Nottingham

Nottingham is a major city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England.

It serves as the county town for Nottinghamshire. The city sits on low hills within the valley of the River Trent. It is located 42 miles south-east of Sheffield. It is also 54 miles north-east of Birmingham.

As a significant urban center, it is the largest in the East Midlands. The wider Nottingham/Derby metropolitan area has an estimated population of 1,610,000 people.

The city's name has deep roots in Old English. It comes from the word *Snotingaham*. This means the "homestead of the Snotingas." The Snotingas were the followers of a man named Snot. Over time, Norman influence caused the loss of the initial "S." A Welsh cleric named Asser once called the place *Tigguocobauc*. This translates to "cave house." It is not clear if this was a real name or an invention.

Nottingham has a long history of defense and growth. Its written history began in 919 AD. Edward the Elder captured the settlement then. He built a fortress on the south bank of the Trent. Later, William the Conqueror built a castle there.

The early Anglo-Saxon settlement was in the Lace Market area. It was protected by a ditch and a rampart. Eventually, the "English Borough" and a "French Borough" grew near the castle. These areas merged as the town expanded toward the Old Market Square.

In the 15th century, Nottingham was a center for trade. It was famous for religious sculptures made of Nottingham alabaster. This stone was exported to distant places like Iceland. During this era, the town became a county corporate in 1449. This gave the town effective self-government "for eternity." However, the Castle and Shire Hall remained separate parishes. The city later gained official city status in 1897. This happened during Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.

The Industrial Revolution changed the city's economy. Nottingham became an international center for lace manufacture. This textile industry brought great prosperity to the region. Later, the city was also known for bicycle and tobacco industries. While textile manufacturing declined after the Second World War, the buildings remain. Many old industrial sites in the Lace Market have been restored.

Nottingham is a major center for culture and literature. In 2015, UNESCO named it a "City of Literature."

This title recognizes its deep literary heritage. Famous writers like Lord Byron and D. H. Lawrence have links to the city. The city also has a strong publishing industry and a poetry scene. The legend of Robin Hood is also tied to Nottingham. Stories say the Sheriff of Nottingham lived there. Legends claim the hero and the sheriff fought at the castle.

Sporting excellence is a defining feature of the city. In 2015, Nottingham was named the "Home of English Sport."

It is home to Notts County, the world's oldest professional league club. The city also hosts Nottingham Forest. This team won two UEFA European Cups in 1979 and 1980. The city features the National Ice Centre and the Holme Pierrepont National Water Sports Centre. It also hosts the Aegon Nottingham Open tennis tournament.

Modern Nottingham is a hub for education and transport. The city has three universities. These are the University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University, and the University of Law. This creates a high concentration of higher education in the East Midlands.

For travel, the city uses the Nottingham Express Transit tram system.

It also has Nottingham City Transport. This is the largest publicly owned bus network in England. The city's economy is very strong. Its metropolitan GDP was $50.9 billion in 2014.