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Ontinyent
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Key Information
Ontinyent[a][b] is a municipality in the comarca of Vall d'Albaida, Valencian Community, Spain. It is situated on the banks of the Clariano River, a tributary of the Xúquer, and on the Xàtiva–Alcoi railway.[2] Ontinyent is near the Sierra de Mariola Natural Park.[3]
Ontinyent is a historic city featuring many baroque churches, aristocratic mansions, city walls, the palace of the Dukes of Almodòver and a 16th century bridge alongside newer apartment buildings and modern retail. The city has been known for its production of cloth, paper, brandy, furniture and earthenware as well as its trade in cereals, wine, almonds and olive oil.[2]
Juan Roig, Spanish billionaire and president of Mercadona, went to school in Ontinyent.[4]
History
[edit]Evidence of human settlement in the area was traced back the end of the Neolithic period, as shown by evidences from excavations at the Castellar site between the Barranco dels Tarongers and the Barranco del Averno in Bocairent.[5]
Sites occupied during the Roman era are short-lived. Small agricultural settlements were located on the outskirts of what would later become the medieval urban core. It seems likely one of these Roman settlements gave rise to the name of the town; the pagus Untinianus. From this name, would arise different versions of the including the Ontinient, Hontinient and Ontinyent.[6]
The town of Ontinyent is also documented as having Muslim origins dating back to the 11th century. The poet al-Untinyaní was born there and it is known that the castle of Ontinyent (hisn Untinyân) was a stopover on the way from Murcia to Valencia. Although few structural remains have survived in the city, the windows of Pou Clar or the famous Covetes dels Moros (found in ravines between Ontinyent and Bocairent) show the importance of Islamic civilisation in the area. The caves were probably communal granaries that belonged to the peasant communities of the Andalusian period and had their origin in the tradition of the Berber people who settled in the area.[7]
Ontinyent was conquered by the troops of Jaime I in the year 1244 and incorporated into the Kingdom of Valencia.
In the 18th century, the administration was castellanized throughout the Kingdom of Valencia and with it the name of the town changed its root "Onti-" to "Onte-". The Castilian form Onteniente became the official form until the end of the 20th century when the original Latin root of the name was reinstated.
In the provincial division of 1822 it was assigned to the province of Xátiva and in the division of 1833 to that of Alicante, passing definitively to the province of Valencia in 1836.
Ontinyent received the title of city in 1904.[8]
"Valencian Tuscany" - a land of vineyards
[edit]The area around Ontinyent is known for its many vineyards.[9][10][11]
The Vall d'Albaida's climate has long made it an ideal spot for viticulture.[12]
City redevelopment
[edit]With the decline of the textile trade, Ontinyent has had to reinvent itself and has started an extensive process of redevelopment.
- The neighbourhood of Sant Antoni will see the creation of a new public square by shutting the left hand lane on the historic Carrer de Sant Antoni and ending access to the Plaça de la Coronació.[13]
- The municipal market or mercat off of Plaça de la Coronació will see the opening of a new café featuring indoor and outdoor seating to tap into the growing gastronomic trend of the Valencian Community.[14][15]
- The Plaça de la Glorieta will be remodelled to become an important green space in the city. The planting of 58 new trees will increase its tree coverage by 50%.[16][17]
- The Museo Textil de la Communidad Valenciana has seen the redevelopment of a number of historic warehouses on the Clariano River.[18]
- The Cantereria district will see the demolition of a row of houses and the construction of a floodable park on the banks of the Clariano River.[19]
- La Muralla Norte, part of the ancient city walls, is being restored and improvements are being made to increase access to La Vila, the historic core of the city. 2.013.750€ from the Programa de Conservación del Patrimonio Histórico Español will be spent on the restoration of the wall and the reconstruction of the Abellons Tower, alongside stabilising the hillside near the Casa de Cultura and the Casa Barberá.[20] The wall is said to have "two skins" - one Islamic and the other Christian. A second tower was discovered during renovations.[21]
