Preston is a city and the administrative centre of Lancashire, England. On the north bank of the River Ribble, it is an urban settlement, and unparished area collected with nearby rural civil parishes. The area achieved city status in 2002, becoming England's 50th city in the 50th year of Queen Elizabeth II's reign. Preston has a populace of 114,300, the City of Preston region 132,000 and the Preston Built-up Area 313,322.
Preston and its surrounding area have delivered confirmation of antique Roman activity in the form of a Roman road. In the Middle Ages, Preston was a parish and township in the hundreds of Amounderness and was absolutely a Guild Merchant charter in 1179. Textiles have been formed since the mid-13th period when nearby shaped wool was woven in people's houses. Flemish weavers who established in the region in the 14th century helped progress the industry. Sir Richard Arkwright, the discoverer of the spinning frame, was born in the town. This is the most rapid period of development concurred with the industrialisation and expansion of the textile business. Preston was a boomtown of the Industrial Rebellion, flattering a densely occupied engineering centre, with large manufacturing plants. The town's textile sector fell into severe weakening from the mid-20th century, and Preston has consequently confronted similar trials to other post-industrial northern metropolises, with deindustrialisation, economic lack and housing matters.
Governance
The unparished urban settlement of Preston is denoted by 19 of the 22 council wards within Preston City Council. Preston is separated between two Westminster constituencies, namely Preston and Wyre and Preston North. The Lancashire County Council structure is located on Fishergate and is the central office for Lancashire, Preston Council Constructions.
Geography
The River Ribble is a southern border for the city. The Forest of Bowland forms a locale to Preston to the northeast while the Fylde lies to the west. At 53°45′N two°42′W, Preston is approximately 27 miles north-west of Manchester, 26 miles north-east of Liverpool, and 15 miles east of the coastal city Blackpool.
