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{{Infobox Settlement
|name=Wolverhampton
[[User:AlexNewArtBot/NorwaySearchResult/archive|Archives]] of this page
|official_name=City of Wolverhampton
[[Category:Newpage bot search results|Norway]]
|settlement_type=City
*{{la|Bjørn T. Grydeland}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 09:04, 9 October 2008
|nickname=W'ton, Wolves
*{{la|Finn Arild Hvistendahl}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 08:55, 9 October 2008
|motto=Out of darkness cometh light
*{{la|Dagfinn Habberstad}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 08:51, 9 October 2008
|image_blank_emblem=Wolvarms.PNG
*{{la|Ragnhild Jølsen}} by {{User|Meco}} started at 23:08, 8 October 2008
|blank_emblem_type=Coat of Arms of the City Council
*{{la|Arne Simonsen}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 23:01, 8 October 2008
|image_map=EnglandWolverhampton.png
*{{la|Bjarne Orten}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 22:49, 8 October 2008
|mapsize=200px
*{{la|Ann Ollestad}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 22:42, 8 October 2008
|map_caption=Wolverhampton shown within England
*{{la|Slip forming}} by {{User|Fabartus}} started at 22:39, 8 October 2008
|subdivision_type=[[List of sovereign states|Sovereign state]]
*{{la|Jens Sterri}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 22:33, 8 October 2008
|subdivision_name=[[United Kingdom]]
*{{la|Petter Skarheim}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 22:17, 8 October 2008
|subdivision_type1=[[Constituent country]]
*{{la|Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 22:09, 8 October 2008
|subdivision_name1=[[England]]
*{{la|IL ROS}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 21:37, 8 October 2008
|subdivision_type2=[[Regions of England|Region]]
*{{la|Marit Wiig}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 21:13, 8 October 2008
|subdivision_name2=[[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]]
*{{la|Jan Solberg}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 21:02, 8 October 2008
|subdivision_type3=[[Ceremonial counties of England|Ceremonial county]]
*{{la|Frida Nokken}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 20:56, 8 October 2008
|subdivision_name3=[[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]]
*{{la|Hamar Dagblad}} by {{User|Arsenikk}} started at 20:46, 8 October 2008
|subdivision_type4=Admin HQ
*{{la|Bjørn Røse}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 20:37, 8 October 2008
|subdivision_name4=Wolverhampton city centre
*{{la|Janne Sollie}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 19:45, 8 October 2008
|government_type=[[Metropolitan borough]]
*{{la|Peter Johan Schei}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 19:41, 8 October 2008
|leader_title=Governing body
*{{la|Christian Hambro}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 19:36, 8 October 2008
|leader_name=Wolverhampton City Council
*{{la|Håvard Holm}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 19:26, 8 October 2008
|leader_title1=[[MPs elected in the UK general election, 2005|MPs]]
*{{la|Ellen Hambro}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 19:24, 8 October 2008
|leader_name1=[[Rob Marris]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])<br>[[Pat McFadden (British politician)|Pat McFadden]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])<br>[[Ken Purchase]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])
*{{la|Selemani Ndikumana}} by {{User|Zombie433}} started at 10:08, 8 October 2008
|established_title=Founded
*{{la|Christen Bentsen Schaaning}} by {{User|Gabagool}} started at 01:10, 8 October 2008
|established_date=985
*{{la|Mikal Angell Jacobus Landmark}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 21:13, 7 October 2008
|founder=[[Lady Wulfruna]]
*{{la|Jens Landmark}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 21:06, 7 October 2008
|named_for=[[Lady Wulfruna]]
*{{la|Andreas Landmark}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 19:53, 7 October 2008
|area_total_km2=69.44
*{{la|Johan Widing Heiberg Landmark}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 19:29, 7 October 2008
|latd=52
*{{la|Nils Landmark}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 19:12, 7 October 2008
|latm=35
*{{la|Bletoppen}} by {{User|Berland}} started at 11:22, 7 October 2008
|latNS=N
*{{la|Skåla (Sogn og Fjordane)}} by {{User|Berland}} started at 20:45, 6 October 2008
|longd=2
*{{la|Hans Nicolai Lange}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 19:57, 6 October 2008
|longm=08
*{{la|Johan Jørgen Lange Hanssen}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 19:36, 6 October 2008
|longEW=W
*{{la|Hans Christian Hanssen-Fossnæs}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 19:00, 6 October 2008
|population_as_of=2006 est.
*{{la|Klaus Hanssen}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 18:57, 6 October 2008
|population_total={{EnglishDistrictPopulation|ONS=00CW}} ([[List of English districts by population|Ranked {{EnglishDistrictRank|ONS=00CW}}]])
*{{la|Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 18:30, 6 October 2008
|population_density_km2=3407
*{{la|Erik Willoch}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 16:09, 6 October 2008
|population_blank1_title=[[West Midlands conurbation|Conurbation]]
*{{la|2000 Norwegian Football Cup Final}} by {{User|Brandenburg}} started at 16:06, 6 October 2008
|population_blank1_name=2,284,903
*{{la|Ove Liavaag}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 16:03, 6 October 2008
|population_blank2_title = Ethnicity </br><small>(United Kingdom Estimate 2005) </small><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276806&c=wolverhampton&d=13&e=13&g=378049&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1206389717666&enc=1&dsFamilyId=1812 |title=Resident Population Estimates by Ethnic Group (Percentages) |publisher=Office for Neighbourhood Statistics |accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref>
*{{la|2008 Norwegian Football Cup Final}} by {{User|Brandenburg}} started at 15:36, 6 October 2008
|population_blank2 = 76.5% White<br>14.7% S.Asian<br>4.8% Black<br>1.1% Chinese or other<br>2.9% Mixed Race
*{{la|Lise Haavik}} by {{User|Mike Halterman}} started at 01:45, 6 October 2008
|timezone=[[Greenwich Mean Time]]
*{{la|Martin Røymark}} by {{User|Ryder555}} started at 00:36, 6 October 2008
|utc_offset=+0
*{{la|Heidi Arnesen}} by {{User|Oceanh}} started at 00:14, 6 October 2008
|timezone_DST=[[British Summer Time]]
*{{la|Helle Johansen}} by {{User|Oceanh}} started at 00:00, 6 October 2008
|utc_offset_DST=+1
*{{la|Hilde Tellesbø}} by {{User|Oceanh}} started at 23:55, 5 October 2008
|postal_code_type=Postcode
*{{la|Astrid Carlson}} by {{User|Oceanh}} started at 23:29, 5 October 2008
|postal_code=[[WV postcode area|WV]]
*{{la|Wenche Jacobsen}} by {{User|Oceanh}} started at 23:11, 5 October 2008
|area_code=01902
*{{la|Ole Hovelsen Mustad}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 22:40, 5 October 2008
|blank_name =[[ISO 3166-2:GB|ISO 3166-2]]
*{{la|Kristian Mauritz Mustad}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 22:17, 5 October 2008
|blank_info =GB-WLV
*{{la|Peter Munch Brager}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 22:14, 5 October 2008
|blank1_name =[[ONS coding system|ONS code]]
*{{la|Lars Kristiansen Blilie}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 22:07, 5 October 2008
|blank1_info =00CW
*{{la|Mathias Larsen Blilie}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 22:02, 5 October 2008
|blank2_name =[[British national grid reference system|OS grid reference]]
*{{la|Martin Adolf Andersen}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 21:51, 5 October 2008
|blank2_info ={{gbmappingsmall|SO915985}}
*{{la|Hans Laurits Olsen Hammerstad}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 21:47, 5 October 2008
|blank3_name =[[Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics|NUTS]] 3
*{{la|Ole Larsen Hammerstad}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 21:43, 5 October 2008
|blank3_info = UKG35
*{{la|Thomas Henrik Hammer}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 21:30, 5 October 2008
|website = http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk
*{{la|Martin Julius Halvorsen}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 21:23, 5 October 2008
|image_skyline= Wolverhampton.jpg
*{{la|Robert Hagelin}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 21:01, 5 October 2008
}}
*{{la|Marcelius Haga}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 20:55, 5 October 2008
'''Wolverhampton''' ({{Audio|en-uk-Wolverhampton.ogg|pronunciation}}) is a [[City status in the United Kingdom|city]] and [[metropolitan borough]] of the [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]], [[England]]. In 2004, the local government district had an estimated [[population]] of 239,100;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/government_democracy/statistics/statistics/population/mid_year_estimate.htm |title=Population figures |publisher=Wolverhampton City Council |accessdate=2007-07-08}}</ref> the wider Urban Area had a population of [[List of English cities by population|251,462]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/ssdataset.asp?vlnk=8271&Pos=2&ColRank=1&Rank=224 |title=KS01 Usual resident population: Census 2001, Key Statistics for urban areas |publisher=Office for National Statistics |accessdate=2007-07-08}}</ref> which makes it the 13th largest city in England.
*{{la|Aall (Norwegian family)}} by {{User|GWLov}} started at 20:40, 5 October 2008

