The City of Leicester
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Leicester is a major settlement in that’s located in the East Midlands region of England. The city has a population of over 300,000 residents and is a significant hub of trade and commerce in the area. Archaeological evidence shows that people have continuously been living there even before the ancient Romans arrived and transformed the place into a stronghold. During the Middle Ages, the city full under the jurisdiction of the kingdom of Mercia. After that, the Vikings came and took over. Once that happened the area fell under the control of the Danes who also managed to conquer other large portions of Britain. Soon after, the Normans took control of England under the leadership of William the Conqueror. A series of epidemics then came about which devastated Leicester and greatly reduced its population. Despite that, the city slowly recovered and thrived once more as the Renaissance period came forth. When the United Kingdom began to industrialise, the significance of the city grew. Factories started to open and manufacture quality merchandise at an affordable price. In addition, the creation of the Grand Union Canal and the invention of railway transport made the area more accessible to everyone. As a result, the population and size of Leicester started to drastically increase. It became the norm for people from the countryside to move there to find jobs and opportunities to make their lives better. The advent of WWI and WWII didn’t halt Leicester’s growth. Its geographical position sheltered it from German attacks. Aside from that, the increased industrial demands of wartime helped the cities’ economy further develop. With that said, enemy forces were still able to inflict some damage in the area. Despite that, casualties were kept at a low and the infrastructure of the city remained almost unscathed. In the years after the war, the rate of immigration to Leicester increased exponentially. People of numerous ethnicities moved there at an alarming rate up to the end of the 20th century. As such, the once homogeneous city is one of the most ethnically diverse places in the UK. Nowadays, it’s normal to see people of Asian, European, and African origins walking on the cities’ streets. Although the Industrial Age is over, Leicester is still a major source of industry. People still create textiles, clothing, and footwear there for both local and international markets. Furthermore, a lot of large corporations have opened their offices in and around the city. Another driving force of the regional economy is its tourism industry and the many department stores and malls in the area. Henceforth, one may safely say that the settlement is one of the most prominent economic powerhouses in the East Midlands region along with Nottingham and its surrounding areas. If anything, Leicester is the epitome of what a modern British city is. It’s an important economic centre that has a rich history along with an ethnically diverse population. Due to that, people that are planning to visit the city shouldn’t hesitate at all. It’s almost certain that they’ll have no regrets once they expose themselves to everything that it has to offer. |
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