Ponent, also known as the Lleida region following the vegueries law,[1] is the westernmost of the eight regions (vegueries) defined by the Regional Plan of Catalonia. It has an area of 5,586 km2, and 365,289 inhabitants as of 2022.[2]
- Ponent within Catalonia
The region includes the comarques of Segrià, Garrigues, Noguera, Pla d'Urgell, Segarra and Urgell. Within Catalonia, it borders to the north with Alt Pirineu, to the east with Central Catalonia, Penedès and Camp de Tarragona, and to the south with Terres de l'Ebre. Outside of administrative terms, the name is sometimes used including the Aragonese comarques of Baix Cinca and La Llitera, which are part of the Catalan-speaking territory in Aragon known as Franja de Ponent.
Its capital is the city of Lleida.
Name
editThe region's name, inherited from Latin ponentem (putting, setting), refers to the west (of Catalonia).[3] Other traditional names include Terres de Ponent (Lands of Ponent) and Terra Ferma. Some political sectors have spoken out in favour of[4] and against[5] the name of the vegueria including the capital's name, those in favour proposing names such as Terres de Lleida, Comarques de Lleida, or Terres Lleidatanes, with the final name being simply the Lleida region.
The region's demonym is ponentí (Catalan: [pu.nənˈti]) (pl. ponentins).
Demography
edit
The economy is focused on agriculture, although major populations have a large concentration of services and food processing industries. The most important city is Lleida, followed by Balaguer, Tàrrega and Mollerussa. Other important towns are Cervera, Les Borges Blanques, Agramunt, Artesa de Segre, Ponts and, while administratively part of Aragon, the city of Fraga.
| Comarques | Population
(2022)[2] |
|---|---|
| Segrià | 209,149 |
| Garrigues | 19,012 |
| Noguera | 38,802 |
| Pla d'Urgell | 37,751 |
| Segarra | 23,209 |
| Urgell | 37,366 |
References
edit- ^ "Document". Diari Oficial de la Generalitat de Catalunya (in Catalan). Retrieved 2023-07-02.
- ^ a b "Idescat. Statistical Yearbook of Catalonia. Population on 1 January. Counties and Aran, areas and provinces". www.idescat.cat. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
- ^ "Diccionari de la llengua catalana". dlc.iec.cat. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
- ^ "Tots els grups de la Diputació de Lleida demanen al Govern que la vegueria inclogui el terme 'Lleida'". www.aldia.cat. Europa Press. 2008-11-21. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
- ^ "La CUP reclama la utilització de la denominació Vegueria 'de Ponent' enlloc de 'de Lleida' com defensa la Paeria ! directe!cat". 2016-12-02. Archived from the original on 2016-12-02. Retrieved 2023-09-16.