Tide Recedes in Spain's Urban Migration

'Rurbanismo,' as it's called, describes the reversal of historic migration patterns now engulfing Spain, as a generations-old trend of rural-to-city movement has been reversed.

1 minute read

September 16, 2012, 9:00 AM PDT

By Andrew Gorden


As nations modernize and economies expand, populations increasingly urbanize. Think of the fast-paced growth of American cities in the early 20th Century. For a contemporary version, think of China. Raphael Minder, of The New York Times, looks at Spain's surprising reversal of this trend: "The movement has steadily built, but it has been accelerated by Spain's economic crisis, breathing new life and entrepreneurship into some nearly abandoned areas. "

"But it is clear...that Spain's cities of more than 100,000 inhabitants have recently stopped growing while villages of fewer than 1,000 are no longer shrinking," finds Minder, citing statements by Carles Feixa of the University of Lleida. While jobs have been shed across the nation, cities remain too costly for many, and the loss of a job may be the incentive necessary to compel many Spaniards to return to their rural roots.

Yet, "[e]conomic necessity is certainly not the only reason Spaniards are moving to the country," says Minder. "Around Villanueva, for instance, a community of artists has sprouted, from graphic designers to musicians and sculptors. Some have restored farm buildings in which tobacco and peppers used to dry."

"Rurbanismo has brought other changes to Spanish village communities, including the creation of "time banks," in which hours of labor are exchanged for goods and services."

Wednesday, September 12, 2012 in The New York Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Concrete Brutalism building with slanted walls and light visible through an atrium.

What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities

How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.

February 28, 2025 - Justin Hollander

Complete Street

‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge

Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.

February 27, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Green electric Volkswagen van against a beach backdrop.

The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan

Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.

March 3, 2025 - ABC 7 Eyewitness News

View of mountains with large shrubs in foreground in Altadena, California.

Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire

In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.

March 9 - Pasadena NOw

Aerial view of single-family homes with swimming pools in San Diego, California.

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule

The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

March 9 - Axios

Close-up of row of electric cars plugged into chargers at outdoor station.

Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives

A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.

March 9 - UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation