City of Preston, Lancashire
Encyclopedia
The City of Preston is a city
and non-metropolitan district
in Lancashire
, England. It is located on the north bank of the River Ribble
, and was granted city status
in 2002, becoming England's 50th city in the 50th year of Queen Elizabeth II
's reign. The City of Preston district has a population of 131,900, and lies at the centre of the wider Preston sub-area, which has a population of 184,836, and the Central Lancashire sub-region, with a population of 335,000.
The district, formerly known as the Borough of Preston, is named after the urban settlement of Preston which lies in the south of the district, and also contains eight rural civil parishes.
, Fulwood Urban District
, and a major part of Preston Rural District
. The district was granted city status in 2002.
elections taking place instead.
After the 2007 local election the Labour Party was the largest Group with 24 members but the Conservatives with 20 seats in alliance with the Liberal Democrats with 10 seats took control of the Cabinet and all committees except the Scrutiny committee. This situation continued after the 2008 local election
, at which the Conservatives, with 21 Councillors took a net seat from the Liberal Democrats who had 9 seats and Labour remained the largest party with 24 members, and the 2010 local election
when Labour had 25 councillors, the Conservatives 22, the Liberal Democrats seven, while two Deepdale Independents and one Independent Socialist, made up the remaining three places.
At the most recent elections
, Labour regained control with 29 councillors, the Conservatives 21, the Liberal Democrats have six, and one Deepdale Independent.
The local areas of Preston can be found at Districts of Preston
The current mayor is Councillor Roberta Cartwright.
Preston operates a Leader and Cabinet system. The current Leader is Councillor Peter Rankin.
has been granted to:
, Wyre and Preston North
, and Fylde
.
Historically, Preston has been divided between such constituencies as Preston North
, Preston South
, and Fylde South
although until 1885 it comprised one constituency called Preston but which included most of west Lancashire.
(see City status in the United Kingdom
). Instead, following the granting of city status in the Queen's Golden Jubilee
year in 2002, Preston's parish church was elevated by the Church of England to the status of Minster Church
in June 2003.
, river valley and moorland
. The west of the district lies within the flat coastal plain of the Fylde
. The southern border is the River Ribble
which meanders through a flood plain in a wide, steep-sided valley. The northeast of the district lies within the Forest of Bowland
Area of Outstanding Beauty.
The highest point is the summit of Beacon Fell
at 266 m (872.7 ft) above sea level, an isolated fell two miles south of the main range of Bowland Fells just outside the district boundaries. The lowest point lies on the River Ribble in the southwest corner of the district. The Ribble here is tidal and therefore virtually at sea level. The course of the river west of Preston was artificially straightened in the 19th century, to ease passage of shipping to the docks.
The southern one-third of the district, most of which is covered by Preston and its suburbs, drains into Savick Brook running east-to-west and then turning south into the Ribble. The lowest section of the brook has been widened into the Ribble Link
which connects the Lancaster Canal
to the Ribble. The central and northern parts of the district drain into south- and west-flowing tributaries of the River Brock
, itself a tributary of the Wyre
whose estuary is at Fleetwood
. The Brock forms part of the district boundary on the west and north sides of Beacon Fell. A small part of the district along the eastern boundary drains into the east-flowing River Loud
, a tributary of the Hodder
.
The lowland area in the north and east of the district, between Beacon Fell and the Fylde, is a dairy farming area, particularly noted for its cheesemaking dairies. Six of the ten Lancashire Cheese
dairies listed on the British Cheese Board's website in 2011 are located in the City of Preston district (and the other four are only a few miles outside). Beacon Fell has a Protected Designation of Origin
cheese named after it.
At 53°45′N 2°42′W, Preston city centre is approximately 27 miles north west of Manchester
, 26 miles north east of Liverpool
, and 15 miles east of the coastal town Blackpool
.
