Stafford
Stafford is the county town of the ceremonial county of Staffordshire in England. It is situated around 16 miles (26 km) north of Wolverhampton, 18 miles (29 km) south of Stoke-on-Trent and 24 miles (39 km) north-west of Birmingham.
| Stafford | |
| 240px Stafford town centre |
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| Population | 68,472 (2011 census) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | SJ922232 |
| Unitary authority | Borough of Stafford |
| Ceremonial county | Staffordshire |
| Region | West Midlands |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | STAFFORD |
| Postcode district | ST16 - ST21 |
| Dialling code | 01785 |
| Police | Staffordshire |
| Fire | Staffordshire |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| EU Parliament | West Midlands |
| UK Parliament | Stafford |
| |
The town's 2011 population of 68,472 makes it the fifth largest town in Staffordshire by population, behind Stoke-on-Trent, Tamworth, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Burton-upon-Trent.
The name Stafford means "ford" by a "staithe" (a landing place).
Stafford knot
The town is famous for the Stafford knot, sometimes called the Staffordshire knot. It is a distinctive three-looped knot that is the traditional symbol of Staffordshire and Stafford itself. It is used by many local organisations on logos and buildings and also gives its name to a pub.
Transportation
The town has a busy railway station on the West Coast Main Line. The station provides direct local trains to Crewe, Liverpool, Stoke-on-Trent, Wolverhampton and Manchester, longer-distance trains to London, Carlisle, Glasgow and Edinburgh, and cross-country trains to Manchester and Bristol.
Sports
The town has a semi-professional football club, Stafford Rangers, who currently compete in the Northern Premier League Division One North West. They play their home games at Marston Road.
Stafford Media
- Map of Stafford - John Speed map 1610.jpg
Map of Stafford by John Speed circa 1611
- Izaak Walton.jpg
The author Izaak Walton was born in Stafford. Portrait by Jacob Huysmans
St Chad's Church, Stafford
- Shire Hall and Market Square, Stafford, geograph 2358992 by David Dixon.jpg
Shire Hall and Market Square
- Stafford Victoria Park 2023.jpg
Stafford Victoria Park 2023
- Staffordstation.jpg
County Buildings, Martin Street, Stafford