Ibi

It is not like a village until the seventeenth century, the result of a long historical process begun in the Middle Ages with the conquest and Christian repopulation.

But before all that, the territory was occupied by other cultures, and was known as an independent territory in the fourth century.Old age
Iberian period
In the VI-III centuries. C., the geographic point for Ibi know today was on the territory of the Contestania, which lies south of the river Júcar. It limited the north with the south and edetanos with bastetanos.

Studies in the Hoya de Castalla define it as space Contestani transition between different territories of the region of the Hoya de Alcoy, Alicante Field and Vinalopó to not be placed in a large walled area that may depend populous the rest of surrounding fields and have fewer than the rest of the Hoya de Alcoy and other districts mentioned.
Ibi, full Iberian time are the sites in the Cova de la Moneda and Fernoveta. Late Iberian period seem ceramics found in Pont L’Horta South Camino Viejo de Onil.

Cova de la Moneda is one of the most renowned sites of the Hoya de Castalla. However, all archaeological materials come from uncontrolled actions. It has the common characteristics of other caves-sanctuary from this period elevated position with a wide visual domain, situation along a mountain road that connects two sides of a saw and appearance of materials ritual use.

The Mas Fernoveta is between the hill of San Miguel and the Alt de Santa Maria, on top of a hill. It was a rural exploitation of the immediate environment, we had come of agricultural land, water resources and a burial. Here found storage vessels, jars and Tinajillas of molded lips, plates or pateras decorated with concentric circles and circles, geometric decoration materials report, kitchen ware represented by fragments of pots thickened leading edge. It has also found two fragments of Attic pottery of black varnish (obviously imported). This together with several fragments of glass paste suggest an Iberian necropolis in the area.

The site of the old Camino de Onil is located within the town of Ibi, at the foot of San Miguel, on the south side, in the traditional axis of communication between Ibi and Onil. The remains are scarce and many have disappeared as a result of urban interventions since 1980.

South L’Horta Pont is located in a abancalada area between the mouths of the Barranc dels Molins and Raboses. It is lavished with fertile land and water, which promotes human settlement. Material remains: jars and Tinajillas, molded lips decorated with horizontal bands in wine-red wide and several mullioned handles, two Iberian amphora fragments, boats or dishes exvasados ​​hang straight edges, also returned to the inside edge. The decoration is geometric. Kitchen ware is represented by outgoing pots thickened.

The Road site of the Ermita de San Miguel is located at the foot of the hill of the same name built on its eastern side. It was discovered in 2004, during the works for the realization of the roundabout located in the execution unit R-2. The archaeological work was carried out between 19 January and 16 February 2005 under the technical direction of J. Lajara Martinez.

The materials found were deposited in the Archaeological Museum Municipal Camil Visedo Moltó of Alcoy. The found archaeological material is not abundant, and it is quite fragmented, however, is interesting, considering that is one of the few iberorromana time deposits excavated in the central regions of the province of Alicante. Findings: transport and storage vessels (Iberian amphorae, flat mouths with lips low key, jars and Tinajillas exvasados ​​edge and molded lips curved walls and plates returned to the interior edges). Kitchen ware represented through the pot B. 1. 1 Bonet-Mata. The color is again decorated elements of vinous tone and represented motifs are geometrical. No plant or figurative decorations are seen type. It is difficult to pinpoint the chronology given the recurring geometric style. Nevertheless you can compare the material found in the decorative repertoire that has been taking place in the fields of ss. III-I B.C. in the central regions of the Province of Alicante.

Roman age
Recently it discovered a small Roman settlement dedicated to agriculture and livestock, dated between the first century BC and I d. C.

Middle Ages
At the time of the Reconquista, it would be one or several small farmhouses. Thanks to the agreements entered into with King James I of Aragon, Zayd Abu Zayd, a former Almohad king of Valencia and ally of the Aragonese monarch, takes possession of this territory, which is transferred to his son Eiximén Pérez d’Arenós. Through an exchange they would be able king. During the XIV century it belonged to the feudal lords of Cocentaina, Plans and others, even the monarchs themselves again, the last of their owners Pertussa Mosen Francisco, who sold him to the nearby town of Jijona.

Modern age
In the year 1578 it was declared by Felipe II University and a few years later, in 1629, obtains the definitive emancipation to be granted the status of Villa Real.
During the War of Succession, the people of the Hoya de Castalla, expressed their loyalty to the future king Felipe V, which earned the titles of Noble Ibi, faithful and loyal. Also it is given the privilege so you can add to shield any sign of fidelity; the dog was placed.

Contemporary age
Canyo snow pit, one of many snowfields that exist in the surrounding mountains
Until the nineteenth century the main source of income was rainfed agriculture, to which the craft industry and trade gelato and Snow joined. It was during this time that most of the snow pits, which today remain in the surrounding hills to the town were built. It is circular tanks built into the side of a mountain, on which a masonry wall and which had a so-called false dome cover by rows of stones being built. The doors of these buildings were usually of stone masonry, and had an iron or wood to hang carrucha. This last activity derive the refrigerator industry grew rapidly, all over the country and much of the foreign, from the late nineteenth century.

From the 40’s and 50 Ibi began experiencing strong economic growth through the expansion and boom in the toy sector. Big factories like Paya or templates Rico had hundreds of workers accelerated the growth of the town. During these decades the toy sector in Ibi, and the Hoya de Castalla, enjoyed a great activity and the number of toy companies multiplied. However, since 1975 the sector started to be affected by the opening of Spain abroad and the strong competition from other markets. Thus, Toys and Toys Payá Rico closed their doors in 1984.

After this period of crisis, Ibi began to open up to other sectors such as iron and steel, plastics and metal processing, packaging and ancillary industries, among others. Thanks to this diversification, Ibi has maintained a steady growth in their industry and currently has the third largest industrial area in the province of Alicante, only to polygons Alicante and Elche.