York
This article is about the historic English city. For other meanings, see York (disambiguation).York is a
city in
northern England, at the confluence of the Rivers
Ouse and
Foss. The York urban area has a population of
137,505 whilst the entire
unitary authority (see below) has a population of
184,900. Its
geographic coordinates are .
York is the traditional county town of
Yorkshire, to which it lends its name. However, it did not form part of any of the three
ridings of Yorkshire. Traditionally the
City of York was a term reserved only for the area within the city walls (a small area outside of the walls, the
Ainsty, was often associated with the City, resulting in the term
the City and Ainsty of York), but the modern
City of York, created on
April 1,
1996, is a unitary authority â€" as well as York itself, this includes a number of neighbouring parishes which formerly belonged to the surrounding districts of
Harrogate,
Ryedale and
Selby. It borders on
North Yorkshire and the
East Riding of Yorkshire.
York is home to the
University of York. The city sometimes suffers from
flooding.
The name 'York' has
an interesting etymological history. The city was founded in AD
71, and has a rich
Roman and
Viking history. The historical aspects of York attract a great deal of
tourism, the jewel in the crown being the city's historic
cathedral church,
York Minster.
York lies within the
Vale of York, and is generally said to be a fairly flat area of land with an unusual amount of green space. The
ings are flood meadows along the River Ouse, while the
strays are scattered around the city in marshy, low-lying places; the
Knavesmire is part of Micklegate Stray. In summer, when they are drier, these areas are used for recreation, and some are grazed by
cattle.
York is situated at the confluence of two rivers, the Ouse and the Foss. During Roman times, the land surrounding the rivers was very marshy, making it easier to defend. The city is prone to severe
flooding from the River Ouse, and has an extensive (but not always effective) network of flood defences. These include walls along the Ouse, and a barrier across the
River Foss where it joins the Ouse. The floods of late October and early November 2000, which were the highest for over 350 years, caused much damage, but the water did not breach the flood walls. Much land within the city has always been too flood-prone for development.
A major
railway junction, York is situated on the East Coast, Cross Country and Transpennine mainlines.
The population of York stands at 181,000 [
1].
This is a chart of trend of regional gross value added of York at current basic prices
published (pp.240-253) by
Office for National Statistics with figures in millions of British Pounds Sterling.
| Agriculture | Industry | Services |
|---|
| 1995 | 2,052 | 30 | 579 | 1,443 |
| 2000 | 2,963 | 13 | 782 | 2,168 |
| 2003 | 3,299 | 16 | 779 | 2,505 |
includes hunting and forestry
includes energy and construction
includes financial intermediation services indirectly measured
Components may not sum to totals due to rounding
York's economy is based largely on tourism and other service-based industries. This is very different from the position as recently as the 1950s, when York's prosperity was based on chocolate manufacturing and the railways. Most of the industry around the railway has gone, including the carriage works which once employed some 22,000 men. Major employers now include
City of York Council,
Norwich Union,
Card Protection Plan and
Nestlé, amongst others.
York is the headquarters of the confectionery manufacturer
Nestlé Rowntree, and home to the
KitKat,
Smarties and eponymous
Yorkie bar chocolate brands.
Terry's chocolate factory, makers of the
Chocolate Orange, was also located in the city; but it closed on
30 September 2005, when production was moved by its owners,
Kraft Foods, to Poland. However, the historic factory building can still be seen, situated next to the Knavesmire racecourse.
On the edge of York, the University of York and its Science Park contribute heavily to the skilled-work sector of the economy.
York is an ancient
borough, and was one of the boroughs reformed by the
Municipal Corporations Act 1835 to form a
municipal borough. It gained the status of a
county borough in
1889, under the
Local Government Act 1888, and existed so until 1974, when, under the
Local Government Act 1972, it became a
non-metropolitan district in the county of
North Yorkshire.
In the
1990s UK local government reform, York became one of the many boroughs to regain unitary status, but was the only one to see a substantial alteration in its borders, taking in parts of
Selby and
Harrogate districts, and about half the population of
Ryedale district.
York has 22
wards, which elect between 1 and 3 councillors each, for a total of 47 councillors. The council is controlled by the
Liberal Democrats, who have 29 councillors. There are 15
Labour Party councillors, 2
Greens, and one independent. [
2]
The city has its own magistrates and crown courts. It is home to the North Yorkshire Police Force.
York is twinned with:
*
Dijon,
France*
Fanteakwa,
Ghana*
Münster,
GermanyThe
University of York, on the edge of the city, regularly places in the top 5 UK Universities. Until 2006 it was York's only institution with university status, when
York St John University College attained full university status (formerly being an autonomous college of University of Leeds). The city also hosts a branch of
the College of Law.
