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La Rioja

Comunidad Autónoma de
La Rioja
CapitalLogroņo
Area
 - total
 - % of Spain
Ranked 16th
5 045 km²
1,0%
Population
 - Total (2003)
 - % of Spain
 - Density
Ranked 17th
281 614
0,7%
55,82/km²
Demonym
 - English
 - Spanish

---
riojano/a
Statute of Autonomy June 19, 1982
ISO 3166-2LO
Parliamentary
representation

 Congress seats
 Senate seats
 

4
1
PresidentPedro Sanz Alonso (PP)
Gobierno de La Rioja

La Rioja is a province and autonomous community of northern Spain. Its capital is Logroņo. Other cities and towns are Calahorra, Arnedo, Haro, San Asensio, Navalsaz, and Najera. See List of municipalities in La Rioja.

It is bordered by the Basque Country (province of Álava), Navarre, Aragon (province of Zaragoza), and Castile-Leon (provinces of Soria and Burgos). The Río Ebro flows through this region, as does the Río Oja, for which it is known.

The territory of La Rioja (formerly known as the province of Logroño) was disputed between the kings of Navarre and the kings of Castile starting in the 10th century; the region was annexed to Castile in 1173.

It was made into an autonomous community during the reorganization following the democratic transition, owing to its economic distinction from the surrounding regions. It is the second-smallest autonomous community in Spain and has the smallest population; fully half of its 174 municipalities have populations under 200. Nearly half of its citizens live in the capital.

It is best known for its production of the well-known Rioja wines.

Autonomous communities of Spain
Andalusia
Aragon
Asturias
Balearic Is
Basque Country
Canary Is
Cantabria
Castile-La Mancha
Castile-Leon
Catalonia
Extremadura
Galicia
La Rioja
Madrid
Murcia
Navarre
Valencia
Plazas de soberanía


La Rioja is also a city in Argentina; see La Rioja, Argentina.