- The new Hospital de Ontinyent is set to open its doors early 2023 after investing almost 40 million euros in the construction of this much needed facility.[22] The new hospital will house a pioneering brain injury unit and will be the main hospital for the municipalities of Albaida, Agullent, Aielo de Malferit, Fontanars dels Alforins, Atzeneta d'Albaida, Bèlgida, Benissoda, Bufali, Carricola, Palomar, Bocairent and Ontinyent.[23] The current hospital will then be converted to focus on chronic care.[24]
Pou clar - natural spring
[edit]The natural spring just outside of the city is well known as a natural beauty spot and a favourite for bathers.[25]
The Pou Clar is known as one of the Valencian Community's biggest natural attractions with its many pools, waterfalls, plant life and fish.[26] In March 2022, it featured as the main backdrop in a Turia beer ad campaign.[27]

Places to visit
[edit]- The Pont Vell, a 16th century stone bridge crossing the Clariano River in the centre of the city.[28] Recent excavations have revealed that a tower assumed to be defensive was actually an ancient mill.[29]
- The Palau de la Vila, an old Andalusian fortress on the Clariano River, sits in La Vila, the medieval walled settlement.[30]
- La Vila, the name for the ancient core of the city, is a maze of medieval housing, narrow lanes, small squares and colourful buildings. Ontinyent was one of the most populous towns in the 15th century and this can be seen in the wealth of historic buildings.[31][32][33]
- Hotel Kazar, an impressive early 20th century Mudéjar palace in the centre of the city, is now a hotel.[34] The house was built in 1925 for the Mompó family and is still known as Chalé Mompó.[35]
- The vineyards to the west of the city.[36]
- The Mirador San Rafael in the San Rafael neighbourhood is a "balcony" offering panoramic views of the city. It sits above the Clariano River and overlooks La Vila (the medieval core of the city), the Pont Vell and the Pont de Santa Maria.[37][38]

Moros i Cristians - festival
[edit]This festival has taken place every August since 1860 and commemorates the Christian reconquest of the city from Muslim troops in the 13th century by Jaime I. Battles are reenacted with cannon fire, opulent costumes and impressive decorations alongside theatrical parades.[39][40][41] As an integral part a kind of anthem of the fiestas Moros i Cristians in Ontinyent, Chimo (Marxa mora, march of the Moors) was composed by José María Ferrero Pastor in 1964.
Personalities
[edit]- José Melchor Gomis (1791–1836) composer, author of Himno de Riego
- Joaquín Llorens y Fernández de Córdoba (1854-1930), Carlist soldier and politician
- Manuel Simó Marín (1868-1936), Carlist and regionalist politician
- Juan Carlos Ferrero (b. 1980), former world no. 1 tennis player
Notes
[edit]- ^ Valencian pronunciation: [ontiˈɲent]
- ^ Spanish pronunciation: [onteˈnjente]
References
[edit]- ^ National Statistics Institute (13 December 2024). "Municipal Register of Spain of 2024".
- ^ a b Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 20 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 118.
- ^ "Culture, Architecture and Heritage in the Serra Mariola | Serra Mariola". Serra Mariola Turismo. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
- ^ Ontinyent, R. Tomás | (2019-06-07). "El colegio La Concepción inaugura el pabellón sufragado por Juan Roig". Levante-EMV (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-03-31.
- ^ Ribera, Agustí (1995-01-01). "1995 Ontinyent Vall Albaida Prehistòria Arqueologia". Història bàsica d'Ontinyent.
- ^ Ribera, Agustí (1995-01-01). "1995 Ontinyent Vall Albaida Prehistòria Arqueologia". Història bàsica d'Ontinyent.
- ^ "Ontinyent, Capital of the Vall d'Albaida - Comunitat Valenciana". www.comunitatvalenciana.com. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
- ^ "Ontinyent tourism". Vall d'Albaida. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
- ^ "Stay among vineyards in the Valencian Tuscany - Comunitat Valenciana". www.comunitatvalenciana.com. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
- ^ "MORNING AMONG VINEYARDS IN VALENCIAN TUSCANY - Agullent". Vall d'Albaida. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
- ^ "La Toscana Valenciana (Valencia)". Agricultural Tours Valencia (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-03-30.
- ^ "Valencia Wine Region, Spain". www.winetourism.com. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
- ^ "Ontinyent empieza las obras de remodelación de Sant Antoni". loclar (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2022-03-27.
- ^ "Ontinyent tras a licitación les obres del mercat municipal". loclar (in Catalan). Retrieved 2022-03-27.
