Settlement patterns and use of urban space by immigrants in Andalusian cities

Pilar Almoguera Sallent, Universidad de Sevilla
Enrique Lopez Lara, Universidad de Sevilla
Jose Miranda Bonilla, Universidad de Sevilla
Carolina del Valle Ramos, Universidad de Sevilla

Foreign immigrants show clear guidelines to settle down in our communities, depending on their nationalities. The cartography made in our research confirms this hypothesis, both from a quantitative perspective (number of immigrants, shops, services and specific activities for those communities) and from a qualitative point of view (use of urban spaces and social and cultural dynamics). Almeria, Malaga and Huelva are the provinces in Andalusia that have a greater number of immigrants in the last few years, because of their economic growth (especially new agriculture and tourism). This population settles above all in the coast communities. The big cities in Andalusia started to receive the immigrants later, just in 2000, but the number is growing and they are promoting new occupation processes and land use. These immigrants’ flows are the main responsible for the restructuring of the urban space, as it has happened in other European cities. Some quarters in Seville are experiencing important transformations after the settlements of certain foreign communities. These transformations can be appreciated from the geographical point of view but also from a social and anthropological perspective.