Like most of inland Lancashire, Preston receives a higher than UK average total of rainfall, and is slightly colder. On 10 August 1893 Preston entered the UK Weather Records
, with the Highest 5-min total rainfall of 32 mm. As of November 2008 this remains a record.
merged the existing County Borough of Preston
with Fulwood Urban District
and part of Preston Rural District
. Preston was designated as part of the Central Lancashire
new town in 1970. The former Preston Rural District part of the district is divided into a number of civil parishes:
, in particular Indians
. The ethnic makeup of Preston based on 2007 estimates is as follows (With national average in brackets): 81.9% White British
(83.6%), 1.0% White Irish (1.1%), 1.6% Other White (3.5%). 1.6% Mixed Race (1.7%). 8.1% Indian
(2.6%), 2.6% Pakistani (1.8%), 0.3% Bangladeshi
(0.7%), 0.5% Other South Asian
(0.7%). 0.6% Black Caribbean (1.2%), 0.4% Black African
(1.4%), 0.1% Other Black
(0.2%). 0.8% Chinese
(0.8%) and 0.4% Other East Asian and Arab
(0.7%).
outside Liverpool
and Manchester
, with 21% of children in the city living in households which were completely workless and a further 29% in families struggling to get by with working tax credit
s. The two worst affected areas of the city were the Deepdale
and St George's
wards, where 75% and 77% of children respectively were said to be living in poverty.
and the Anglican Diocese of Blackburn
.
The 2001 Census
recorded 72% of the population as Christians, 10% as having no religion, and 8% as Muslims. The Hindu and Sikh populations are smaller at 3% and 0.6% respectively, but in both cases this represents the highest percentage of any local authority area in the North West. 2% of the city's population were born in other EU countries.
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
and non-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially shire districts, are a type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties in a so-called "two-tier" arrangement...
in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England. It is located on the north bank of the River Ribble
River Ribble
The River Ribble is a river that runs through North Yorkshire and Lancashire, in northern England. The river's drainage basin also includes parts of Greater Manchester around Wigan.-Geography:...
, and was granted city status
City status in the United Kingdom
City status in the United Kingdom is granted by the British monarch to a select group of communities. The holding of city status gives a settlement no special rights other than that of calling itself a "city". Nonetheless, this appellation carries its own prestige and, consequently, competitions...
in 2002, becoming England's 50th city in the 50th year of Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
's reign. The City of Preston district has a population of 131,900, and lies at the centre of the wider Preston sub-area, which has a population of 184,836, and the Central Lancashire sub-region, with a population of 335,000.
The district, formerly known as the Borough of Preston, is named after the urban settlement of Preston which lies in the south of the district, and also contains eight rural civil parishes.
History
In 1974, the non-metropolitan district of Preston was formed from the County Borough of PrestonCounty Borough of Preston
Preston was a local government district coterminate with the town of Preston in Lancashire, northwest England from 1835 to 1974.Preston was one of only a few industrial towns in Lancashire to have a functioning corporation in 1835, its charter dating to 1685, and was reformed as a municipal borough...
, Fulwood Urban District
Fulwood Urban District
Fulwood was an urban district of Lancashire, England.It was subject to some changes in its boundaries:*1 April 1934: lost to County Borough of Preston...
, and a major part of Preston Rural District
Preston Rural District
Preston was a rural district in Lancashire, England from 1894 to 1974. It surrounded Preston on the north, west and east sides.The district was created under the Local Government Act 1894. It was abolished in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, with its area being split between the new...
. The district was granted city status in 2002.
Preston City Council
The City of Preston is divided into 22 district council wards represented by 57 councillors. There are nine wards with two councillors and 13 wards with three councillors. The two seat wards cover c. 3600 electors and the three seat wards c. 5400 electors. Preston City councillors serve a four-year term. Preston City Council is elected "by thirds", 19 at a time. One councillor from each of the three-member wards is elected every year for three years. In each of those years six of the nine two-seat wards also elect a councillor. Every fourth year there are no Preston City Council elections, Lancashire County CouncilLancashire County Council
Lancashire County Council is the upper-tier local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Lancashire, England. It currently consists of 84 councillors, and is controlled by the Conservative Party, who won control of the council in the local council elections in June 2009, ending 28 years of...
elections taking place instead.
After the 2007 local election the Labour Party was the largest Group with 24 members but the Conservatives with 20 seats in alliance with the Liberal Democrats with 10 seats took control of the Cabinet and all committees except the Scrutiny committee. This situation continued after the 2008 local election
Preston Council election, 2008
Elections to Preston City Council took place on 1 May 2008.Preston council is elected "in thirds" which means one councillor from each three-member ward, and councillors from selected two-member wards, are elected each year, with one year free from all elections to ensure all councillors serve a...
, at which the Conservatives, with 21 Councillors took a net seat from the Liberal Democrats who had 9 seats and Labour remained the largest party with 24 members, and the 2010 local election
Preston Council election, 2010
Council elections for the City of Preston, Lancashire were held on 6 May 2010. They coincided with the United Kingdom local elections, 2010. Nineteen electoral wards were fought with those councillors elected in the corresponding elections in 2006 defending their seats due to the "in thirds" system...
when Labour had 25 councillors, the Conservatives 22, the Liberal Democrats seven, while two Deepdale Independents and one Independent Socialist, made up the remaining three places.
At the most recent elections
Preston Council election, 2011
Elections to the Preston City Council took place on the same day as other United Kingdom local elections, 2011. This was also the date of the United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum, 2011...
, Labour regained control with 29 councillors, the Conservatives 21, the Liberal Democrats have six, and one Deepdale Independent.
The local areas of Preston can be found at Districts of Preston
Districts of Preston
Preston is a city of Lancashire, England. The districts of Preston vary in size and shape, many of which reflect the districts developed from former villages and boroughs which now lie within the boundaries of the city of Preston. Districts of Preston have little administrative purpose: for local...
The current mayor is Councillor Roberta Cartwright.
Preston operates a Leader and Cabinet system. The current Leader is Councillor Peter Rankin.
Freedom of the City
Freedom of the CityFreedom of the City
Freedom of the City is an honour bestowed by some municipalities in Australia, Canada, Ireland, France, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, Gibraltar and Rhodesia to esteemed members of its community and to organisations to be honoured, often for service to the community;...
has been granted to:
- The Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire)Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire)The Loyal Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army from 1881 to 1970...
7 August 1952 (This was subsequently transferred to:)- The Queen's Lancashire RegimentQueen's Lancashire RegimentThe Queen's Lancashire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the King's Division...
9 September 1972 - The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment 1 July 2006
- The Queen's Lancashire Regiment
- Andrew FlintoffAndrew FlintoffAndrew "Freddie" Flintoff MBE is a former English cricketer who played for Lancashire County Cricket Club, England and the Indian Premier League team Chennai Super Kings. A tall fast bowler, batsman and slip fielder, Flintoff according to the ICC rankings was consistently rated amongst the top...
, England cricket captain, January 2006
Lancashire County Council
The City of Preston contains ten Lancashire County Council electoral divisions with one county councillor in each district.Parliament
The City of Preston is currently divided between three Westminster constituencies, namely PrestonPreston (UK Parliament constituency)
Preston is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
, Wyre and Preston North
Wyre and Preston North (UK Parliament constituency)
Wyre and Preston North is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Created in the most recent fifth periodic review of constituencies by the Boundary Commission for England, it elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post...
, and Fylde
Fylde (UK Parliament constituency)
Fylde is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-History:...
.
Historically, Preston has been divided between such constituencies as Preston North
Preston North (UK Parliament constituency)
Preston North was a parliamentary constituency in Lancashire, which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
, Preston South
Preston South (UK Parliament constituency)
Preston South was a parliamentary constituency in the city of Preston in Lancashire. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
, and Fylde South
Fylde South (UK Parliament constituency)
Fylde South was a constituency which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1950, until it was abolished for the 1983 general election.- Members of Parliament :...
although until 1885 it comprised one constituency called Preston but which included most of west Lancashire.
Minster Church
Like numerous other major English towns granted city status since 1889, Preston has no cathedralCathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
(see City status in the United Kingdom
City status in the United Kingdom
City status in the United Kingdom is granted by the British monarch to a select group of communities. The holding of city status gives a settlement no special rights other than that of calling itself a "city". Nonetheless, this appellation carries its own prestige and, consequently, competitions...
). Instead, following the granting of city status in the Queen's Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II
The Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II was the international celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the accession of Elizabeth II to the thrones of seven countries, upon the death of her father, George VI, on 6 February 1952, and was intended by the Queen to be both a commemoration of her 50...
year in 2002, Preston's parish church was elevated by the Church of England to the status of Minster Church
Minster
Minster could mean:*Minster *Minster Machine CompanyMinster could also refer to:*Minster, part of Forrabury and Minster*Minster, Ohio*Minster, Swale*Minster-in-Thanet...
in June 2003.
Physical geography
The City of Preston district is a transitional region between coastal plainCoastal plain
A coastal plain is an area of flat, low-lying land adjacent to a seacoast and separated from the interior by other features. One of the world's longest coastal plains is located in eastern South America. The southwestern coastal plain of North America is notable for its species diversity...
