On the right track? Railways and population dynamics in Spain, 1860-1930

This article explores how 19th century railways shaped population dynamics in Spain. Results showed that the municipalities closest to stations experienced significantly greater population growth. However, this effect was heterogeneous over time and depended on the territorial specificities and muni...

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Bibliographic Details
Author: Esteban-Oliver, Guillermo
Format: article
Status:Versión aceptada para publicación
Publication Date:2023
Country:España
Institution:Universitat de Lleida (UdL)
Repository:Repositori Obert UdL
OAI Identifier:oai:repositori.udl.cat:10459.1/469205
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1093/ereh/head007
https://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/469205
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Railways
Population growth
Transport infrastructure
Spatial divergence
Description
Summary:This article explores how 19th century railways shaped population dynamics in Spain. Results showed that the municipalities closest to stations experienced significantly greater population growth. However, this effect was heterogeneous over time and depended on the territorial specificities and municipal features of the areas traversed. It was greatest in densely populated and industrializing areas, and in the valleys and the coast, although it also remained relevant in less dynamic contexts. These findings suggest that railways likely stimulated factor mobility and economies of agglomeration. However, this technology also reinforced existing hierarchies thus exacerbating an unequal distribution of the population in space.