- ^ S.L, EDICIONES PLAZA. "Ontinyent saca a licitación las obras de la cafetería del mercado municipal por 409.000 euros". Valencia Plaza (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-03-27.
- ^ Ontinyent, Levante-EMV / (2019-10-02). "Ontinyent da por definitivo el proyecto de remodelación de la Glorieta consensuado con entidades ciudadanas y Patrimoni". Levante-EMV (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-03-27.
- ^ "La Glorieta de Ontinyent incrementará su superficie verde en un 50%". loclar (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2022-03-27.
- ^ "La II fase del Museo Textil de la CV en Ontinyent sale a licitación por 1'6 millones de euros". loclar (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2022-03-27.
- ^ Ontinyent, A. G. H. (2021-01-15). "La CHJ invertirá 600.000 euros para construir un parque fluvial en Cantereria". Levante-EMV (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-03-27.
- ^ "Así avanzan las obras de restauración de la muralla de Ontinyent". loclar (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2022-03-30.
- ^ "El hallazgo de una torre aumenta el coste de la Muralla de Ontinyent en 580.000€". loclar (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2022-04-01.
- ^ "El nuevo Hospital de Ontinyent estará acabado en el primer trimestre de 2023 y sube su inversión a 38,4 millones". Europa Press. 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
- ^ Bellvis, Vicente (2021-08-01). "El nuevo Hospital de Ontinyent acabará las obras en 2023" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-03-31.
- ^ "El nuevo hospital de Ontinyent cuadruplicará el espacio actual". Redacción Médica (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-03-31.
- ^ "Home". Reserves Pou Clar (in Catalan). Retrieved 2022-03-27.
- ^ "Pou Clar, el singular nacimiento del río Clariano". dondeviajar.republica.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-03-30.
- ^ "Cerveza Turia invita a 'no hacer nada' en su nueva campaña". MarketingNews (in Spanish). 2022-03-18. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
- ^ "Pont Vell (1501) - Ontinyent". Vall d'Albaida (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-03-28.
- ^ "Descubren un antiguo molino durante la 2ª fase de restauración del Pont Vell". loclar (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2022-03-28.
- ^ "Palace of La Vila - Ontinyent". Vall d'Albaida. Retrieved 2022-03-28.
- ^ "Barrio medieval La Vila - Comunitat Valenciana". www.comunitatvalenciana.com. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
- ^ "Albaida Información de tu ciudad". albaida.portaldetuciudad.com. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
- ^ "Ontinyent: qué ver y qué hacer". Guía Turismo CV (in Spanish). 2020-01-29. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
- ^ "Hotel – Kazar". Retrieved 2022-03-30.
- ^ "Hotel Kazar . Las Provincias". www.lasprovincias.es. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
- ^ Blogger, O. P. (2022-02-19). "How Spain's Valencia region has become a coastal paradise for wine lovers". Olive Press News Spain. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
- ^ "Ontinyent: una ciudad llena de historia". Revista Mediadores de Seguros (in Spanish). 2016-07-25. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
- ^ Valenciana | 0, Comunidad (2021-08-31). "Qué ver en la provincia de Valencia 🥇". Márcate un Viaje (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-04-01.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Moors and Christians festival in Ontinyent. 25/08/2022. Fiestas in Ontinyent | spain.info in english". Spain.info. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
- ^ "Moors and Christians Ontinyent 2019 in Spain, photos, Fair, Festival, Entertainment when is Moors and Christians Ontinyent 2019 - HelloTravel". www.hellotravel.com. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
- ^ "MOORS AND CHRISTIANS IN THE REGION OF VALENCIA - Comunitat Valenciana". www.comunitatvalenciana.com. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
External links
[edit]- Comparsa Saudites d'Ontinyent (in English) (en valencià) (en español)
- Ontinyent Tourist Information
- Weather in Ontinyent: Weather information for Ontinyent, as well as prior weather information, maps, and weather-related graphics (Catalan)
Ontinyent
View on GrokipediaHistory
Ancient and Medieval Foundations