*{{la|August Herman Halvorsen}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 20:38, 5 October 2008
[[Historic counties of England|Historically]] a part of [[Staffordshire]], and forming part of the metropolitan county of the [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]] from 1974, the city is commonly recognised as being named after [[Wulfrun|Lady Wulfruna]], who founded the town in 985: its name coming from Anglo-Saxon ''Wulfrūnehēantūn'' = "[[Wulfrun|Wulfrūn's]] high or principal enclosure or farm".<ref name=farley>{{cite web |url=http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/history/farley/oldwlv.htm |title=Wolverhampton 985 - 1985 |year=1985 |author=Keith Farley |publisher=Wolverhampton History & Heritage Society |accessdate=2007-07-08}}</ref> Alternatively, the city may have earned its original name from a local Danish leader who was called Wulfere.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/articles/HistoricalWalks/ArchitecturalWalk/Architectural2.htm |title=An Architectural Walk |author=Rudi Herbert |publisher=Wolverhampton History & Heritage Society |accessdate=2007-07-08}}</ref> Nevertheless, the name Wulfruna is commonly used in the city - for example, for the [http://www.thewulfrunshoppingcentre.co.uk/ Wulfrun Centre] or for [http://www.wolvescivic.co.uk/index.asp?loc=venues&venueid=2 Wulfrun Hall].
*{{la|Isak Halvorsen}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 20:30, 5 October 2008

*{{la|Von der Lippe (Norwegian family)}} by {{User|GWLov}} started at 20:30, 5 October 2008
The city's name is often abbreviated to "W'ton"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/blackcountry/content/image_galleries/wton_st_georges_06_gallery.shtml |title=In Pics: W'ton St George's Day |publisher=BBC Black Country |accessdate=2007-07-08}}</ref> or "Wolves".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wolvescivic.co.uk/index.asp?loc=home |title=Wolverhampton Civic Hall |accessdate=2007-07-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/blackcountry/content/articles/2005/09/04/wolverhampton_marathon_2005_feature.shtml |title=Wolverhampton Marathon 2005 |publisher=BBC Black Country |date=2005-10-17 |accessdate=2007-07-08}}</ref> The city council's motto is "Out of darkness, cometh light".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/listed/lowhill%20lib/lowhillib.htm |title=Low Hill Branch Library |publisher=Wolverhampton History & Heritage Society |accessdate=2007-07-08}}</ref> People from Wolverhampton are known as ''Wulfrunians''.
*{{la|Stoltenberg (Norwegian family)}} by {{User|GWLov}} started at 20:19, 5 October 2008

*{{la|Moss Arbeiderblad}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 20:18, 5 October 2008
The city grew initially as a [[market town]] with specialism within the [[wool|woollen trade]]. During and after the [[Industrial Revolution]], the city became a major industrial centre, with mining (mostly [[coal]], [[limestone]] and [[iron ore]]) as well as production of [[steel]], [[japanning]], [[Lock (device)|locks]], [[motorcycle]]s and [[Automobile|cars]] - including the first vehicle to hold the [[Land speed record]] at over 200mph. Today, the major industries within the city are both [[engineering]] based (including a large [[aerospace]] industry) and within the [[Tertiary sector of economic activity|service sector]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.citymayors.com/culture/historic_weurope2.html#Anchor-United-60133 |title=Historic Cities in Western Europe |publisher=City Mayors |accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref>
*{{la|Julius Christopher Hammer}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 19:59, 5 October 2008

