About the town » Northampton, Northamptonshire, England, Great Britain

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Northampton Listen/nɔrˈθæmptən/ is a large town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. It is the county town of Northamptonshire with an estimated population of 212,100 (2011 census), making it 35th largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Situated about 67 miles north-west of London and around 50 miles south-east of Birmingham, Northampton stands on the River Nene. Original human settlement in the area dates back to the 6th century. During the Middle Ages, the town was home to Northampton Castle and Northampton's first university, and was the site of two major English battles. By the 18th century, Northampton had become a major centre of footwear and leather manufacture. Its population grew rapidly following the creation of the Grand Union Canal and arrival of the railways in the 19th century, and Northampton became an industrial centre, particularly noted for its manufacture of boots and shoes. Following the Second World War, growth was limited until its designation as a New Town in the early 1970s. Northampton is now the most populous district in England that is not a unitary authority, a status it failed to obtain in the 1990s local government reform. The population is still expanding and plans for the regeneration of its town centre and borough are under way. In common with much of the United Kingdom, industrial employment has fallen, with new jobs tending to be in public administration, financial services and distribution.