The transformation of rural areas into factory towns through the establishment of large factories. The case of Cristalería Española in Azuqueca de Henares in the 1960s

Abstract

This article aims to analyze and understand the spatial transformations of a territory of rural origin as was the town of Azuqueca de Henares and its transformation to become one of the most important logistic and industrial enclaves of the Corredor del Henares. This study will focus on two stages, the first, between 1960 and 1975, which corresponds to a developmental phase that highlights the importance of industrial implementation in the mid-twentieth century, and the factors that arose around it, the second stage corresponds to the years 1975 to 1990, where we will study the impact of the expectations and projects of that first period and to what extent they influenced the urban transformation of the town. To explain the urban development of Azuqueca de Henares, three main factors must be taken into account. Firstly, the importance of the urban development policies proposed by the Administration, where the construction of the “Madrid decongestion polygons” and the industrial value of the “Madrid-Guadalajara” axis, now known as the “Corredor del Henares”, stand out. On the other hand, the implantation of important manufacturing complexes in the surroundings of the big cities and, finally, the strong intra-regional migratory movements that took place due to the development and industrial boom.