*{{la|Hotel Continental, Oslo}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 18:07, 5 October 2008
== History ==
*{{la|Karl Hals}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 17:55, 5 October 2008
A local tradition states that King [[Wulfhere of Mercia]] founded an [[abbey]] of St Mary at Wolverhampton in 659. Proof of such an abbey has not been found to date.<ref>{{cite web |title=Anglicanism in Wolverhampton |url=http://www.wolverhamptonhistory.org.uk/people/faith/christian/cofe/index.html |publisher=Wolverhampton Archives and Local Studies |accessdate=2008-06-13}}</ref>
*{{la|Sjur Hansen Halkjeldsvik}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 17:14, 5 October 2008

*{{la|Per Hagen}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 17:12, 5 October 2008
Wolverhampton is recorded as being the site of a [[Battle of Tettenhall|decisive battle]] between the Saxons and Danes in 910, although sources are unclear as to whether the battle itself took place in [[Wednesfield]] or [[Tettenhall]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Battle of Tettenhall, Wednesfield, wherever |url=http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/news/2007/news01.htm |publisher=Wolverhampton History & Heritage Society |accessdate=2008-06-13}}</ref> The Saxons claimed a decisive victory and the field of Woden is recognised by numerous place names in Wednesfield.<ref>{{cite web |title= Wolverhampton City Council - Wodensfield School |publisher = Wolverhampton City Council |url=http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/education_learning/schools/list/primary/Wodensfield.htm |accessdate=2007-07-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= Wodensfield Tower |publisher = Skyscraper Page |url=http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=21576 |accessdate=2007-07-08}}</ref>
*{{la|Oluf Hansen Hagen}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 17:08, 5 October 2008

*{{la|Johan Leonard Hagen}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 17:06, 5 October 2008
[[Image:Lady wulfruna.jpg|right|thumb|Statue of Lady Wulfruna on western side of St. Peter's Collegiate Church.]]
*{{la|Jens Andersen Hagen}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 17:04, 5 October 2008
In 985, King [[Ethelred the Unready]] granted lands at a place referred to as ''Heantun'' to Lady Wulfruna by royal charter,<ref name="Wulfruna">{{cite web |title= Lady Wulfruna |publisher = Wolverhampton History and Heritage Society |url=http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/articles/wulfruna/wulfruna01.htm |accessdate=2008-06-13}}</ref> and hence founding the settlement.
*{{la|Axel Otto Kristian Hagemann}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 17:01, 5 October 2008

*{{la|Hans Jensen Haga}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 16:59, 5 October 2008
In 994, a [[monastery]] was consecrated in Wolverhampton for which Wulfruna granted land at [[Upper Arley]] in Worcestershire, [[Bilston]], [[Willenhall]], [[Wednesfield]], [[Pelsall]], [[Ogley Hay]] near [[Brownhills]], Hilton near [[Wall, Staffordshire|Wall]], [[Hatherton, Staffordshire|Hatherton]], [[Kinvaston]], Hilton near Wolverhampton, and [[Featherstone, Staffordshire|Featherstone]].<ref name="Wulfruna"/> This became the site for the current [[St. Peter's Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton|St. Peter's Church]].<ref name="WHHS">{{cite web |title= History of Wolverhampton |publisher = Wolverhampton History and Heritage Society |url=http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/history/farley/oldwlv.htm |accessdate=2008-06-13}}</ref> A statue of Lady Wulfruna, sculpted by Sir Charles Wheeler, can be seen on the stairs outside the church.<ref name="Wulfruna"/>
*{{la|Hans Olsen Hafsrød}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 16:53, 5 October 2008

*{{la|Hans Peder Johansen Hafslund}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 16:51, 5 October 2008
In 1179, there is mention of a market held in the town, and in 1204 it had come to the attention of [[John of England|King John]] that the town did not possess a Royal Charter for holding a market. This charter for a weekly market held on a Wednesday was eventually granted on [[4 February]] [[1258]] by [[Henry III of England|Henry III]].<ref name="WHHS"/>
*{{la|Nic. Nilsen}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 15:05, 5 October 2008

*{{la|Storfjord (fjord)}} by {{User|Mondeo}} started at 13:28, 5 October 2008
It is held that in the 14th and 15th centuries that Wolverhampton was one of the "staple towns" of the woollen trade,<ref name="WHHS"/> which today can be seen by the inclusion of a woolpack on the city's coat of arms,<ref name="Coat of arms"/> and by the many small streets, especially in the city centre, called "Fold" (examples being Blossom's Fold, Farmers Fold, Townwell Fold and Victoria Fold), as well as Woolpack Street and Woolpack Alley.<ref name="WHHS"/>
*{{la|IF Sturla}} by {{User|Punkmorten}} started at 13:18, 5 October 2008

*{{la|Espegrend}} by {{User|Turbonilla}} started at 11:22, 5 October 2008
In 1512, Sir [[Stephen Jenyns]], a former [[Lord Mayor of the City of London|Lord Mayor of London]] and a twice Master of the [[Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors]], who was born in the city, founded [[Wolverhampton Grammar School]], one of the oldest active schools in Britain.<ref>{{cite web |title= Wolverhampton Grammar School |publisher = Wolverhampton Grammar School |url=http://www.wolverhamptongrammarschool.com/pages/prospective/history.aspx |accessdate=2008-06-16}}</ref>
*{{la|J.W. Cappelens Forlag}} by {{User|GWLov}} started at 02:48, 5 October 2008

*{{la|Cappelen (family)}} by {{User|GWLov}} started at 02:27, 5 October 2008
Wolverhampton suffered two Great Fires: the first in April 1590, and the second in September 1696. Both fires started in today's Salop Street. The first fire lasted for five days and left nearly 700 people homeless, whilst the second destroyed 60 homes in the first five hours. This second fire led to the purchase of the first [[fire engine]] within the city in September 1703.<ref name="WHHS"/>
*{{la|Wedel-Jarlsberg}} by {{User|GWLov}} started at 02:15, 5 October 2008

*{{la|Løvenskiold}} by {{User|GWLov}} started at 02:11, 5 October 2008
From the 16th century onwards, Wolverhampton became home to a number of metal industries including lock and [[Key (lock)|key]] making and iron and [[brass]] working. In January 1606, two farmers, Thomas Smart and John Holyhead of [[Rowley Regis]], were hanged in High Green, now Queen Square, for sheltering some of the [[Gunpowder Plot]]ters who had fled to the Midlands. The pair played no part in the original plot but nevertheless suffered the traitor's death of being [[hanged, drawn and quartered]] on butcher's blocks set up in the square a few days before the execution of [[Guy Fawkes]] and several other plotters in London.<ref name="WHHS"/>
*{{la|Tangstad}} by {{User|Sture Angelsen}} started at 18:47, 4 October 2008

