the roads from surrounding towns came together, is mentioned. During the 14th century, Sabadell ceased to belong to the feudal lord to become a royal town achieving privileges that revitalised its social and economic life. In 1369, there were some 810 people in Sabadell.
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15th century
Sabadell experienced a drop in population during this century. The town had between 500 and 600 inhabitants concentrated in what is now the historic centre, an important crossroads. The border with Terrassa was at Calle de Les Valls.
One of the most important works was the conduit for water from the Rosella Spring, which Queen Eleonor had granted permission for in 1367. In 1460 the Novella market garden was created on the bank of the Ripoll.
As well as agricultural and commercial activity, industry also developed in Sabadell. The first cloth mills began to be built on the banks of the River Ripoll.
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Sabadell in the modern era (16th-18th centuries)
The town began to grow beyond its walls. The first houses outside the walled perimeter of the city began to be built from the 16th century onwards. The town continued growing during the 18th century. From an area of 37,900 square metres in the 16th century, it reached 78,272 m2 in the 18th century.
The most important textile industry in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries was wool, followed - a long way behind - by linen weaving. Throughout the 18th century, Sabadell had other important industrial activities, such as pottery and paper-making.
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19th century, from town to industrial city
The city moved from 2,000 inhabitants at the beginning of the century to 23,044 (1897 census). Sabadell's industrial character was reinforced during this century, when various events happened, such as the installation of the first steam engine in a textile factory (1838) and the foundation of the Agriculture and Industry Lovers' Society of the town of Sabadell.
The boundary continued to grow and was expanded from Calle de Les Valls to the line of the current Ronda Zamenhof and Calle Vilarrúbias. In addition, during the second half of the century, the town saw the arrival of the railway line that connected it to Barcelona, the first public lighting was installed in the central streets and the first sewers were built.
In the second half of the century, the Caixa d'Estalvis de Sabadell (1859) and the Banc de Sabadell (1881) were born. Economic activity basically revolved around the textile industry.
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1900-1979, large-scale growth and crisis
The 20th century is the century of large-scale growth. The 182,012 inhabitants of 1975 were almost eight times the population of 1900, when there were 23,294 citizens. During the 20th century, Sabadell experienced a strong industrial impulse, above all in the textile and metalworking industries, and modernised its economy with services. Linked to the great industrial activity was urban expansion, which happened without order or organisation, above all with the avalanche of immigration of the '50s, '60s and beginning of the '70s. New districts, such as Ca n'Oriac and Torre-romeu were born.
The economic crisis of the seventies affected many companies in the city, which ended up closing their doors. With the recovery of democracy in 1979, the need for a new model of city was established.
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21st century, the city of knowledge
Sabadell has taken on the challenge involved in the new information and communication technologies. To do this, it has the support of the considerable economic and social fabric of the city, with the progress experienced by its information industries, and dynamic citizens and associations prepared to co-operate in this development.
The co-operation of the public and private sectors is essential for future projects that will enable Sabadell to establish itself as a landmark within the new information and knowledge society. There are already some examples of this co-operation in the city, such as the Industries for Information Foundation and the Sabadell 2010 Strategic Plan.
Gran Vía Digital, Salut Park and the Cultural and Congress Centre are great projects for the city's future.
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1980-2000, development towards a city of services
The first challenges faced by the new democratic city council revolved around the development of the city and the creation of public facilities. The uncontrolled growth of the 50s, 60s and 70s had generated new districts which did not have the necessary urban infrastructures (street lighting, sewerage, metalled roads, etc.).
The tertiarisation of the economy has meant the main service sector activities have increased their number of workers. The three main activities are the retail trade, financial institutions and wholesale trade. Eix Maciā has become a centre of services, grouping the range of shopping and business facilities. The change in the urban development of the historic centre has led to its economic reactivation. The city has incorporated a newly created district - Can Llong - and has begun to recover the environment of the River Ripoll, with the creation of a riverside park.
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