, river valley and moorland
Moorland
Moorland or moor is a type of habitat, in the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome, found in upland areas, characterised by low-growing vegetation on acidic soils and heavy fog...
. The west of the district lies within the flat coastal plain of the Fylde
The Fylde
The Fylde ; Scandinavian: "field") is a coastal plain in western Lancashire, England. It is roughly a 13-mile square-shaped peninsula, bounded by Morecambe Bay to the north, the Ribble estuary to the south, the Irish Sea to the west, and the Bowland hills to the east...
. The southern border is the River Ribble
River Ribble
The River Ribble is a river that runs through North Yorkshire and Lancashire, in northern England. The river's drainage basin also includes parts of Greater Manchester around Wigan.-Geography:...
which meanders through a flood plain in a wide, steep-sided valley. The northeast of the district lies within the Forest of Bowland
Forest of Bowland
The Forest of Bowland, also known as the Bowland Fells, is an area of barren gritstone fells, deep valleys and peat moorland, mostly in north-east Lancashire, England. A small part lies in North Yorkshire, and much of the area was historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire...
Area of Outstanding Beauty.
The highest point is the summit of Beacon Fell
Beacon Fell Country Park
Beacon Fell is a fell in the civil parish of Goosnargh in Lancashire, England. It has been a Country Park since 1970. It falls within the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty although it is separated from the other hills in the Forest...
at 266 m (872.7 ft) above sea level, an isolated fell two miles south of the main range of Bowland Fells just outside the district boundaries. The lowest point lies on the River Ribble in the southwest corner of the district. The Ribble here is tidal and therefore virtually at sea level. The course of the river west of Preston was artificially straightened in the 19th century, to ease passage of shipping to the docks.
The southern one-third of the district, most of which is covered by Preston and its suburbs, drains into Savick Brook running east-to-west and then turning south into the Ribble. The lowest section of the brook has been widened into the Ribble Link
Ribble Link
The Millennium Ribble Link is a Linear Water Park and new navigation which links the once-isolated Lancaster Canal in Lancashire, England to the River Ribble...
which connects the Lancaster Canal
Lancaster Canal
The Lancaster Canal is a canal in the north of England, originally planned to run from Westhoughton in Lancashire to Kendal in south Cumbria...
to the Ribble. The central and northern parts of the district drain into south- and west-flowing tributaries of the River Brock
River Brock
The River Brock is a river running through the county of Lancashire in England.Commencing its journey on Fair Snape Fell, the infant River Brock runs beneath the Bleasdale Circle before continuing via Claughton and Bilsborrow to St Michael's On Wyre, where it joins the River Wyre.-Tributaries:*New...
, itself a tributary of the Wyre
River Wyre
The River Wyre is a river in Lancashire, United Kingdom, which flows into the Irish Sea at Fleetwood. It is approximately 28 miles in length...
whose estuary is at Fleetwood
Fleetwood
Fleetwood is a town within the Wyre district of Lancashire, England, lying at the northwest corner of the Fylde. It had a population of 26,840 people at the 2001 Census. It forms part of the Greater Blackpool conurbation. The town was the first planned community of the Victorian era...
. The Brock forms part of the district boundary on the west and north sides of Beacon Fell. A small part of the district along the eastern boundary drains into the east-flowing River Loud
River Loud
The River Loud is a river of Lancashire, England.Starting out on Parlick, the Loud meanders mainly through the parish of Chipping, tracing its course first southwest, then southeast and, at Gill Bridge by Withinreap Farm, east before veering northeast, on a similar alignment to Longridge Road,...
, a tributary of the Hodder
River Hodder
The River Hodder is a river in Lancashire, England. The river is a County Biological Heritage Site.It rises on White Hill and flows for approximately 23 miles to the River Ribble, of which it is the largest tributary...
.
The lowland area in the north and east of the district, between Beacon Fell and the Fylde, is a dairy farming area, particularly noted for its cheesemaking dairies. Six of the ten Lancashire Cheese
Lancashire cheese
Lancashire is an English cow's-milk cheese from the county of Lancashire. There are three distinct varieties of Lancashire cheese. Young Creamy Lancashire and mature Tasty Lancashire are produced by a traditional method, whereas Crumbly Lancashire is a more recent creation suitable for mass...
dairies listed on the British Cheese Board's website in 2011 are located in the City of Preston district (and the other four are only a few miles outside). Beacon Fell has a Protected Designation of Origin
Protected designation of origin
Protected Geographical Status is a legal framework defined in European Union law to protect the names of regional foods. Protected Designation of Origin , Protected Geographical Indication and Traditional Speciality Guaranteed are distinct regimes of geographical indications within the framework...
cheese named after it.