*{{la|Andreas Hoivold}} by {{User|TheRatedRKOLegendKiller}} started at 18:34, 4 October 2008
In [[Victorian era|Victorian times]], Wolverhampton grew to be a wealthy town mainly due to the huge amount of industry that occurred as a result of the abundance of coal and iron deposits in the area. The remains of this wealth can be seen in local houses such as [[Wightwick Manor]] and The Mount (both built for the [[Mander family]], prominent varnish and paint manufacturers), and Tettenhall Towers. Many other houses of similar stature were built only to be demolished in the 1960s and 1970s.
*{{la|Brynhild Berge}} by {{User|Doma-w}} started at 00:35, 4 October 2008

*{{la|Ragnhild Larsen}} by {{User|Doma-w}} started at 00:20, 4 October 2008
In the 19th century the city saw much immigration from [[Wales]] and [[Ireland]], following the Irish Potato Famine. Wolverhampton is home to a large proportion of the Sikh community, who settled there during the period (1940-1970) from the [[India]]n state of [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]]. Today, the Sikh community in Wolverhampton is roughly 8% of the city's population.

Wolverhampton gained its first parliamentary representation as part of the [[Reform Act 1832]], when it was one of 22 large towns that were allocated two [[Members of Parliament]]. It was incorporated as a [[municipal borough]] in 15th March 1848 under the [[Municipal Corporations Act 1835]] before becoming a [[County Borough]] in 1889..<ref name="woodfield">{{cite web |url=http://johnwoodfield.co.uk/oldwlv.htm |title=A History of Wolverhampton 985-1985|publisher=John Woodfield |accessdate=2008-06-26}}</ref> The [[United Kingdom]] government announced on [[December 18]], [[2000]] that Wolverhampton would be granted [[City status in the United Kingdom|city status]], making it one of three "Millennium Cities",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1074434.stm |title=City winners named |publisher=BBC News |date=2000-12-18 |accessdate=2007-07-08}}</ref> an honour that had been unsuccessfully applied for in 1953, 1966, 1977<ref name="citystatus">{{cite book |author=J.V. Beckett |title=City Status in the British Isles, 1830-2002 |year=2006 |publisher=Ashgate Publishing |ISBN=978-0754650676}}</ref>, 1985<ref>{{citation|title=The town determined to join the city life|newspaper=[[The Times]]|year = 1985 |date=[[1985-01-23]]|author=|page=12}}</ref> and 1992.<ref name="citystatus"/> Wolverhampton also made an unsuccessful application for a Lord Mayor in 2002.<ref name="citystatus"/>

In 1866, a statue was erected in memory of [[Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha|Prince Albert]], the unveiling of which brought [[Victoria of the United Kingdom|Queen Victoria]] to Wolverhampton.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wolverhamptonarchives.dial.pipex.com/local_queen.htm |title=Queen Victoria's Visit to Wolverhampton |publisher=Wolverhampton Archives & Local Studies |accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref> The unveiling of the statue was the first public appearance Queen Victoria had made since the funeral of her husband the Prince Consort. A {{convert|40|ft|m|0|adj=on|lk=on}} tall archway made of coal was constructed for the visit. The Queen was so pleased with the statue that she knighted the then-mayor, an industrialist named [[John Morris (industrialist)|John Morris]]. Market Square, originally named High Green, was renamed Queen Square in honour of the visit. The statue replaced a Russian cannon captured from [[Sevastopol]] during the [[Crimean War]] in 1855,<ref name="woodfield"/> and remains standing in Queen Square.

The railways reached Wolverhampton in 1837, with the first station located at [[Wednesfield Heath railway station|Wednesfield Heath]], now Heath Town on the [[Grand Junction Railway]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.virgintrainsmediaroom.com/media/adobepdf/3%20Grand%20Junction%20D.pdf |title=The first trunk line - The Grand Junction Railway |publisher=Virgin Trains |accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref> This station was demolished in 1965, but the area exists as a nature reserve just off Powell Street.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/articles/railways/heath%20town.htm |title=Heath Town Station |publisher=Wolverhampton History and Heritage Society |accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref> [[Wolverhampton railway works|Wolverhampton Railway Works]] was established in 1849 for the [[Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railway]] and became the Northern Division workshop of the [[Great Western Railway]] in 1854.<ref name="manufacturing">{{cite web |url=http://johnwoodfield.co.uk/wlvmanuf.htm |title=A History of Manufacturing in Wolverhampton |publisher=John Woodfield |accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref>

[[Wolverhampton railway station|Wolverhampton High Level station]] (the current main railway station) opened in 1852, but the original station was demolished in 1965 and then rebuilt.<ref name="highlevelstation">{{cite web |url=http://www.railaroundbirmingham.co.uk/Stations/wolverhampton.php |title=Wolverhampton Station |publisher=Rail around Birmingham and the West Midlands |accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref> [[Wolverhampton Low Level railway station|Wolverhampton Low Level station]] opened on the Great Western Railway in 1855. The site of the Low Level station, which closed to passengers in 1972 and completely in 1981, is currently undergoing redevelopment.<ref name="lowlevelstation">{{cite web |url=http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/w/wolverhampton_low_level/index.shtml |title=Wolverhampton Low Level |publisher=Disused Stations |accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref> [[Wolverhampton St George's tram stop|Wolverhampton St George's]] (in the city centre) is now the northern terminus for the [[Midland Metro]] light rail system. Wolverhampton was one of the few towns to operate surface contact trams and the only town to use the Lorain Surface Contact System.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/articles/Trams/Trams.htm |title=Trams in Wolverhampton |publisher=Wolverhampton History and Heritage Society |accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref> [[Trolleybus]]es appeared in 1923 and in 1930 for a brief period, Wolverhampton was the world's largest trolleybus system.<ref>{{cite book |author=Graham Sidwell |title=Wolverhampton Trolleybuses 1961-67 |year=2006 |publisher=Middleton Press |ISBN=978-1-904474-85-2}}</ref> The last trolleybus ran in 1967, just as the railway line through the High Level station was converted to electric operation.

