Sister cities of Northampton

Northampton /nɔrˈθæmptən/ is a town, borough, non-metropolitan district and the county town of Northamptonshire in the East Midlands region of England. It lies on the River Nene, situated about 67 miles (108 km) north-west of London and around 50 miles (80 km) south-east of Birmingham. Northampton is one of the largest towns in the UK without city status and the most populous non-metropolitan district of England with a population of 212,100 (2011 census).

Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze Age, Roman and Anglo-Saxon periods. During the Middle Ages, the town rose to national significance with the establishment of Northampton Castle, which was an occasional royal residence and regularly held the Parliament of England. Medieval Northampton also had many churches, monasteries and the University of Northampton, which were all enclosed by the town walls. It was granted its first town charter by King Richard I in 1189 and appointed its first mayor by King John in 1215. The town was also the site of two medieval battles, the Battle of Northampton (1264) and the second in 1460.

Northampton's royal connection languished in the modern period, particularly with the town supporting Parliament (the Roundheads) in the English Civil War, which culminated in King Charles II ordering the destruction of the town walls and the majority of the castle. The town also suffered the Great Fire of Northampton (1675) which devastated most of the town, but it was soon rebuilt and grew rapidly with the industrial development of the 18th century. Northampton continued to grow following the creation of the Grand Union Canal and arrival of the railways in the 19th century, becoming an industrial centre for footwear and leather manufacture.

After the World Wars, growth was limited until its designation as a New Town in 1968, causing much development in the town. Northampton unsuccessfully applied for unitary status in 1996 and city status in 2000, but continues to expand with much of the town undergoing urban renewal.