Basingstoke

Basingstoke is a large town in the county of Hampshire in the south of England. The 2001 Census recorded a population of 152 573. Basingstoke is a prosperous town with an above-average standard of living and low unemployment. It is a financial centre, and the location of the headquarters of the Automobile Association and Sun Life Financial of Canada (not to be confused with AXA Sun Life) in the UK. Other industries include drug manufacture, insurance and electronics.

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Basingstoke's expansion has absorbed many smaller villages in its wake, becoming housing estates or local districts. Many of these new estates are designed as almost self contained communities, such as Chineham, Winklebury, Kempshott and Hatch Warren. The M3 acts as a buffer zone to the south of the town, and the South Western Main Line constrains the western expansion, with green belt to the north-east, making Basingstoke almost triangular in shape. As a result, the villages of Cliddesden, Dummer and Oakley, although being very close to the town limits, are considered distinct entities.

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Basingstoke parlimentary constituency is served by Maria Miller, who was elected in 2005 when the previous MP, Andrew Hunter stepped down. Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, which has its offices in the town, has no majority control, but is instead operated by a Lib-Lab Pact.

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Hampshire: Hampshire (abbr. Hants) is a county on the south coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county borders (clockwise from West), Dorset, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Surrey and West Sussex. The county is 1,455 square miles (3,769 km²) in size and at its widest points is approximately 55 miles (90 k...

England: :For an explanation of often confusing terms like England, (Great) Britain and United Kingdom see British Isles (terminology)....

2001: :This article is about the year 2001. For information on the movie, see '. For the Dr. Dre album, see 2001....