Oeste (intermunicipal community)

Comunidade Intermunicipal do Oeste (pronounced [ɔˈɛʃtɨ]; in English: Intermunicipal Community of the West)^[1] is an administrative division of Portugal, located on the country's West and Tagus Valley. The population in 2011 was 362,540,^[2] in an area of 2,220.16 square kilometres (857.21 sq mi).^[3] Caldas da Rainha serves as the seat of Oeste.^[1]

Oeste
Intermunicipal community
Coordinates: 39°24′N 9°08′W
Country	Portugal
Region	Oeste e Vale do Tejo
Established	2008
Seat	Caldas da Rainha
Municipalities	12
Area
• Total	2,220.16 km2 (857.21 sq mi)
Population  (2011)
• Total	362,540
• Density	160/km2 (420/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+00:00 (WET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+01:00 (WEST)
Website	www.oestecim.pt

The law establishing the framework for intermunicipal communities and metropolitan areas was approved by the Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da República) on 27 August 2008.^[4] On 25 November 2008, the Associação de Municípios do Oeste (Association of Municipalities of the West), by the approval of the municipal assemblies (assembleias municipais) of each of its constituent municipalities, converted itself into the Comunidade Intermunicipal do Oeste.^[5] The law formally establishing the names, borders, and duties of the intermunicipal communities and metropolitan areas was approved by the Assembly of the Republic on 12 September 2013.^[6]

Oeste is the successor to Associação de Municípios do Oeste (Association of Municipalities of the West) and Comunidade Urbana do Oeste (Urban Community of the West; abbreviated ComUrb Oeste), which had been instituted on 29 March 2004.^[7]

Oeste is coterminous with the statistical NUTS 3 within the NUTS II of Oeste e Vale do Tejo.^[8]

The Oeste region is characterised by a coastal and rural influence. Horticulture is particularly important, especially the pear Rocha, the Alcobaça apple and the Óbidos and Alcobaça sour cherry. Surfing, beaches, monumental heritage and geology make tourism an important economic activity in the region.

Municipalities

Headquarters of Comunidade Intermunicipal do Oeste, originally built for Associação de Municípios do Oeste. Rio Maior, whose name appeared on the façade when the photo was taken, did not join the successor entities.

Comunidade Intermunicipal do Oeste is made up of twelve municipalities:^[1][6]

Municipality	Population (2011)[2]	Area (km2)[3]
Alcobaça	56,693	408.14
Alenquer	43,267	304.22
Arruda dos Vinhos	13,391	77.96
Bombarral	13,193	91.29
Cadaval	14,228	174.89
Caldas da Rainha	51,729	255.69
Lourinhã	25,735	147.17
Nazaré	15,158	82.43
Óbidos	11,772	141.55
Peniche	27,753	77.55
Sobral de Monte Agraço	10,156	52.10
Torres Vedras	79,465	407.15
Total	362,540	2,220.16