pop (2001e) 137 000; area 191 km² / 74 sq mi. County (unitary authority from 1996) in SE Wales, UK; administrative centre, Newport, on R Usk; steel, aluminium, electronics, chemicals, market gardening; Roman fort at Caerleon.
City of Newport| Geography | |
|
Area - Total - % Water |
Ranked 18th 190 km² ? % |
|---|---|
| Admin HQ | Newport Civic Centre |
| ISO 3166-2 | GB-NWP |
| ONS code | 00PR |
| Traditional county | Monmouthshire |
| Ceremonial county | Gwent |
| OS grid reference | ST312882 |
| Coordinates | 51°35N 2°59W |
| Demographics | |
|
Population: - Total (2005 est.) - Density |
Ranked 7th 139,600 Ranked 2nd 734 / km² |
| Ethnicity |
95.1% White 2.6% S. Asian 1.5% Afro-Caribbean |
|
Welsh language - Any skills |
Ranked 20th 13.4% |
| Politics | |
|
Newport City Council http://www.newport.gov.uk/ |
|
| Control | Labour |
| Mayor of Newport | Miqdad Al-Nuaimi |
| MP, Newport West: | Paul Flynn |
| MP, Newport East: | Jessica Morden |
Newport (Welsh: Casnewydd) is the third-largest city in Wales (after Cardiff and Swansea). Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is the cultural capital and largest urban area of the traditional county of Monmouthshire and governed by the unitary Newport City Council.
The name Newport comes from the fact that Caerleon was the 'old port' on the river Usk, but as ships became bigger, they could no longer navigate the river to Caerleon so a new port/dock was built near to where the Riverfront Arts Centre stands today.
Newport also has the Latin name Novus Burgus, meaning new borough or new town.
The city's importance as a trading port in the Middle Ages was emphasised when a 15th century ship, referred to locally as the Newport ship, was uncovered from the bank of the Usk in 2002, during the construction of the Riverfront Arts Centre. Communities with a community council are indicated with a '*':
| Ward | Communities (Parishes) | Other geographic areas |
| Allt-yr-yn | Allt-yr-yn | Ridgeway, Barrack Hill, Glasllwch, Gold Tops |
| Alway | Alway | Somerton, Lawrence Hill |
| Beechwood | Beechwood | Eveswell |
| Bettws | Bettws | |
| Caerleon | Caerleon | Christchurch, Bulmore, The Village |
| Gaer | Gaer | Maesglas, Stelvio, St. Davids |
| Graig | Graig* | Rhiwderin, Bassaleg, Lower Machen, Pentre Poeth, Fox Hill |
| Langstone | Langstone*, Llanvaches*, Penhow* | Llanmartin, Parc Seymour, Wentwood Forest, Coed-y-caerau, Cat's Ash, Llanbedr, Whitebrook |
| Llanwern | Bishton, Goldcliff*, Llanwern*, Redwick* | Underwood, Whitson, Uskmouth, Broadstreet Common, Summerleaze, Wilcrick, Saltmarsh, Milton, Porton |
| Liswerry | Liswerry, Nash* | Broadmead Park, Moorland Park |
| Malpas | Malpas | |
| Marshfield | Coedkernew*, Marshfield*, Michaelstone-y-Fedw*, Wentloog* | Castleton, St. Brides, Blacktown, Peterstone |
| Pillgwenlly | Pillgwenlly | Level of Mendalgief |
| Ringland | Ringland | Bishpool, Treberth, Coldra |
| Rogerstone | Rogerstone* | High Cross, Cefn Wood, Croesllanfro |
| Shaftesbury | Shaftesbury | Brynglas, Crindau, Marshes, Blaen-y-pant |
| St. Julian's | St. Julian's | East Usk, Barnardtown |
| Stow Hill | Stow Hill | St. Woolos, Baneswell, City centre |
| Tredegar Park | Tredegar Park | Duffryn |
| Victoria | Victoria | Maindee, Summerhill |
People
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1801 | 6,657 |
| 1851 | 29,238 |
| 1881 | 48,069 |
| 1901 | 79,342 |
| 1941 | 116,434 |
| 1981 | 131,016 |
| 2001 | 137,017 |
| 2005 est. | 139,600 |
People from Newport are known as Newportonians.
Regeneration
The city is undergoing a major regeneration programme led by Newport Unlimited. The most important projects include:
The Riverfront Arts Centre — this was the first structure to be built as part of Newport's regeneration by Newport City Council. A new £210 million city centre shopping complex known as Friars Walk including a Debenhams department store, will be created in time for the 2010 Ryder Cup in Newport. A new M4 bypass skirting the southern edge of the urban area of Newport is to built, reducing the congestion on the existing motorway and making Newport and the surrounding areas more accessible.Transport
The city is excellently served with transport links — the M4 motorway comes within a mile (1.6 km) of the city centre, and Newport has six junctions.
The municipal bus service is provided by the council-owned Newport Transport, who provide the "Newport Bus" branded service in the city.
RailNewport is connected directly to the Great Western Main Line, Welsh Marches Line, Gloucester to Newport Line and Ebbw Valley Line.
Education
Newport is home to the University of Wales, Newport which has two campuses in the city — one in Caerleon and the other in Allt-yr-yn.
Plans have been granted for the first phase of a new £60m city centre university campus as part of the riverside regeneration plans by the urban regeneration company Newport Unlimited.
The City of Newport is home to eight state comprehensive schools, and one independent comprehensive school. Newport also has a campus of the further education college Coleg Gwent called the City of Newport Campus, informally known as Nash College.
Employment
Newport has three major centres for employment: the city centre and business parks clustered around the M4 junctions 24 in the east and 28 in the west.
Businesses on the west side of the city include: The headquarters of the Office for National Statistics, the headquarters of the Patent Office, the headquarters of Wales and West Utilities, a large Panasonic manufacturing plant, a manufacturing plant for International Rectifier and the shared-service centre for HM Prison Service.
Government
The city has a formidable sporting reputation, owed mainly to the exploits of the world-famous Newport Rugby Club. Since the regionalisation of Welsh club rugby, the Newport Gwent Dragons, who play in the Celtic League, have become the best supported rugby team in Newport. Newport's rugby league club are called the Newport Titans and play in the Welsh Conference Premier.
Newport also has an association football club, Newport County, nicknamed the Exiles: although currently a non-league club, Newport have played in the second tier of English football and spent 68 consecutive seasons in the football league, reached the last 16 of the FA Cup and the quarter finals of the European Cup Winners' Cup.
The city is currently home to a number of annual sporting events, including:
The Wales Open European Tour golf tournament The Welsh Open world ranking snooker tournament The World Cup of Pool The All*Star Cup celebrity golf tournament The Elemis Invitational Trophy tennis tournamentHistory
The River Usk at Newport has always proved an attractive place to make a home. (See Chartism for more information)
The county borough of Newport was granted city status in 2002 to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee.
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