SABADELL

city, Barcelona provincia, in the comunidad autnoma (autonomous community) of Catalonia, northeastern Spain. The city, just north of Barcelona in the Valls parish, originated as an Iberian and Roman settlement known as Arragona and became a medieval fief of the Castle of Arahona. Called Sabadell in the 12th century, in 1373 it was incorporated as a royal village (with municipal rights) in the kingdom of Aragon. It was elevated to city status in the 19th century, largely because of its importance as a textile centre, which was increased by the introduction of motor-driven mills. Other industries include metallurgy, chemicals, electrical goods, and leather products. Sabadell's architecture is essentially modern, most of its older churches and buildings having been destroyed during riots in 1835 and 1909. Pop. (1981) 184,943.