Villaconejos

Villaconejos
Municipality
Flag Seal
Municipal location within the Community of Madrid.
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Community of Madrid
Area
• Total	14.15 sq mi (36.65 km2)
Elevation	2,230 ft (680 m)
Population  (2018)
• Total	3,363
• Density	240/sq mi (92/km2)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)

Villaconejos is a municipality of the Community of Madrid, Spain. Historically, Villaconejos' economy has always been based on agriculture. Examples of the region's common crops include olives vines, and cereals as well as melons, which are popular throughout Spain. Villaconejos prides itself in being the home of the famous Melon Museum, a place where fruits are celebrated.

Etymology

The Ayuntamiento

The town's name is derived from Conejos (meaning "rabbits" in Spanish). It is also believed that the name comes from the abundance of rabbits in said region, as well as a local flare for hunting.

History

There is a place known as El Vedado and a small hill known as Cerro Barbero, but formerly called Cerro Galguera. These terms are related to hunting: the closed area and the hunting dogs, which are used for agility and speed. Hunting took place until recently, before an association of hunters existed.

The abundance of rabbits and the reputation of melons in the area have long been recorded in historical writings.

In 156, there was significant deforestation in the area known as El Montecillo. There were numerous oak, pine, and gall trees and the area was so dense in vegetation that it was inhabited by large numbers of wolves. The deforestation was undertaken by local residents.

Residents had to carry out raids, occasionally carrying firearms due to the risk from animals in the vicinity of local villages. There were wolves around the area who fed on rabbits.