Villar de Samaniego

Villar de Samaniego is a Spanish municipality and town in the province of Salamanca, in the autonomous community of Castilla y León. It is integrated into the Vitigudino region and the sub-region of La Ramajería. It belongs to the judicial district of Vitigudino.

Its municipal area is made up of a single population center, it occupies a total area of 27.98 km² and according to the demographic data collected in the municipal register prepared by the INE in 2017, it has a population of 92 inhabitants.

Until about 1910 it was called Villar de Ciervos, a name that was changed due to the confusion it caused with Villar de Ciervo.

Demographics

Graphic of demographic evolution of Villar de Samaniego between 1900 and 2022

Source: Spanish National Statistical Institute - Graphical development by Wikipedia.

According to the National Institute of Statistics, Villar de Samaniego had, as of December 31, 2018, a total population of 89 inhabitants, of whom 50 were men and 39 women. Regarding the year 2000, the census reflects 128 inhabitants, of which 70 were men and 58 women. Therefore, the loss of population in the municipality for the period 2000-2018 has been 39 inhabitants, a 31% decrease.

The municipality is divided into two population centers. Of the 89 inhabitants that the municipality had in 2018, Villar de Samaniego had 43, of which 23 were men and 20 women, and Robledo Hermoso with 46, of which 27 were men and 19 women.

History

Its foundation seems to respond to the repopulation campaign undertaken in the area by King Ferdinand II of León in the 12th century, naming it Villar de Ciervos, a name that officially designated the town until 1910. As an explanation of the name, it should be noted that the term "villar", is synonymous with "town" in the Leonese language. With the creation of the current provinces in 1833, this municipality was attached to that of Salamanca, within the Leonese Region, becoming part of the judicial district of Vitigudino in 1844.

Monuments and places of interest

• Parroquial Church of Santo Toribio.
• Traditional architecture.

Administration and politics

Municipal elections

The mayor of Villar de Samaniego does not receive any type of financial benefit for his work as head of the town hall (2017).