GUADALAJARA, a city of Spain, capital of the province of the same name, in New Castile, is situated on the eastern bank of the Henares, 38 miles N.E. of Madrid, and is 2330 feet above sea-level, in N. Lat. 40. 33. It is ill built, has five parish churches, seven conventual churches besides several chapels, four convents, an Ionic sessions and town-house, built in 1585; a handsome theatre, lying-in, civil, and military hospitals; barracks; the palace of the Duque del Infantado; a Latin, normal, and various other schools. An extensive Roman aqueduct supplies six public fountains; and there are four public promenades. The principal manufactures are wine, oil, soap, earthenware, and woollens. The cloth manufactory which was formerly carried on in behalf of the government, is now in private hands. The trade of the city consists chiefly in grain, flax, fruits, clothes, and silk.
Guadalajara is the chief town of the Arriaca of the Romans, and was taken by the invading Moors (A.D. 714), who bestowed on it the name of "Guidallichara," or "Guadalariaca," of which its present name is a corruption. Pop. about 7500.