At 53°45′N 2°42′W, Preston city centre is approximately 27 miles north west of Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, 26 miles north east of Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, and 15 miles east of the coastal town Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
.
Like most of inland Lancashire, Preston receives a higher than UK average total of rainfall, and is slightly colder. On 10 August 1893 Preston entered the UK Weather Records
UK Weather Records
The UK Weather Records note the most extreme weather ever recorded in the United Kingdom, such as the most and fewest hours of sunshine and highest wind speed.-Temperature:-Rainfall:...
, with the Highest 5-min total rainfall of 32 mm. As of November 2008 this remains a record.
Areas and estates
As with many cities, Preston has developed from a number of former towns and villages.Civic geography
The southern part of the district is mostly urbanised but the northern part is quite rural. The current borders came into effect on 1 April 1974, when the Local Government Act 1972Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
merged the existing County Borough of Preston
County Borough of Preston
Preston was a local government district coterminate with the town of Preston in Lancashire, northwest England from 1835 to 1974.Preston was one of only a few industrial towns in Lancashire to have a functioning corporation in 1835, its charter dating to 1685, and was reformed as a municipal borough...
with Fulwood Urban District
Fulwood Urban District
Fulwood was an urban district of Lancashire, England.It was subject to some changes in its boundaries:*1 April 1934: lost to County Borough of Preston...
and part of Preston Rural District
Preston Rural District
Preston was a rural district in Lancashire, England from 1894 to 1974. It surrounded Preston on the north, west and east sides.The district was created under the Local Government Act 1894. It was abolished in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, with its area being split between the new...
. Preston was designated as part of the Central Lancashire
Central Lancashire
Central Lancashire is a designated new town in England. The designated area covers the towns of Preston, Leyland and Chorley...
new town in 1970. The former Preston Rural District part of the district is divided into a number of civil parishes:
- BartonBarton, PrestonBarton is a linear village and civil parish in the City of Preston, Lancashire, England. The parish had a population of 1,096 according to the 2001 census.-Geography:The village is about north of Preston. The parish is bound by the A6 road to the west...
- BroughtonBroughton, LancashireBroughton is a village and civil parish in the City of Preston, Lancashire, England, about north of Preston city centre. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 1,735...
- GoosnarghGoosnarghGoosnargh is a village and civil parish on the north side of Preston, Lancashire, England. The village lies between Broughton and Longridge, and mostly lies in the civil parish of Whittingham, although the ancient centre lies in the civil parish of Goosnargh...
- GrimsarghGrimsarghGrimsargh is a village and civil parish in the City of Preston, Lancashire, England. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 2,164. The parish is part of the electoral ward of Preston Rural East.-Geography:...
- HaightonHaightonHaighton is a civil parish in the City of Preston, Lancashire, England. It is a rural area north east of the urban city of Preston, beyond Fulwood and Brookfield.-Geography:Haighton also contains the hamlets of Haighton Green and Haighton Top...
- LeaLea, LancashireLea and Cottam are villages in the City of Preston, Lancashire, England. Together they form the civil parish of Lea, which has a population of 5,962.-Geography:...
- WhittinghamWhittingham, LancashireWhittingham is a civil parish in the City of Preston, Lancashire, England. The parish measures east-to-west, from the outskirts of Longridge to the outskirts of Broughton, but only 1 mile north-to-south. Its population was 2,189 in 2001...
- WoodplumptonWoodplumptonWoodplumpton is a village and civil parish in the City of Preston, Lancashire, England, located north of Preston.-Geography:It is part of the Fylde, a flat area of land between the Forest of Bowland and the Lancashire coast.-Community:...
Ethnicity
Preston is a diverse city, although the majority of the non-indigenous people are South AsiansBritish Asian
British Asian is a term used to describe British citizens who descended from mainly South Asia, also known as South Asians in the United Kingdom...
, in particular Indians
British Indian
The term British Indian refers to citizens of the United Kingdom whose ancestral roots lie in India. This includes people born in the UK who are of Indian descent, and Indian-born people who have migrated to the UK...