[[Image:Wolverhampton Princes Square.JPG|left|thumb|Location of the UK's first set of traffic lights at ''Princes Square'': the poles are painted with black and white bands as they were originally.]]
England's first automatic [[traffic light]]s could be seen in Princes Square, Wolverhampton in 1927.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/transport_streets/motor/management/control.htm |title=Traffic Control and Traffic Signals |publisher=Wolverhampton City Council |accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref> The modern traffic lights at this location have the traditional striped poles to commemorate this fact.

In 1918, [[David Lloyd George]], the British Prime Minister, announced he was calling a [[General Election]] at "The Mount" in [[Tettenhall Wood]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/genealogy/Mander/history/ManderFamilyHistory.htm |title=Mander Family History |publisher=Wolverhampton History and Heritage Society |accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref> Lloyd George also made his "Homes fit for heroes" speech at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre in the same year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/blackcountry/uncovered/wolves_wander/wolverhampton_wander2.shtml |title=A Wolverhampton Wander |publisher=BBC Black Country |accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref> It was on the idea of "Homes fit for heroes" that Lloyd George was to fight the [[United Kingdom general election, 1918|1918 "Coupon" General Election]].

Wolverhampton was represented [[politics|politically]] in Victorian times by the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] [[Member of Parliament|MP]] [[Charles Pelham Villiers]], a noted [[free trade]] supporter, who was also the longest serving MP in parliamentary history. [[Henry Fowler, 1st Viscount Wolverhampton|Lord Wolverhampton, Henry Hartley Fowler]] was MP for Wolverhampton at the turn of the century. [[Geoffrey Mander|Sir Geoffrey Le Mesurier Mander]], a member of the [[Mander family]], was Liberal MP for [[Wolverhampton East (UK Parliament constituency)|Wolverhampton East]] from 1929 to 1945, distinguished for his stance against [[Appeasement]] and as a supporter of the [[League of Nations]]; known as "the last of the Midland radicals". More recent members have included the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] mavericks [[Enoch Powell]] and [[Nicholas Budgen]]. In 2005, former [[Bilston]] councillor and MP for [[Wolverhampton South East (UK Parliament constituency)|Wolverhampton South East]], [[Dennis Turner, Baron Bilston|Dennis Turner]] entered the House of Lords as Lord Turner of Bilston.

==Geography==
Wolverhampton lies northwest of its larger near-neighbour [[Birmingham]], and forms the second largest part of the [[West Midlands conurbation]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/census2001/ks_urban_midlands_part_1.pdf |title= Key Statistics for Urban Areas in the Midlands |publisher=Office for National Statistics |accessdate=2008-07-02}}</ref> To the north and west lies the [[Staffordshire]] and [[Shropshire]] countryside.
{{climate chart
|Wolverhampton
|1|6.5|63
|1|6.9|44
|2.5|9.5|51
|3.5|12|49
|6.2|15.7|53
|8.9|18.4|59
|11.1|21.1|47
|10.9|20.8|58
|9|17.5|64
|6.4|13.5|61
|3.3|9.5|62
|1.8|7.4|67
|source={{cite web|url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/sites/penkridge.html|publisher=Met Office|year=|title=Averages 1971-2000}}
|float=right
}}

Wolverhampton city centre falls outside of the area traditionally known as the [[Black Country]], although some districts such as Bilston and Heath Town fall within the Black Country [[coalfield]]s, leading to confusion as to whether the entire city falls within the region. Modern usage has tended towards using the term to refer to the western part of the [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands county]], excluding [[Birmingham]], [[Metropolitan Borough of Solihull|Solihull]] and [[Coventry]]. Examples would be UK Government regional bodies such as the [[Black Country Development Corporation]], under whose remit the city fell.

The city lies upon the [[Midlands Plateau]] at approximately {{convert|120|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} above sea level.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.com/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070423/debtext/70423-0011.htm |title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 23 Apr 2007 |publisher=United Kingdom Parliament |accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref> There are no major rivers within the city, although the [[River Penk]] and [[River Tame, West Midlands|River Tame]] (tributaries of the [[River Trent]]) rise in the city, as does Smestow Brook, a tributary of the [[River Stour, Worcestershire|River Stour]], and thence the [[River Severn]]. This means that the city lies astride one of the major [[drainage divide]]s of England.

The geology of the city is complex, with a combination of [[Triassic]] and [[Carboniferous]] geology; specifically [[Bunter (geology)|Bunter]] and [[Keuper]] [[sandstone]], and Upper and Middle [[Coal measure]]s. There is also an area of [[Diabase|dolerite]] deposits.<ref>{{cite book |author=The West Midland Group |title=Conurbation: A Survey of Birmingham and the Black Country |page=41 |year=1948 |publisher=The Architectural Press |location=London}}</ref>

===Climate===
Wolverhampton's climate is quite temperate with average maximum temperatures in July being around {{convert|21|°C|°F|0}} with the minimum daytime temperature in January being around {{convert|6.5|°C|°F}}.

The [[Met Office|Met Office's]] nearest observation station is at [[Penkridge]], about {{convert|5|mi|km|0}} north of the city.

===Areas of the city===
Localities in the City of Wolverhampton include:
{{col-begin}}
{{col-5}}
{|cellspacing=10
|valign=top|
*[[Aldersley]]
*[[All Saints, Wolverhampton|All Saints]]
*[[Ashmore Park]]
*[[Bilston]] †
*[[Blakenhall]]
*[[Bradley, West Midlands|Bradley]]
*[[Bradmore, West Midlands|Bradmore]]
*[[Bushbury]]
*[[Castlecroft]]
{{col-break}}
*[[Chapel Ash]]
*[[Claregate]]
*[[Compton, Wolverhampton|Compton]]
*[[Coseley]] †
*[[Dunstall Hill]]
*[[Ettingshall]]
*[[Fallings Park]]
*[[Finchfield]]
*[[Fordhouses]]
{{col-break}}
*[[Goldthorn Park]]
*[[Graiseley]]
*[[Heath Town]]
*[[Lanesfield]]
*[[Lower Penn]] ††
*[[Low Hill]]
*[[Merridale]]
*[[Merry Hill, Wolverhampton|Merry Hill]]
*[[Monmore Green]]
{{col-break}}
*[[Newbridge, Wolverhampton|Newbridge]]
*[[Old Fallings]]
*[[Oxley, Wolverhampton|Oxley]]
*[[Park Village]]
*[[Pendeford]]
*[[Penn, West Midlands|Penn]]
*[[Penn Fields]]
*[[Portobello, West Midlands|Portobello]]
*[[Perton]] ††
{{col-break}}
*[[Sedgley]] †
*[[Tettenhall]]
*[[Tettenhall Wood]]
*[[Wednesfield]] †
*[[Warstones]]
*[[Whitmore Reans]]
*[[Wightwick]]
*[[Willenhall]] †
*[[Wood End, Wolverhampton|Wood End]]
{{col-end}}