Archaeological evidence indicates human presence in the Ontinyent area during prehistoric times, with Neolithic sites such as Arenal de la Costa and Bronze Age settlements like Cabeço de Navarro, followed by Iberian remains, particularly from the late Iberian period.[1] Specific Iberian sites include the Teular de Mollà, featuring late Iberian occupation documented through rescue excavations.[8] In the Roman period, from the early 1st century AD under Augustus, small-scale agricultural settlements emerged across the territory, initiating the exploitation of irrigated lands; some persisted until the mid-2nd century AD, while others endured into the 5th century AD.[1] A large Roman site has been identified in the Llombo area near the modern sports center, and no Roman structures are known within the boundaries of the later medieval old town, La Vila.[1] Late Roman and Visigothic activity is evidenced by a 6th-century cemetery at Bancal del Cel and Casa Calvo, containing nearly 100 tombs.[1] Under Islamic rule following the 8th-century conquest, Ontinyent evolved into a key agrarian hub, with the Castellar settlement established by or before the early 11th century at the end of the Umayyad Caliphate, alongside farmhouses like Iel·las, Morera, and Benarrai.[1] Artificial caves, such as Pou Clar and Covetes dels Moros, served as granaries for Berber communities.[1] The medieval Vila, the core of the old town, is documented from the 11th century and noted as the birthplace of poet al-Untinyani by Ibn al-Abbar; in the 12th century, geographer al-Idrisi referenced the castle (hisn Untinyan) as a waypoint on the Murcia-to-Valencia route.[1] Defensive walls originated in the 11th-century Islamic era, positioned strategically on Tossal de la Vila.[9] The Christian conquest occurred in 1244 under King James I of Aragon, integrating Ontinyent into the Kingdom of Valencia and initially including the nearby village of Agullent until 1585.[1] This marked the foundational shift to medieval Christian governance, building on the Islamic urban framework without immediate major alterations to the settlement's agrarian base.[1]Early Modern Period and Economic Growth
During the Early Modern Period (c. 1500–1800), Ontinyent transitioned from a primarily agrarian economy to one increasingly oriented toward proto-industrial textile production, focusing on woolen cloth (pañería). Rural households in the surrounding Vall d'Albaida comarca, centered on Ontinyent, participated in decentralized putting-out systems organized by urban merchants, involving spinning, weaving, and finishing of wool sourced from local sheepherding. The Clarià River played a crucial role by powering early fulling mills and supporting irrigation for ancillary agriculture, enabling modest mechanization and output expansion despite the limitations of pre-factory technology.[10][11] The 17th century brought setbacks from broader economic crises in the Kingdom of Valencia, including plagues, wars, and market disruptions that curtailed textile exports and led to temporary contractions in production. Recovery accelerated in the 18th century amid Enlightenment-era reforms and rising demand for Valencian woolens in domestic and colonial markets, fostering proto-industrial intensification. This phase correlated with demographic expansion, as proto-industrial opportunities incentivized lower marriage ages and elevated nuptiality, yielding population growth rates in the comarca surpassing the kingdom's average—estimated at over 1% annually in peak decades—thus amplifying labor supply and local consumption.[12][10] Agricultural staples like cereals, olives, and vines sustained the base economy, with Ontinyent's irrigated huertas enhancing productivity through acequia systems inherited from medieval times. However, textiles emerged as the growth engine, positioning Ontinyent among inland Valencia's more dynamic locales by 1800, with merchant networks linking production to ports like Valencia and Alicante. This foundation presaged 19th-century factory-based industrialization, though vulnerabilities to raw material shortages and competition persisted.[13][14]19th and 20th Centuries: Industrialization and Conflicts
During the 19th century, Ontinyent solidified its position as a key textile manufacturing hub in the Valencian Community, leveraging the Clariano River's water resources for powering mills and fostering wool-based production, including blankets and fabrics that competed with Catalan output.[15] Early mechanized factories emerged, such as the Fábrica Textil de los Julians (also known as de Mora), constructed in the first quarter of the century by entrepreneurs Gaspar Vicedo and Tomás Molina, transitioning from artisanal to industrial-scale operations.[16] This period saw exponential economic expansion driven by textile demand, with the sector becoming the town's primary economic pillar alongside ancillary industries like paper milling.[17][18] Into the early 20th century, industrialization intensified, marked by the construction of brick chimneys—first appearing around 1900—as symbols of steam-powered factories, with over 20 erected by mid-century, including six for textiles and two for paper.[19] By the 1930s, textiles employed nearly half the local population, exemplified by the Tortosa i Delgado factory (established 1917), which peaked at over 300 workers producing diverse fabrics until its closure in 1979.