. The ethnic makeup of Preston based on 2007 estimates is as follows (With national average in brackets): 81.9% White British
White British
White British was an ethnicity classification used in the 2001 United Kingdom Census. As a result of the census, 50,366,497 people in the United Kingdom were classified as White British. In Scotland the classification was broken down into two different categories: White Scottish and Other White...
(83.6%), 1.0% White Irish (1.1%), 1.6% Other White (3.5%). 1.6% Mixed Race (1.7%). 8.1% Indian
British Indian
The term British Indian refers to citizens of the United Kingdom whose ancestral roots lie in India. This includes people born in the UK who are of Indian descent, and Indian-born people who have migrated to the UK...
(2.6%), 2.6% Pakistani (1.8%), 0.3% Bangladeshi
British Bangladeshi
A British Bangladeshi is a person of Bangladeshi origin who resides in the United Kingdom having emigrated to the UK and attained citizenship through naturalisation or whose parents did so; they are also known as British Bengalis...
(0.7%), 0.5% Other South Asian
British Asian
British Asian is a term used to describe British citizens who descended from mainly South Asia, also known as South Asians in the United Kingdom...
(0.7%). 0.6% Black Caribbean (1.2%), 0.4% Black African
Black British
Black British is a term used to describe British people of Black African descent, especially those of Afro-Caribbean background. The term has been used from the 1950s to refer to Black people from former British colonies in the West Indies and Africa, who are residents of the United Kingdom and...
(1.4%), 0.1% Other Black
Black British
Black British is a term used to describe British people of Black African descent, especially those of Afro-Caribbean background. The term has been used from the 1950s to refer to Black people from former British colonies in the West Indies and Africa, who are residents of the United Kingdom and...
(0.2%). 0.8% Chinese
British Chinese
British Chinese , including British-born Chinese are people of Chinese ancestry who were born in, or have migrated to, the United Kingdom. They are part of the Chinese diaspora, or overseas Chinese...
(0.8%) and 0.4% Other East Asian and Arab
British Arabs
British Arabs are Arab people living or born in the United Kingdom. Unlike Black British or Asian British, the term is not one of those employed in government ethnicity categorisations used in the census and for national statistics. It is, however, the term used by the National Association of...
(0.7%).
Child poverty
In 2008 a survey revealed that 50% of all children living in the city were living in families suffering from financial depression. An estimated 15,380 youngsters were part of the families on the breadline. The Campaign to End Child Poverty report defined children in poverty as children living in homes where occupants work less than 16 hours a week, or not at all, or where the full amount of tax credit is being claimed. The city was one of the most severely affected areas of the North WestNorth West England
North West England, informally known as The North West, is one of the nine official regions of England.North West England had a 2006 estimated population of 6,853,201 the third most populated region after London and the South East...
outside Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, with 21% of children in the city living in households which were completely workless and a further 29% in families struggling to get by with working tax credit
Working tax credit
The Working Tax Credit is a state benefit in the United Kingdom made to people who work on a low income. It is a part of the current system of refundable tax credits introduced in April 2003 and is a means-tested social security benefit...
s. The two worst affected areas of the city were the Deepdale
Deepdale, Preston
Deepdale is an electoral ward in Preston, Lancashire, England. The ward is home to the Deepdale football stadium of Preston North End. The ward is a predominately urban area of terraced housing, notable for one of the largest Muslim populations in the city....
and St George's
St George's, Preston
St George’s is an electoral ward in Preston, Lancashire, England. The ward is adjacent to the larger Deepdale to the east and is considered to be more an area within Deepdale than a distinct community of its own...
wards, where 75% and 77% of children respectively were said to be living in poverty.
Religion
The City of Preston lies in the Roman Catholic Diocese of LancasterDiocese of Lancaster
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lancaster is a Latin Rite Roman Catholic diocese centred around Lancaster Cathedral in the city of Lancaster in Lancashire, England....
and the Anglican Diocese of Blackburn
Diocese of Blackburn
The Diocese of Blackburn is a Church of England diocese, covering much of Lancashire, created in 1926 from part of the Diocese of Manchester. The Diocese includes the towns of Blackburn, Blackpool, Burnley, and the cities of Lancaster, and Preston, as well as a large part of the Ribble Valley...
.
The 2001 Census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
recorded 72% of the population as Christians, 10% as having no religion, and 8% as Muslims. The Hindu and Sikh populations are smaller at 3% and 0.6% respectively, but in both cases this represents the highest percentage of any local authority area in the North West. 2% of the city's population were born in other EU countries.