In the quiet dawn of the 1970s, as the Franco regime still held sway, a few nascent urban developments began to sprout on what were then rustic lands outside Madrid. Little did anyone imagine that these scattered foundations would one day coalesce into Tres Cantos, the 179th and youngest municipality in the Community of Madrid. This week, Tres Cantos celebrates its 35th anniversary, a testament to a unique journey of independence, growth, and the unwavering spirit of its ‘tricantino’ residents.
From Rustic Lands to a Thriving Metropolis
The story of Tres Cantos is one of ambition and necessity. Conceived as a solution to decongest the bustling capital, the initial plans envisioned a large complex of apartments and chalets. Its strategic location, nestled near the Sierra, adjacent to the Monte de El Pardo, and close to Madrid via the M-607, made it an attractive prospect. Environmental protests, largely spearheaded by the PSOE of Colmenar Viejo, eventually led to a more contained development, focusing on the side of the road not bordering El Pardo.
The legal groundwork began in 1976, during Spain’s Transition period, with the establishment of the public company Tres Cantos S.A. By the late 1970s, land sales commenced, and the first compulsory education school, Gabriel García Márquez, was built between 1981 and 1982.
The Early Struggles and the Birth of an Identity
Luis Barbado, a former civil servant and journalist who chronicled the region’s history, vividly recalls the early days. “The Franco government expropriated land from Colmenar residents at very low prices,” Barbado explains. “These residents lost their rustic lands near the town and saw how they had barely made any money, while the houses built on them have only increased in price.” This initial disparity sowed the seeds of discontent.
Adding to the grievances, when the Tres Cantos expansion was built years later, the expropriated land fetched a much higher price, further fueling resentment among the original landowners. This led to a rivalry, sometimes real, sometimes playful, between the established residents of Colmenar Viejo and the newcomers. A classic chant in Colmenar bars, “Tricantino, don’t jump!” (a play on words, as ‘tricantino’ is the demonym for Tres Cantos residents), became a symbol of this dynamic.
However, the new residents of Tres Cantos faced their own arduous challenges. “There were no services. No electricity, no sewers, nothing. And the works remained unfinished for a long time. It sometimes resembled those developments in the peripheral neighborhoods of Madrid where there was nothing,” Barbado recounts. He has authored three books on Tres Cantos, including the recently published ‘Pioneros Tricantinos (1982-1992)’, which features early residents like Carmina and Ángel, the first two members of the Tres Cantos Neighborhood Association.
Photographs from that era, preserved in Barbado’s archive, depict a stark reality: black and white images of protests, unfinished chalets, and makeshift medical barracks serving as health centers. These visual records, alongside promotional brochures for half-finished urban projects, are the poignant souvenirs of a community striving for basic amenities.
The Fight for Independence and a New Political Landscape
As time passed and more houses were completed, the population of Tres Cantos swelled. By the mid to late 1980s, a powerful neighborhood movement emerged, advocating for secession from Colmenar Viejo. The desire for independence was driven by economic factors; Tres Cantos residents felt their taxes were benefiting a town that was no longer truly theirs, especially as their population began to rival that of Colmenar. Conversely, some Colmenar residents were irked by the perception that Tres Cantos often received better services.
A pivotal moment arrived with the rise of Tres Cantos Unido (TCU), an independent political party formed before 1987. TCU held the balance of power, effectively holding the PSOE mayor of Tres Cantos captive to its demands for secession. The PSOE, needing TCU’s support to govern, ultimately conceded.
On March 1, 1991, a plenary session was held to vote on the motion for secession. With the support of the PSOE, the now-defunct Democratic and Social Center (CDS), and the independent TCU, the motion passed with fourteen votes. The Popular Party, recently re-founded, abstained.
The culmination of this struggle arrived on March 21, 1991, exactly 35 years ago this past weekend. The Community of Madrid, then led by Joaquín Leguina (PSOE), ratified the secession by decree, formally establishing the territorial boundaries of the new municipality. Tres Cantos officially became the 179th municipality of the Community of Madrid.
Following the secession, a provisional management commission was established, as Tres Cantos did not yet have its own mayor. This commission governed until the municipal elections held a couple of months later in May.
A Legacy of Growth and a Glimpse into the Future
The political landscape shifted dramatically after the secession. In Colmenar Viejo, the Popular Party won the elections and has governed ever since, with the PSOE not returning to power. A similar trend emerged in Tres Cantos; after the 1991 elections, the PSOE governed with TCU’s support, but apart from a brief socialist mandate in the late 1990s, the political tide largely favored other parties.
Tres Cantos Unido, while influential throughout the 1990s and even holding mayoral positions, gradually lost support after 2000. Perhaps its primary objective had been achieved, and with the passing of its founder, the independent party slowly faded.
Today, Tres Cantos stands as a testament to successful urban planning and a vibrant community. It is home to the Civil Guard Command in Madrid, Netflix’s headquarters, Movistar’s base, and numerous other businesses. Its modern infrastructure, including new homes, schools, parks, and a theater, reflects its prosperity. The industrial park, bordering the main base of the Civil Guard, further underscores its economic vitality.
According to the Community of Madrid’s statistical data for 2025, Tres Cantos boasts a population of 54,506 residents (4,000 fewer than Colmenar Viejo), with nearly 20% under the age of 18. Over 90% of its population is Spanish, with more than 9% being foreign nationals. In 2023, its per capita income reached 30,280 euros, approximately 7,000 euros above the regional average.
Yet, a subtle irony has emerged: many native ‘tricantinos’ now find themselves unable to afford homes in Tres Cantos and are relocating to… Colmenar Viejo. This cyclical movement highlights the ever-evolving dynamics of urban development and the enduring connections between these two historically linked communities.
The story of Tres Cantos is more than just a tale of municipal boundaries; it is a narrative of collective aspiration, political maneuvering, and the enduring power of a community to shape its own destiny. As Tres Cantos celebrates 35 years of independence, its past serves as a powerful reminder of how a vision, fueled by the determination of its residents, can transform rustic lands into a thriving, modern city.
Source: https://www.elmundo.es/madrid/2026/03/24/69c175c8fdddff80688b45a5.html
