Northampton

This article is about Northampton in England; for other places of the same name see Northampton (disambiguation)

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Northampton is a large market town and a local government district in central England upon the River Nene, and the county town of Northamptonshire. In 2002 it had a population of 194,122.

Related Topics:
Market town - Local government district - England - River Nene - County town - Northamptonshire

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Traditionally Northampton has been a major centre of shoemaking and other leather related industries. Shoemaking has virtually ceased, though the back streets of the town still show the pattern of small shoe factories surrounded by terraced houses for the outworkers. The main industries now include distribution and finance.

Related Topics:
Shoe - Leather

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Northampton is the most populous district in England not to be a unitary authority. It is also one of the most populous urban districts not to be a London Borough, metropolitan borough or city; on this basis the council claims that it is the largest town in England. Medway and Milton Keynes could also claim this title, but these are not always seen as single towns.

Related Topics:
District - Unitary authority - London Borough - Metropolitan borough - Medway - Milton Keynes

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Northampton's population has nearly doubled since the 1960s, largely due to planned expansion under the New Towns Commission in the early 1960s. Other factors are the rail link and the busy M1 motorway that both lead direct to London. Northampton is around 60 miles from London, and by car and train it takes approximately 90 minutes to journey between the two. This transport link to the South East has proved attractive, with already high house prices in and around London rising rapidly since the 1990s causing many people to move further and further away from the area in order to commute. Most of Northampton's housing expansion has happened to the east of the town, with recent developments on the western outskirts and adjacent to an improved junction on the M1.

Related Topics:
1960s - New Towns Commission - London - Miles - 1990s - Commute

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