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Wolverhampton

City in the West Midlands, England, United Kingdom

Wolverhampton ( WUUL-vər-HAMP-tən) is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. Located around 12 miles (19 km) north-west of Birmingham, it forms the north-western part of the West Midlands conurbation, with the towns of Willenhall and Walsall to the east, and the towns of Sedgley and Dudley to the south. The population in 2021 was 263,700, making it the third largest city in the county after Birmingham and Coventry. Historically in Staffordshire, Wolverhampton grew as a market town specialising in the wool trade. During the Industrial Revolution, it became a major centre for coal mining, steel production, lock making, and automotive manufacturing; the economy of the city is still based on engineering, including a large aerospace industry and a service sector. The city is home to the University of Wolverhampton. A town for most of its history, it gained city status in 2001. The M6 motorway runs just outside the city's east and north-east borders, while the M54 motorway starts to the north and links the city with Telford. The city is served by Wolverhampton station, while the western terminus of the West Midlands Metro network is also located in the city. Wolverhampton has produced many notable musicians and artists. It is known in the sports world as the home of EFL Championship football team Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, which plays at Molineux Stadium. As a result of experiencing a heavy influx of Indian immigrants since the 1950s, the city is home to the largest percentage of Sikhs in England, who have been influential in shaping its identity; it also hosts a higher percentage of Hindus than the national average.