[20][19] Complementary sectors, such as furniture, earthenware, brandy, and wine production, diversified the economy but remained secondary to textiles, which accounted for the bulk of employment and output.[20] Social and political conflicts emerged amid this industrial growth, particularly during the Second Spanish Republic (1931–1936), when initial republican support—bolstered by the Radical Socialist Republican Party (PRRS) securing nearly 50% of votes in early elections with anarcho-syndicalist alliances—fractured into rivalries among unions like the UGT and Catholic workers' groups, alongside anti-republican factions that undermined local stability.[21] These tensions escalated into the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), with Ontinyent under Republican control experiencing acute social confrontations, including the 1936 revolution's property confiscations (e.g., bourgeois homes and shops) and the conversion of rural estates into child colonies and armaments facilities.[22][23] A military hospital operated in the town to treat wounded, supported by international volunteers, while underground air-raid shelters were built as defenses against potential aerial attacks, though none materialized.[24][25] The town fell to Nationalist forces on March 29, 1939, shortly before the war's end.[26]Franco Era to Contemporary Developments
Following the end of the Spanish Civil War, Francoist forces occupied Ontinyent on March 29, 1939, initiating a period of severe repression against Republican supporters. Local industrial sites, such as factories along the Clariano River, were repurposed as detention centers for political prisoners, with summary executions occurring in the immediate postwar months; later exhumations in the municipal cemetery uncovered remains of at least 13 victims buried in mass graves from this era.[27][26][28] The regime's policies suppressed Valencian language and culture, though local institutions like Radio Ontinyent complied by broadcasting official Francoist propaganda, including speeches and the national anthem, until the mid-1970s.[29] Economically, Ontinyent's textile sector, centered in the Alcoi-Ontinyent industrial district, endured the autarkic policies of the 1940s and early 1950s, which prioritized self-sufficiency and limited imports of raw materials like cotton, constraining growth amid national rationing and isolation. The 1959 Stabilization Plan and subsequent liberalization spurred industrialization, with the town's factories expanding production and attracting internal migrants during the 1960s economic boom, when Spain's GDP grew at an average annual rate of 7%.[30][31] By the late Franco years, textiles remained the dominant industry, employing a significant portion of the local workforce in weaving and dyeing operations along the riverine "industrial artery." The death of Francisco Franco in November 1975 marked the onset of Spain's transition to democracy, which locally manifested in Ontinyent through political mobilization and the first municipal elections in 1979, establishing democratic governance and restoring regional autonomy under the Valencian Statute of 1982.[32][33] In contemporary times, Ontinyent has experienced population growth to 36,430 residents as of 2024, driven by economic stability and low out-migration, contrasting with broader depopulation trends in rural Spain. The economy, while anchored in textiles—accounting for over half of industrial output with 50 major firms employing 2,870 workers and generating €582 million in annual turnover—has diversified into services, which now represent a growing share of the 2,635 registered businesses.[34][35][36] This resilience persisted through the 2008 financial crisis and COVID-19, supported by a density of 40 residents per hectare in urban zones and investments in infrastructure, including a new hospital operational since early 2023. Efforts to recover historical memory, such as fosa exhumations and educational projects on democratic transition, continue to shape local identity.[37][38]Geography and Environment
Location and Physical Features
Ontinyent is a municipality situated in the comarca of Vall d'Albaida within the province of Valencia, part of the Valencian Community in eastern Spain.[3][39] Its geographic coordinates are approximately 38°49′ N, 0°37′ W.[39] The municipality encompasses an area of 125.43 km².[3][39] The town lies at an average elevation of about 360 meters above sea level, nestled in a river valley formed by the Clariano River, a tributary of the Júcar River.[39][40] This river traverses the municipality, shaping its physical landscape with features including natural pools, waterfalls, and limestone formations, such as the notable Pou Clar site where water erosion has created distinctive rounded pools.[41][42] The surrounding terrain is characterized by undulating hills and proximity to the Sierra de Mariola Natural Park, contributing to a varied topography with elevation gains supporting hiking trails that ascend several hundred meters.[43]