; '''Notes''' :†&ndash;Partial Urban Districts added to Wolverhampton County Borough in 1966. These Urban Districts were split between Wolverhampton and other County Boroughs. Those parts within the present City of Wolverhampton local authority area are considered by the ONS to be part of the Wolverhampton Urban Sub-Area.
:††&ndash;Areas within the Wolverhampton Urban Sub-Area but administered by [[South Staffordshire]] District Council.

===Nearby places===
;Cities
{{flatlist}}
*[[Birmingham]]
*[[Coventry]]
*[[Lichfield]]
*[[Stoke on Trent]]
*[[Worcester, England|Worcester]]
{{endflatlist}}

;Towns
{{flatlist}}
*[[Bridgnorth]]
*[[Cannock]]
*[[Dudley]]
*[[Newport, Shropshire|Newport]]
*[[Kidderminster]]
*[[Kingswinford]]
*[[Sedgley]]
*[[Stafford]]
*[[Stourbridge]]
*[[Telford]]
*[[Tipton]]
*[[Walsall]]
*[[Wednesbury]]
*[[West Bromwich]]
{{endflatlist}}

;Commuter villages
{{flatlist}}
*[[Albrighton]]
*[[Bilbrook, Staffordshire|Bilbrook]]
*[[Brewood]]
*[[Cheslyn Hay]]
*[[Codsall]]
*[[Essington]]
*[[Featherstone, Staffordshire|Featherstone]]
*[[Pattingham]]
*[[Penkridge]]
*[[Tong, Shropshire|Tong]]
*[[Weston-under-Lizard]]
*[[Wheaton Aston]]
*[[Wombourne]]
{{endflatlist}}

''See also'': The [[Black Country]].

==Governance==
The vast majority of Wolverhampton is governed locally by Wolverhampton City Council, although some small areas are governed by [[South Staffordshire]] District Council.

The area administered by the City Council is represented in the national United Kingdom parliament by three MPs representing [[Wolverhampton South West (UK Parliament constituency)|Wolverhampton South West]], [[Wolverhampton South East (UK Parliament constituency)|Wolverhampton South East]] and [[Wolverhampton North East (UK Parliament constituency)|Wolverhampton North East]] constituencies, with the areas administered by South Staffordshire District Council being represented by [[South Staffordshire (UK Parliament constituency)|South Staffordshire constituency]]. The entire city is part of the [[West Midlands (European Parliament constituency)|West Midlands constituency]] of the European Parliament.

Since the abolition of [[West Midlands County Council]] in 1986, Wolverhampton City Council has been effectively a [[unitary authority]]. South Staffordshire District Council is a two-tier authority, with some services provided by [[Staffordshire|Staffordshire County Council]].

===Civic history===
Wolverhampton gained the beginnings of modern local government in 1777, when the Wolverhampton Improvement Act was passed by Parliament. This allowed for the establishment of 125 Town Commissioners who undertook a variety of local improvement work such as punishing bear baiting, improving drainage, widening streets and by the end of the century street lighting had been provided in the at every street corner and over the doorway of every inn, and water supply had been improved by the sinking of ten new wells and the provision of a great water tank in the market place. Policing had been improved with the appointment of ten watchmen and attempts were also made to regulate the markets and inspect hazardous food.<ref name=farley/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wolverhamptonhistory.org.uk/politics/local_government/wolves/index.html?sid=14003c39a8d30c9d4326cdaba02d54e8 |title=Local Government in Wolverhampton |work=The History of Wolverhampton - The City and its People |year=2005 |accessdate=2007-07-15}}</ref>

[[Wolverhampton (UK Parliament constituency)|Wolverhampton parliamentary borough]] was created by the [[Reform Act 1832]], which included areas currently located with the Metropolitan Boroughs of [[Metropolitan Borough of Dudley|Dudley]], [[Metropolitan Borough of Walsall|Walsall]] and [[Sandwell]] such as [[Wren's Nest]], [[New Invention, Walsall|New Invention]] and [[Sedgley|Gornal]]. It was one of 22 large towns that returned two Members of Parliament. Under the [[Redistribution of Seats Act 1885]], the original borough was replaced by three new single-member constituencies: [[Wolverhampton East (UK Parliament constituency)|Wolverhampton East]], [[Wolverhampton South (UK Parliament constituency)|Wolverhampton South]] and [[Wolverhampton West (UK Parliament constituency)|Wolverhampton West]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wolverhamptonarchives.dial.pipex.com/local_govern_2.htm |title=Local government in and around Wolverhampton |publisher=Wolverhampton Archives and Local Studies |accessdate=2008-07-23}}</ref>

In 1837, [[Wolverhampton Borough Police]] was formed. It was disestablished in 1966,and the larger [[West Midlands Constabulary]], which covered not only Wolverhampton but the County Boroughs of [[Walsall]], [[Dudley]], [[West Bromwich]] and [[County Borough of Warley|Warley]] took over its duties and was headquartered in the city. This force was then replaced in 1974 with the West Midlands Police.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.westmidlandspolicemuseum.co.uk/wolverhamptonboroughpolice.htm |title=Wolverhampton Borough Police |publisher=West Midlands Police Museum |accessdate=2008-07-23}}</ref>

Wolverhampton was incorporated as a [[municipal borough]] in 1849 under the [[Municipal Corporations Act 1835]].<ref name=StaffsArchive>{{cite web |url=http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/leisure/archives/onlinegazetteer/Administrative+Units+-+Wolverhampton+(township).htm |title=Archive Gazetter - Wolverhampton |publisher=Staffordshire County Archives |accessdate=2008-07-23}}</ref> The town was then made a [[County Borough]] in 1889 under the [[Local Government Act 1888]].<ref name=StaffsArchive/>

In 1933, the boundaries of the borough expanded, taking in areas from [[Cannock Rural District]] and [[Seisdon Rural District]], with very little of the surrounding urban area being affected,<ref name=avob>{{cite web |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10136544&c_id=10001043 |title=Relationships / unit history of WOLVERHAMPTON |publisher=A Vision of Britain |accessdate=2007-07-15}}</ref> with only [[Heath Town]] Urban District being abolished.

