PALENCIA, a province in the interior of Spain, one of the eight into which Old Castile is divided. It has an area of 258 square leagues, and the following boundaries:—N., Santander; E., Burgos; S., Valladolid; W., Leon and Toro. The partidos into which it is divided are Astudillo, Baltanas, Carrion, Cervera de Rio Pisuerga, Frechillas, Palencia, and Saldaña. The surface is in general level, and almost devoid of trees; the northern part of the province, comprising the whole of the partido of Cervera, is mountainous. The climate is generally cold, especially in the north, but healthy, and would be much more so but for the almost entire want of trees. The numerous streams which traverse the province contribute to its remarkable fertility: the principal are the Pisuerga and the Carrion, which cross the province from N. to S., uniting near Dueñas, and passing into the province of Valladolid; the Camera, the Cieza, the Arlanza, the Abanades, &c. The canal of Castile crosses the province also from N. to S., with a branch through Tierra de Campos, and by facilitating the exportation of its grain, has done good service to the agriculture of the province. The whole partido of Cervera abounds in minerals, but the coal is the only mineral that is worked. There are mines at San Felices de Castilleja, 2 leagues N. of Cervera, and at Orbó, 3 leagues from Cervera, both furnishing coal of good quality, and plentiful; and several others in Villaverde de la Peña. In all the partidos, with the exception of Cervera, wheat and other cereals, legumes, hemp, and flax are produced in abundance; in Cervera the land is occupied with pastures and with wood. In the numerous gardens by the water-courses are grown all kinds of fruit, with the exception of the olive; but linseed oil is plentifully produced. Game is abundant in Cervera; and the Pisuerga and Carrion are good fishing streams. The principal industry is the manufacture of flour, and the principal commerce its exportation to Cataluña and the Havannah. The woollen manufactures of blankets, serges, and baize are tolerably extensive. There is a fair provision of elementary instruction in the province, which contains about 600 schools of this class; for secondary instruction there is only one, in the capital. Pop. 148,491.