The recovery (18th-19th centuries)
Despite the negative consequences of the War of the Spanish Succession (18th century), with more looting in the town, and other epidemics, floods and bad harvests, the 18th century saw Montblanc recover thanks to agricultural development.
During the second half of the 18th century there was a demographic increase. New people came to the town and the population increased about 300%. Because of this in some houses third floors were risen, old houses were restored and there were constructions next to the walls.
The economical activity increased. The outskirts were turned into an industrial place, there was also craftsmanship, the cereals growing was substituted by the vineyard, which during the 19th century spread for all the municipality and it become a single crop farming.
Communications favoured economic development in the 19th century as they facilitated commercial transactions. The roads to Lilla (1821) and Reus (1843) were opened and, finally, the railway arrived (1863).
The municipality of Montblanc reached its historical maximum population in 1860 with 6,628 inhabitants during the period known as the Gold Fever.
Between 1873 and 1880, the transversal road was built (the present street Muralla de Santa Tecla), which replaced Major street (main street) as a traffic area and led to a new urban development. New services were created, such as gas lighting, the construction of the first pavements, a minimal sewage system, public fountains and a new cemetery.