importance of coal mining took place during World War I as the imports of British coal were not available, and the local economy based on the extraction of bituminous coal thrived in the national market. In 1920 the population had reached 20,083. Puertollano was granted the title of city (ciudad) via Royal Decree in June 1925, during the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera. Following the end of the Spanish Civil War and up until the 1973 oil crisis the economic activity of Puertollano readjusted towards the extraction of oil shale. Economy Puertollano is the largest industrial center in the Castilla-La Mancha region. It was formerly a coal mining town but today only one open-cast mine remains. Nowadays the main industries are petrochemicals (Repsol), fertilisers (Fertiberia), power generation and, most recently, the manufacture of solar panels. The city has received national and EU aid to diversify its economy after the decline of the coal industry. Points of interest The Dehesa Boyal de Puertollano botanical gardens is located in the city. Notable people Santiago Cañizares, former footballer. María Dueñas, author. Cristina García Rodero, photographer. References Citations Bibliography External links Municipalities in the Province of Ciudad Real