Concepción

Concepción
Commune
Clockwise from top: Biscarrués barrio, Daurada Steamworks, University of Concepción campus, Cabildo, Xoparró Park Stadium, Jardín Susurrante, and the Port of Concepción
Flag
Nickname(s):  La joia de l'Atlàntic Sud ("Jewel of the South Atlantic")
Motto(s):  La diversitat, la nostra força ("Diversity Our Strength")
Concepción
Coordinates: 43.30°S 34.50°W / -43.30; -34.50
Country	Balisca
Communiy	Cerdanya
Region	Cadaqués
Settled	1616
Government
• Type	Liquid democracy with communal council
• Body	Council of Concepción
Area
• Commune	1,330.21 km2 (513.60 sq mi)
• Metro	3,605.71 km2 (1,392.17 sq mi)
Elevation	76.5 m (251.0 ft)
Population  (2020)
• Commune	4,503,342
• Estimate  (2023)	4,731,571
• Rank	4th
• Density	3,400/km2 (8,800/sq mi)
• Metro	7,399,662
Demonym	Concepiquista
Demographics
• Languages	Aranese, Ladino, Baliscano
• Ethnic groups	61.2% Baliscans 38.8% others
Postal code	080xx
Area code	+500 (BL) 4 (CD)
IHDI (2022)	0.901 very high
SDI (2022)	233.67 exemplary
Major airport(s)	Concepción Airport
Commuter rail	Mercepción Metropolitan Transit, AVB
Rapid transit	Concepción Underground, Concepción Metro

Concepción is the most populous city in Cerdanya and the fourth-most populous city in Balisca with a population of 4,503,342 in the 2020 census. Current to 2020 as well, the Greater Concepción Area (GCA) held a population of 7,399,662, making it Balisca's fourth most-populous metropolitan area. It is located on the southern shore of Strait of Ivorra directly opposite of the Axarquía metropolis, and is an anchor of an Northern Cerdanyan urban agglomeration known as Mercepción.

Historically home to the Mapuche and Yaghan, Concepción was claimed by Catalan and Occitan Cathars expelled from Estuaria, on behalf of the Aragonese council in 1616 along with the rest of what would become Cerdanya. The city was officially founded on 11 May 1616, by Cathar missionary Jacint Guillamó. It became the capital of the insurgent republic in 1809 following the Storming of the Junta. In 1810 Concepción sent delegates to the Congress of Confederation, which resulted in the establishment of the Southern Confederation. In the second half of 19th century Concepción played an important geopolitical role as the it served as a major stopover for ships traveling between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by crossing the Mar de Hoces and the Strait of Magellan. Concepción rapidly expanded during its golden age, aided by the Ivorran Gold Rush, resulting in an influx immigrants. The gold rush was forcefully ended with the 1883 Confederal Convention.

Concepción's high density of colleges and universities make it a regional center of higher education including law, medicine, engineering, and business, and the city is considered to be a world leader in innovation and entrepreneurship, with nearly 2,000 startups. Concepción is an Alpha global city of culture, politics, media and science. Its economy is based on high-tech firms and the service sector, encompassing a diverse range of creative industries, research facilities, media corporations and convention venues. Concepción's serves as a hub for air and rail traffic and has a highly complex public transportation network. The metropolis is a popular tourist destination. Significant industries also include IT, pharmaceuticals, biomedical engineering, clean tech, biotechnology, construction and electronics.

Concepción is recognized as one of the most multicultural and cosmopolitan cities in the world. Institutions rank among the top in the country for environmental sustainability and investment. The city has one of the highest consumer price indices in Balisca as it undergoes widespread redevelopment as part of the Casajuan Plan, though it remains high on world livability rankings. It is additionally known for its cool summers, fog, steep rolling hills, eclectic mix of architecture, and landmarks.

History

Main article: History of Concepción

Growth and labor unrest

See also: Trade unions in Balisca

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Concepción

See also: Demographics of Balisca

Because of its pre-eminence as a South Atlantic port, Concepción has always been one of the main gateways into Balisca. This has attracted many immigrants and made Concepción a cosmopolitan melting pot. By the end of the 18th century about half the population originated from elsewhere in Balisca mostly and also from Cerdanya.

Economic conditions and political unrest in Europe and the rest of the world brought several other waves of immigrants during the 20th century: Italian immigrants started arriving at the end of the 19th century and in the first half of the 20th century, up to 40% of the city's population was of Italian origin; Ukrainians and Russians from 1917; Armenians in 1915 and 1923; Chinese, Japanese and Okataians in the 1920s; Germans during the 1920s and 1930s; Spaniards after 1936; Maghrebis (both Arab and Berber) in the inter-war period; Sub-Saharan Africans after 1945; Maghrebi Jews in the 1950s and 1960s; the Pieds-Noirs from the former Iberian Empire in 1962; and then from Brazil.

Currently, over one third of the population of Concepción can trace their ancestry back to Asia. Concepción also has the second-largest Okataian, Vietnamese and Indian populations of Balisca. Other significant communities include Iranians, Turks, Koreans, Chinese, and Filipinos.

In 2020, in several districts, about 40% of the young people under 18 were of Asian origin (at least one immigrant parent).

Sexual orientation and gender identity

Main article: LGBT demographics in Balisca

Cityscape

Boroughs

Main articles: Districts of Concepción and Neighborhoods in Concepción

Infrastructure

Technology

Main article: LinkCastejón

See also: LinkBalisca

Sanitation and water management

See also: Baliscan water wars

Culture and society

Main article: Culture of Concepción

Concepción is characterized by its culturally rich streetscapes featuring mixed-use neighborhoods anchored around central commercial corridors to which the walkability of residents and visitors alike is prioritized. Because of these characteristics, Concepción is ranked the "most walkable" city in Balisca. It is recognized as a world city of culture and creative industries. Numerous cultural institutions, many of which enjoy international reputation are representing the diverse heritage of the city. Many young people, cultural entrepreneurs and international artists continue to settle in the city. Concepción has a vibrant art scene and claims the highest concentration of artists per capita in Balisca In 2012, Concepción was designated as one of Balisca's top five art communities, recognizing Sant Martí, Maleján, Siétamo, and Biscarrués as communities "that have most successfully combined art, artists and venues for creativity and expression with independent businesses, retail shops and restaurants, and an accessible lifestyle to make vibrant neighborhoods."

Concepción is currently at the leading edge of the global contemporary art scene. There are over 1000 art galleries in the city. It is estimated that 6,000 to 7,000 artists live in the city, with a third of them being from outside Balisca. The beginnings of the modern boom in Concepción's art scene were during the 1980s. Concepción is home to a large array of public artworks, statues and sculptures, including street installations. Sculptors such as tba have played a large part in enhancing many of the city's public spaces with their iconic and larger-than-life works. In more modern times, the city has become well known for stencil graffiti and other street art that appears in the city's numerous throughways.

Concepción's nightlife is one of the most diverse and vibrant of its kind in Latin America. Throughout the 1990s, people in their twenties from many countries, particularly those in the Southern Cone, made Concepción's club scene the premier nightlife destination of Europe. After the 1973 oil crisis and subsequent economic recession, many historic buildings in El Pobleno, the former city center, were occupied and re-purposed by young squatters and became a fertile ground for underground and counterculture gatherings. Concepción is additionally notable for the length of its parties. Clubs are not required to close at a fixed time on the weekends, and many parties last well into the morning, or all weekend.

International relations

Sala d'Os Trabajadors, the headquarters of the Concepción Organization of Co-Operation.

Twin towns and sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Balisca