The city has two other major Further Education institutions: one, York College, which is currently in the process of being moved to a brand new site, and a second at
Askham Bryan. York College is an amalgamation of York Technical College and York Sixth Form College. Students there study a very wide range of academic and vocational courses, and range from school leavers and sixth formers right to people training to make career moves. It also runs many courses in the community. Askham Bryan College offers many further education course, foundation and honours degrees, specialising in more vocational subjects such as
Horticulture,
Agriculture, Animal Management and even Golf Course Management.
There are over
55 schools in the City of York area. The
Local Education Authority is the City of York Council, who manage most Primary and Secondary Schools within the city. About 40 Primary schools cover education from ages 5-11, with some offering early years education from age three. From 11-16 education is then provided by 11 Secondary school, four of which offer additional education up to age 18.
York also has several private schools. The most famous of these is probably
St Peter's. Another two have Quaker origins,
Bootham School and
The Mount. On the outskirts of the city is Queen Margarets School.
See list at York sites of interestYork Minster, the historic cathedral church stands at the city's centre. The city centre is nearly surrounded by walls, pictured. To walk the entire circuit (including parts where walls never existed) is about 3 miles.
The Shambles is perhaps York's most iconic street. Formerly the lamb-butchers district, it retains most of its feel from around 4-500 years ago. It contains the shrine of
Margaret Clitherow, and many gift shops. York has many other narrow streets and passages, commonly known as
Snickelways.
The city has many museums, including the
Castle Museum,
Yorkshire Museum & Gardens,
Richard III Museum and the York Dungeon. The
National Railway Museum is situated just behind the station, and is home to the largest static collection of railway locomotives in the world, including the world's fastest steam locomotive
LNER 4468 Mallard.
|
The Kings Arms pub during floods |
York is also a major venue for
horse racing at
York Racecourse in the
Knavesmire area, and every year, thousands flock to the city for the Ebor Handicap Meeting in August.
York is also noted for its wealth of
churches and
pubs. Many of the remaining churches in York are from the medieval period. See
Medieval churches of York. The York area is said to contain one pub for every day of the year, although this is a little exaggerated. Similarly it has been said that there is no point within the city walls where one can stand and not be able to see at least one pub and at least one church.
The City's
football team (
York City) was relegated from
the Football League to the
Nationwide Conference at the end of the 2003/4 season. In the 2005/6 season, York City almost made it to the Playoffs for a chance to regain their place in the Football League, however, a late drop in form meant that they missed out, finishing just outside the Playoff zone. York City's most famous win would be when they beat Manchester United 3-0 in the 1995/96 League Cup at Old Trafford. Though they lost the return leg 3-1, they went through on aggregate. The following season they also knocked out Everton in the same competition. Other notable performances include reaching the semi-finals of the FA Cup in 1955, beating Arsenal 1-0 in the FA Cup in 1985 and finishing 15th in the old League Division 2. York also has a
rugby league side,
York City Knights and an open rowing club (York city rowing club) located underneath Lendal Bridge. York Rugby League Club's best moment came in 1931 when they reached the Challenge Cup Final, only to be beaten 22-8 by Halifax. The most notable sportsmen to come form York in recent years are footballers
Marco Gabbiadini and
Steve McClaren, who both attended Nunthorpe Grammar School. Steve McClaren has since gone onto Football management at several clubs including Middlesbrough and has been appointed to the post of England Manager in 2006.
Many notable people have made their homes in York. At the present time, arguably the most famous living resident of the city is the actress
Dame Judi Dench.
Individuals
*
Mark Addy (b. 1964) (actor)
*
Alcuin (c. 735-804) (Christian scholar)
*
Kate Atkinson (b. 1951) (author)
*
W. H. Auden (1907â€"1973) (poet)
*
John Barry (b. 1933) (composer)
*
David Bradley (b. 1942) (actor)
*
Michael Burns (actor)
*
Vincent Cable (b. 1943) (politician)
*
Margaret Clitherow d.1586 (Catholic martyr)
*
Constantine the Great (272-337) (Emperor of Rome)
*
Judi Dench (b. 1934) (actress)
*
Frank Dobson (b. 1940) (politician)
*
Keith Drinkel (b. 1944) (actor)
*
John Earle (c. 1601â€"1665) (clergyman and author)
*
William Etty (1787â€"1849) (painter)
*
Guy Fawkes (1570â€"1606) (Catholic conspirator involved in the
Gunpowder Plot)
*
John Flaxman (1755â€"1826) (sculptor and draughtsman)
*
