Roquetas de Mar: History
The origins of Roquetas de Mar are controversial, our coast was visited by Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans, and Almeria Neolithic cultures were established but only temporarily. We have to move up into the eighteenth century to find the first traces of settlement in 1737 lasting.
The investigation is complicated by the plundering and destruction of sites that have suffered. At that time the economy of Roquetas de Mar revolved around subsistence agriculture and fishing rudimentary. As was typical in Muslim culture, life was organized around a castle by the sea and neighboring farmhouses groups. In 1757 the parish church was built. 1777 is an important date for Roquetas de Mar and is that independence was achieved step Almeria and went annexing municipalities and small towns to set the Roquetas de Mar we know today.
During the period of Arab rule were built several coastal buildings such as the Tower of Cerrillos, Esparto Tower and the Castle of Santa Ana, which is derived from the Castillo de Las Roquetas (XVII century) and is currently remodeling. At that time the documentation cites the core of "The Roquetas", belonging to the municipality of Eníx. The appearance of Roquetas de Mar was completely different from what we have today, among the current city Roquetas de Mar and Aguadulce grape was grown in the Los Parrales, today we know that the Romans founded the town of Turaniana area the Netherlands, who symbolically gave its name to Turaniana Secondary School. One of the keys to the abandonment of the settlement and progress of the Romans was that in the fall, the area was prone to flooding especially difficult life and agriculture. Think of this Roquetas de Mar as a town dedicated mainly to trade, fishing and agriculture.
During the twentieth century Roquetas de Mar experienced great economic development, first with the exploitation of its two salt mines - in the west and east - which along with fishing and intensive agriculture later substantially improved the quality of life for Roqueteros.
In 1963 in El Ejido is created the first greenhouse meaning early to Roquetas de Mar and the whole region of Dahlias, a genuine agricultural revolution. The technique relies on the use of sanding to preserve moisture, drip irrigation and was made possible by groundwater bags low salt index, which since the 50s were discovered along the entire west of Almeria . They are fertile water streams coming from the mountains and flow into the sea. The miracle was operated and the efforts of thousands of citizens managed to turn a wasteland into a fruitful orchard.
The system spread throughout the province and generated unprecedented economic growth, promoting the development of numerous ancillary industries. From that time until today, steadily, agriculture has been the main source of wealth of the municipality, together with the tourism sector, advancing at an unstoppable pace.
Today, tourism has become one of the foundations of the economy of Roquetas de Mar, with an already extensive experience in the sector since in 1964 Aguadulce be declared of National Tourist Interest Center.
In 2005, the picture is formidable with impressive population growth to almost 70,000, - which is expected to double in five years term - a consolidated agricultural tourism and the real estate business in full swing; development expectations in the province of Almeria and Roquetas de Mar particular, are fabulous.
Moreover, these days we have welcomed the news that the economy is at 2005 Almeria as the highest national growth.
We present below several reports on socio-economic growth and development of Roquetas de Mar, and in general of the province of Almería.
http://www.instituto.cajamar.es/boletin/2al.pdf
http://www.instituto.cajamar.es/mediterraneo/revista/me0122.pdf
http://www.camaradealmeria.es/Cufiles/estudios/AEC2001.pdf
http://www.cibersur.com/auxiliares/pdf/dossieralmeria.pdf
http://www.canalsur.es/Informativos/-ArchivoNoticias/2005/06.Junio/15/150605-sf-009-LAL.htm
