Welcome to Northampton!
Northampton is the county town of Northamptonshire and is one of the largest settlements in the UK that is not a city. It is about halfway between the cities of Birmingham and London.
Northampton is a market town and civil parish in the East Midlands region of England. It lies on the River Nene, 60 miles (97 km) northwest of London and 50 miles (80 km) southeast of Birmingham. As the county town of Northamptonshire, Northampton is the largest settlement within the unitary authority of West Northamptonshire. Northampton is one of the largest towns (as opposed to cities) in England, it had a population of 212,100 at the 2011 census (225,100 as of 2018 estimates). Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates to the Bronze Age, Romans, and Anglo-Saxons. In the Middle Ages, the town rose to national significance with the establishment of Northampton Castle, an occasional royal residence that regularly hosted the Parliament of England. Medieval Northampton had many churches, monasteries, and the University of Northampton, all enclosed by the town walls. It was granted a town charter by Richard I in 1189 and a mayor was appointed by King John in 1215. The town was also the site of two medieval battles, in 1264 and 1460.
Northampton supported the Parliamentary Roundheads in the English Civil War, and Charles II ordered the destruction of the town walls and most of the castle. The Great Fire of Northampton in 1675 destroyed much of the town. It was soon rebuilt and grew rapidly with the industrial development of the 18th century. Northampton continued to grow with the arrival of the Grand Union Canal and the railways in the 19th century, becoming a center for footwear and leather manufacture.
Northampton's growth was limited until it was designated as a New Town in 1968, accelerating development in the town. It unsuccessfully applied for city status in 2000.