Dustin Gee (1942â€"1986) (comedian, one half of duo with
Les Dennis)
*
Harry Gration (BBC Yorkshire News Presenter)
*
Mark Herman (Film Director)
*
Christopher Hill (1912â€"2003) (Marxist historian)
*
Frankie Howerd (1917â€"1992) (comedy actor)
*
George Hudson (1800-1871) (Railway Pioneer, Mayor of York and MP)
*
Ivar the Boneless (794-872) (Viking Chieftain)
*
Sheelagh Kelly (author)
*
Steve McClaren (b. 1961) (football manager)
*
Francis Mason (1799â€"1874) (American missionary)
*
Thomas Morton (1564â€"1659) (clergyman)
*
Xavier Pick (b. 1972) (artist)
*
Benjamin Seebohm Rowntree (1871â€"1954) (chocolate entrepreneur and social reformer)
*
Joseph Rowntree (1836â€"1925) (chocolate entrepreneur and philanthropist)
*
John Sentamu (b. 1949) (Archbishop of York)
*
John Snow (1813â€"1858) (pioneer of
epidemiology and
anaesthesia)
*
William Hepworth Thompson (1810â€"1886) (classical scholar)
*
Henry Scott Tuke (1858â€"1929) (painter)
*
James Hack Tuke (1819â€"1896) (campaigner for famine relief and social reform in Ireland)
*
William Tuke (1732â€"1822),
Henry Tuke (1755â€"1814),
Samuel Tuke (1784â€"1857) and
Daniel Hack Tuke (1827â€"1895) (campaigners for the humane treatment of the insane)
*
Annie Waller (author)
*
Rick Witter (b. 1972) (Lead vocalist of local band
Shed Seven)
Groups
*
Farrah (
indie pop/rock group)
*
The Mood (1980s band)
*
Shed Seven (indie rock group)
*
The Guard (Powerpop/Rock band of the 1980's)
*
Strange Days (band) (1980's band)
*
Zoot and the Roots (1980's band)
Members of the Royal Family
*
Duke of York*
Prince Andrew, Duke of York*
Princess Beatrice of York*
Princess Eugenie of YorkThe York area is served by a local
newspaper,
The Press (known as the Evening Press until April 2006) and two local radio stations
Minster FM and
BBC Radio York. It is also served by its own free-to-air television station broadcasting on frequency 54,
York@54.
The
University has its own television broadcasting channel
York Student Television (YSTV) and two campus newspapers, the national award winning
nouse and
Vision. Its radio station
URY was recently voted
BBC Radio 1 Student Radio Station of the Year 2005.
|
St Williams College near the Minster |
York has a long association with the
Religious Society of Friends. The York-born Quaker chocolate entrepreneurs and social reformers
Joseph Rowntree and
Benjamin Seebohm Rowntree left an indelible mark on the city, through both their business interests and their philanthropy. They built the village of
New Earswick to provide quality affordable housing for their employees. They also founded two Quaker schools,
Bootham School and The Mount, and contributed in large part to the building of
York Public Library and the creation of
Rowntree Park. The four
Rowntree trusts, funded from the Rowntree legacies, are based in York.
The Retreat is a large Quaker mental hospital, situated in the east of the city outside the
city walls. It was founded in
1796 by
William Tuke; over the next century his son
Henry Tuke, grandson
Samuel Tuke and great-grandson
Daniel Hack Tuke also devoted themselves to mental health reform, continuing to reform The Retreat and publishing a number of works on the subject. Another notable York Quaker was the sculptor
Austin Wright.
|
Lendal Tower on the River Ouse, put up for sale as a property in 2006 |
|
Barkers Tower on the Ouse at Lendal Bridge. |
*
Acaster Malbis,
Acomb,
Askham Bryan,
Askham Richard*
Bishopthorpe,
Bootham*
Clifton,
Copmanthorpe,
Crockey Hill*
Deighton*
Derwenthorpe (proposed new village)
*
Dringhouses*
Dunnington*
Elvington*
Escrick*
Fishergate,
Fulford*
The Groves*
Haxby,
Heslington,
Hessay,
Heworth,
Holgate,
Holtby,
Huntington*
Kexby,
Knapton*
Layerthorpe*
Middlethorpe,
Moor End,
Murton*
Naburn,
Nether Poppleton,
New Earswick*
Osbaldwick*
Rawcliffe,
Rufforth*
Skelton,
Stockton-on-the-Forest,
Strensall,
South Bank*
Tang Hall,
Towthorpe*
Upper Poppleton*
West Huntington,
Wheldrake,
Wigginton,
Woodthorpe*
Guides and maps
*
York Tourism*
York Guide *
Eating Out, Bars, Pubs & Shops in York.*
The Yorkshire Wheel Photos, Videos and Details of York's newest tourist attraction.
*
York Guide Online since 2001 studies of York by independent York residents
Local media
*
The Press The local newspaper's site with news, sport, what's on and tourism information.
*
Websites from York sorted by category*
Location York York news stories submitted by site members, with message boards and image gallery.
*
York@54Independent TV station
*
YSTV York Student Television
*
nouse University Newspaper
*
Vision University Newspaper
*
URY University Radio York
Academic
*
The University of York*
York St John University College*
The National Centre for Early MusicHistory
*
Timeline of York's history and a few articles.Photos and images
*
Imagine York: Historic Photographs Online Council Library Archive of historic photographs of York, searchable by keyword.
*
York Stories: photo essays of walks in York, emphasizing architecture
*
York Architecture Gallery*
City of York Council's flood 2000 archive*
Pictures of York Pictures of York