Climate and Natural Resources
Ontinyent features a Mediterranean climate with continental influences due to its inland location at an elevation of approximately 350 meters. Average annual temperatures reach 15.5 °C, with summer highs typically around 32 °C and winter lows near 3 °C; extremes rarely fall below -2 °C or exceed 34 °C.[44] [45] Annual precipitation totals about 520 mm, concentrated in autumn and spring months, while summers remain dry.[44] October records the highest number of rainy days, averaging 5 days of precipitation. The region's primary natural resource is water, originating from abundant springs such as Pou Clar, a municipal natural area in the Sierra de la Umbría where the Clariano River begins. This spring forms crystalline pools and sustains local hydrology, enabling irrigation for agriculture in the surrounding valley.[46] [47] Adjacent sierras, including Mariola, host forests that contribute to watershed protection and biodiversity, though commercial timber extraction remains limited.[48] Arable land benefits from riverine fertility, supporting crops like olives and cereals, but mineral deposits are absent.[49]Demographics
Population Dynamics
The population of Ontinyent stood at 36,430 residents as of 1 January 2024, according to official padrón municipal figures from Spain's Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE).[50] This marks a recovery from earlier declines, with the municipality recording its highest population in over a decade by early 2025.[51] Historically, Ontinyent's population expanded steadily from 11,430 in 1900, driven by internal migration tied to textile industrialization and rural-to-urban shifts in the early 20th century.[52] Growth accelerated post-World War II, reflecting broader Spanish demographic patterns of urbanization and economic pull factors, reaching 23,685 by 1970 and surpassing 30,000 in the 1990s amid Spain's integration into the European Union and sustained manufacturing employment.[52] The expansion peaked at 37,935 in 2010, yielding an average annual growth rate of approximately 1.5% from 1900 to 2010.[52] A reversal occurred in the 2010s, with seven consecutive years of net loss following the 2008 global financial crisis, which exacerbated local industrial vulnerabilities and prompted out-migration, particularly among younger cohorts; the population dipped to a low of 35,347 in 2019.[53][52] Recovery since 2020 has been modest but consistent, averaging under 1% annual increase, attributed to net positive migration including foreign inflows—Ontinyent's foreign resident share has risen notably, countering native aging and low birth rates.[51][52] By 2024, this reversed the prior stagnation, though long-term projections indicate potential pressures from an aging demographic structure.[35] Key historical population milestones are summarized below (INE data via aggregated municipal records):| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1900 | 11,430 |
| 1950 | 14,689 |
| 2000 | 31,926 |
| 2010 | 37,935 |
| 2019 | 35,347 |
| 2024 | 36,430 |
Social Composition
The population of Ontinyent is overwhelmingly of Spanish nationality, comprising 88.34% (31,900 individuals) as of 2023, with foreign residents accounting for 11.66% (4,212 people), a slight increase from 10.69% (3,823) in 2020.[35][55] Among foreigners in 2020, 56% originated from EU countries, 20% from Africa (primarily Morocco), 14% from the Americas, 5% from non-EU Europe, and 4% from Asia or Oceania, reflecting modest ethnic diversity dominated by European and North African inflows.[55] Immigration contributes 31% of recent population gains, though the overall structure remains rooted, with 64% of residents born locally—the highest such proportion among Valencian municipalities exceeding 30,000 inhabitants.[35][51] Educational levels lag behind regional norms, with 2011 data indicating 2.38% illiteracy, 60.56% completion of compulsory secondary education, and only 14.20% attainment of post-secondary qualifications; early school dropout rates exceed provincial averages, linked to socioeconomic pressures in this industrial locale.[55][55] Socioeconomically, Ontinyent features a predominantly working-class composition, shaped by its textile and manufacturing base, with average per capita income at €11,148 and household income at €28,632 as of recent estimates; unemployment skews female at 62.52% of the 3,082 jobless in 2021, while social services usage highlights immigration-related needs (12.8% of cases) alongside family and elderly support.[35][55][55] Local policies emphasize cohesion, targeting vulnerable groups including immigrants and long-term unemployed over age 45 (56% of jobless).[55]| Foreign Population Origins (2020) | Percentage of Foreigners |
|---|---|
| European Union | 56% |
| Africa | 20% |
| Americas | 14% |
| Non-EU Europe | 5% |
| Asia/Oceania | 4% |
