| Laredo | |
| Settlement Type: | Municipality and town |
| Pushpin Map: | Spain Cantabria#Spain |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Spain |
| Subdivision Type1: | Autonomous community |
| Subdivision Name1: | Cantabria |
| Subdivision Type2: | Province |
| Subdivision Name2: | Cantabria |
| Subdivision Type3: | Comarca |
| Subdivision Name3: | Eastern coast of Cantabria |
| Subdivision Type4: | Judicial district |
| Subdivision Name4: | Laredo |
| Coordinates: | 43.4144°N -3.41°W |
| Elevation M: | 5 |
| Area Total Km2: | 15.71 |
| Established Title: | Settled |
| Established Date: | 757 |
| Population Demonym: | Laredano/a, pejino/a |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone: | CET |
| Utc Offset: | +1 |
| Timezone Dst: | CEST |
| Utc Offset Dst: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 39770 |
| Area Code Type: | Dialing code |
| Area Code: | 942 |
| Leader Title: | Alcalde |
| Leader Name: | Rosario Losa Martínez (2019) |
| Leader Party: | PSOE |
Laredo (pronounced as /es/) is a town in the autonomous community of Cantabria, Spain. According to the 2008 census (INE), the municipality has a population of 12,648 inhabitants. In addition to Laredo, the municipality includes the villages of La Arenosa, El Callejo, Las Cárcobas, Las Casillas, La Pesquera, Tarrueza and Villante. Except from the last two, the other villages had been physically integrated into Laredo.
Located between the cities of Santander and Bilbao, Laredo is known in the region and nationally for "La Salvé", its 5 km long beach (7 km at high tide) and for the historic part of town dating back to Roman times. Its festivities in August are also well known due to the main event that occurs every year on the last Friday of August, known as la batalla de flores (the battle of the flowers), during which large floats entirely covered with flowers and petals are paraded along the central streets.
In Laredo (and many other cities in Spain) it is tradition for a group of men to parade a giant sardine through town at the end of carnival. At the end of this ritual, called Entierro de la Sardina ("burial of the sardine"), the sardine is burned on the beach after a fireworks display.[1]
This town gave its name to the twin cities of Laredo and Nuevo Laredo on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Economically, Laredo is based on fishing and the service sector and tourism. Laredo is considered one of the main resorts on the Cantabrian coast.[2] The local industry is based on the processing of fishery products, especially anchovies, and family businesses.
In Laredo, whose average income level is amongst the fifteen highest in Cantabria, the service sector employs over half the population (51.2%). Laredo Regional Hospital in Laredo serves the surrounding region.
Laredo is connected to Spanish transportation hubs Bilbao and Santander via Automoviles Luarca, S.A.. Bilbao is an hour to the east of Laredo, while Santander lies 40 minutes west. Madrid is a 5-hour bus journey away.
Cenon, France (since 1988)[3]
Laredo, United States[6] [7]
Nuevo Laredo, Mexico