Global InformationSouthport information
| Southport | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
  Southport Location within Merseyside | |
| Population | 94,421 [1](2021 Census) |
| Demonym | Sandgrounder[2] |
| OS grid reference | SD333170 |
| • London | 191 mi (307 km)[3] SE |
| Metropolitan borough |
|
| Metropolitan county |
|
| Region |
|
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Southport |
| Postcode district | PR8, PR9 |
| Dialling code | 01704 |
| Police | Merseyside |
| Fire | Merseyside |
| Ambulance | North West |
| UK Parliament |
|
Southport is a seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. At the 2021 census, it had a population of 94,421, making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England.[4]
Southport lies on the Irish Sea coast and is fringed to the north by the Ribble estuary. The town is 17 miles (27 km) north of Liverpool and 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Preston.
Within the boundaries of the historic county of Lancashire, the town was founded in 1792 when William Sutton, an innkeeper from Churchtown, built a bathing house at what is now the south end of Lord Street.[5] At that time, the area, known as South Hawes, was sparsely populated and dominated by sand dunes. At the turn of the 19th century, the area became popular with tourists due to the easy access from the nearby Leeds and Liverpool Canal. The rapid growth of Southport largely coincided with the Industrial Revolution and the Victorian era. Town attractions include Southport Pier, the second longest seaside pleasure pier in the British Isles,[6] and Lord Street, an elegant tree-lined shopping street.
Extensive sand dunes stretch for several miles from Woodvale to Birkdale, the south of the town. The Ainsdale sand dunes have been designated as a national nature reserve and a Ramsar site. Local fauna include the natterjack toad and the sand lizard.[7][8] The town contains examples of Victorian architecture and town planning, on Lord Street and elsewhere. A particular feature of the town is the extensive tree planting. This was one of the conditions required by the Hesketh family when they made land available for development in the 19th century. Hesketh Park at the northern end of the town is named after them, having been built on land donated by Rev. Charles Hesketh.[9]
Southport today is still one of the most popular seaside resorts in the UK [citation needed]. It hosts various events, including an annual air show on and over the beach,[10] the largest independent flower show in the UK (in Victoria Park) and the British Musical Fireworks Championship. The town is at the centre of England's Golf Coast[11] and has hosted the Open Championship at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club.
- ^ "Southport is made up of seven wards". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
- ^ "How do you define a true Sandgrounder?". Southport Visiter. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
- ^ "Coordinate Distance Calculator". boulter.com. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- ^ Neighbourhood Statistics. "Check Browser Settings". Neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
- ^ North Meols and Southport – a History, Chapter 9, Peter Aughton (1988)
- ^ "Longest Piers in the British Isles". National Piers Society. Archived from the original on 9 April 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
- ^ "Sefton Coast". JNCC. Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
- ^ "Unitary Authority: Sefton, Site Name: Sefton Coast" (PDF). Natural England. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
- ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 25 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 515.
- ^ "Southport Air Show Official". Sefton Council. Archived from the original on 21 November 2008. Retrieved 1 August 2006.
- ^ "Welcome to". Englands Golf Coast. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2015.