The bulk of the formerly independent [[urban district]]s of Bilston (a borough itself after 1933), [[Tettenhall]] and [[Wednesfield]] were added to the borough in 1966, along with part of the urban district of [[Coseley]] and small parts from [[Sedgley]] and [[Willenhall]].<ref name=avob/>

Wolverhampton was one of only two County Boroughs (the other being [[Liverpool]]) to have no changes made to the boundary during the [[Local Government Act 1972|1974 reorganisation of local government]], the borough already having a population larger than the 250,000 required for education authorities. This contrasted with both the [[Redcliffe-Maud Report]], and the initial White Paper for the 1974 reforms<ref name=white_paper>HMSO. ''Local Government in England: Government Proposals for Reorganisation''. Cmnd. 4584</ref> where large areas of the present [[South Staffordshire]] district were to be added to the borough. During the 1974 reforms it was placed within the [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands Metropolitan County]].

Wolverhampton was also a [[Royal Peculiar]] covering a large area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stpetersguild.org.uk/thechurch.htm |title=The Church |publisher=St. Peter's Guild of Change Ringers|accessdate=2008-07-23}}</ref>

===Wolverhampton City Council===
The council offices are located in the Civic Centre, which is located in St. Peter's Square in the city centre.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wolverhampton City Council: Contact Us |publisher=Wolverhampton City Council |url=http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/Contact_us/ |accessdate=2008-05-29}}</ref>

No political party currently has a majority on the City Council, and it is currently controlled by a [[coalition]] between the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] and the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat Party]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Lib Dems and Tories agree city pact |publisher=''[[Express & Star]]'' |url=http://www.expressandstar.com/2008/05/08/lib-dems-and-tories-agree-city-pact/ |accessdate=2008-05-29 }}</ref> The [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] have been in majority on the council since 1974, with the exceptions of 1978-1979, 1987, 1992-1994 and 2008-2010.<ref name="council stats">{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/elections/local_council/08/html/cw.stm |author= |title=Wolverhampton City Council local elections 2008 |publisher=BBC Online |date=2008-05-02 |accessdate=2008-05-29}}</ref>

Councillor Christine Mills is [[Mayor]] of Wolverhampton for 2007-08.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Mayor of Wolverhampton |author= Wolverhampton City Council |publisher=Wolverhampton City Council |url=http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/government_democracy/council/mayors/ |accessdate=2008-04-10 }}</ref>

Wolverhampton City Council was assessed by the [[Audit Commission]] and judged to be "improving well" in providing services for local people; this rating was given to 59% of local authorities. Overall, the council was awarded "three star" status meaning it was "performing well" and "consistently above minimum requirements", similar to 46% of all local authorities. It was noted that it was rated as "good" for children's and young people's services; whilst the Supporting People programme was judged to be "poor".<ref>{{cite web |title=Wolverhampton City Council comprehensive performance assessment (CPA) scorecard 2007 |publisher=[[Audit Commission]] |url=http://cpa.audit-commission.gov.uk/STCCScorecard.aspx?TaxID=107108 |date=2007 |accessdate=2008-05-29 }}</ref>

The Vision Statement for the council is "Wolverhampton City Council, Leading, Supporting and Inspiring our City. Proud to be of service today and rising to the challenges of tomorrow."<ref>{{cite web |title=Council vision |publisher=Wolverhampton City Council |url=http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/government_democracy/council/vision.htm |accessdate=2008-05-29 }}</ref>

{| cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" border="1"
|+'''[[Party political]] make-up of Wolverhampton City Council'''
! style="background:#ccc" rowspan="2" | &nbsp;&nbsp;
! style="background:#ccc" rowspan="2" | Party
! style="background:#ccc" colspan="2" | Seats<ref>[http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/government_democracy/elections/local/2008/results Wolverhampton City Council 2008 election results]</ref>
! style="background:#ccc" colspan="60" rowspan="2" | Current Council (2008&ndash;09)
|-
! style="background:#ccc" | 2007
! style="background:#ccc" | 2008
|-
| style="background:#c00" | &nbsp;
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| style="text-align: right" | ''36''
| style="text-align: right" | ''28''
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| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| style="text-align: right" | ''21''
| style="text-align: right" | ''27''
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| [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Lib Dems]]
| style="text-align: right" | ''4''
| style="text-align: right" | ''5''
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| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
| style="text-align: right" | ''1''
| style="text-align: right" | ''0''
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====Wards====
There are 20 [[Ward (politics)|wards]] of Wolverhampton City Council:
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%;width:70%;border:0px;text-align:left;line-height:150%;"
! style="background: #99CCCC; color: #000080" height="17" width="50" | Ward name
! style="background: #99CCCC; color: #000080" height="17" width="50" | Area ([[hectare|ha]])/[[square mile|mi<sup>2</sup>]]
! style="background: #99CCCC; color: #000080" height="17" width="50" | Population
! style="background: #99CCCC; color: #000080" height="17" width="50" | Population density (people per hectare)
! class="unsortable" style="background: #99CCCC; color: #000080" height="17" width="10" | Ref.
|-
| '''[[Bilston East]]'''
| {{convert|384|ha|sqmi}} || 10,741 || 27.97
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Bilston East ward dataset - Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941021&c=WV14+8UP&d=14&e=13&g=377829&i=1x1003x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1212572950984&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref>
|-
| '''[[Bilston North]]'''
| {{convert|290|ha|sqmi}} || 13,527 || 46.58
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Bilston North ward dataset - Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941020&c=Bilston+North&d=14&e=16&g=377865&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212573477109&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref>
|-
| '''[[Blakenhall]]'''
| {{convert|342|ha|sqmi}} || 11,301 || 33.09
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Blakenhall ward dataset - Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941019&c=Blakenhall&d=14&e=16&g=377908&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212573682312&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref>
|-
| '''[[Bushbury North]]'''
| {{convert|481|ha|sqmi}} || 12,021 || 25.00
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Bushbury North ward dataset - Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941018&c=bushbury+north&d=14&e=16&g=377941&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212573842265&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref>
|-
| '''[[Bushbury South and Low Hill]]'''
| {{convert|342|ha|sqmi}} || 14,103 || 41.24
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Bushbury South and Low Hill ward dataset - Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941017&c=bushbury+south&d=14&e=16&g=377943&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212580542588&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref>
|-
| '''[[East Park, Wolverhampton|East Park]]'''
| {{convert|342|ha|sqmi}} || 10,452 || 30.59
| <ref>{{cite web |title=East Park ward dataset - Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941016&c=east+park&d=14&e=16&g=377870&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212580814053&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref>
|-
| '''[[Ettingshall]]'''
| {{convert|417|ha|sqmi}} || 10,839 || 26.00
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Ettingshall ward dataset - Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941015&c=ettingshall&d=14&e=16&g=378012&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212590354593&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref>
|-
| '''[[Fallings Park]]'''
| {{convert|244|ha|sqmi}} || 10,996 || 45.13
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Fallings Park ward dataset - Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941014&c=fallings+park&d=14&e=16&g=378048&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212590453156&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref>
|-
| '''[[Graiseley]]'''
| {{convert|225|ha|sqmi}} || 11,691 || 52.07
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Graiseley ward dataset - Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941013&c=Graiseley&d=14&e=16&g=378083&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212590674750&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref>
|-
| '''[[Heath Town]]'''
| {{convert|270|ha|sqmi}} || 10,876 || 40.29
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Heath Town ward dataset - Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941012&c=heath+town&d=14&e=16&g=378123&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212590802265&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref>
|-
| '''[[Merry Hill, Wolverhampton|Merry Hill]]'''
| {{convert|246|ha|sqmi}} || 11,893 || 48.36
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Merry Hill ward dataset - Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941011&c=merry+hill&d=14&e=16&g=378199&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212590910375&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref>
|-
| '''[[Oxley, Wolverhampton|Oxley]]'''
| {{convert|421|ha|sqmi}} || 12,848 || 30.54
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Oxley ward dataset - Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941010&c=oxley&d=14&e=16&g=378240&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212593716591&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref>
|-
| '''[[Park ward, Wolverhampton|Park]]'''
| {{convert|385|ha|sqmi}} || 12,844 || 33.37
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Park ward dataset - Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941009&c=park&d=14&e=16&g=378282&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212593951385&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref>
|-
| '''[[Penn, West Midlands|Penn]]'''
| {{convert|308|ha|sqmi}} || 12,392 || 40.19
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Penn ward dataset - Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941008&c=penn&d=14&e=16&g=378328&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212594092774&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref>
|-
| '''[[St Peter's ward, Wolverhampton|St Peter's]]'''
| {{convert|496|ha|sqmi}} || 14,472 || 29.18
| <ref>{{cite web |title=St. Peter's ward dataset - Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941007&c=WV1+1SH&d=14&e=16&g=378394&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1212594345099&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref>
|-
| '''[[Spring Vale]]'''
| {{convert|327|ha|sqmi}} || 12,588 || 38.45
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Spring Vale ward dataset - Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941006&c=spring+vale&d=14&e=16&g=378411&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212594473519&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref>
|-
| '''[[Tettenhall Regis]]'''
| {{convert|457|ha|sqmi}} || 12,000 || 26.24
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Tettenhall Regis ward dataset - Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941005&c=tettenhall+regis&d=14&e=16&g=378451&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212594569893&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref>
|-
| '''[[Tettenhall Wightwick]]'''
| {{convert|436|ha|sqmi}} || 10,832 || 24.83
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Tettenhall Wightwick ward dataset - Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941004&c=tettenhall+Wightwick&d=14&e=16&g=378287&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212594654657&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref>
|-
| '''[[Wednesfield North]]'''
| {{convert|210|ha|sqmi}} || 10,978 || 52.22
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Wednesfield North ward dataset - Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941003&c=wednesfield+north&d=14&e=16&g=378529&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212594757547&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref>
|-
| '''[[Wednesfield South]]'''
| {{convert|437|ha|sqmi}} || 11,195 || 25.62
| <ref>{{cite web |title=Wednesfield South ward dataset - Population Density (UV02) |publisher=Office for National Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=5941002&c=wednesfield+south&d=14&e=16&g=378127&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1212598588197&enc=1&dsFamilyId=789 |accessdate=2008-05-04}}</ref>
|-
| '''Wolverhampton City Council area'''
| {{convert|6944|ha|sqmi}} || 236,582 || 34.07
|
|-
|}

A map showing the ward boundaries is available [http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/2D475038-2A79-4A18-B20A-0CD2EC72C816/0/wards.pdf here].

====Coat of arms====
[[Image:Wolvarms.PNG|150px|right|The coat of arms of Wolverhampton City Council]]
The coat of arms of Wolverhampton City Council was granted on [[31 December]] [[1898]], on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the council. Prior to this date, there was a former coat of arms in use since 1848, though these arms were never officially granted.<ref name="Coat of arms">{{cite web |title=Wolverhampton Coat of Arms - Wolverhampton History |url=http://www.wolverhamptonhistory.org.uk/politics/local_government/wolves/coat_arms/index.html?sid=d988a0dcd52acacef8612d4e5f01f4e6 |publisher=Wolverhampton City Council |accessdate=2008-06-11}}</ref>

The various symbols within the arms are representative of the history of the city. The book represents the education within the city, specifically the 16th century [[Wolverhampton Grammar School]];<ref name="Coat of arms"/> the woolpack represents the mediaeval woollen trade within the city;<ref name="Coat of arms"/> the column is a representation of the [[Anglo-Saxon|Saxon]] pillar that can be found within the churchyard of [[St. Peter's Collegiate Church]] in the city centre;<ref name="Coat of arms"/> whilst the keys are representative of the church itself and its dedication to St. Peter.<ref name="Coat of arms"/> The padlock represents one of the major industries of the area at the time of the granting of the arms - that of lock-making;<ref name="Coat of arms"/> whilst the brazier at the top is indicative of the general metal-working industries in the area.<ref name="Coat of arms"/> The cross is ascribed to [[Edgar the Peaceful|King Edgar]].<ref name="Coat of arms"/>

The motto on the coat of arms is 'Out of Darkness Cometh Light'.<ref name="Coat of arms"/>

==Demographics==
{| class="wikitable" align="left" style="font-size:90%;"
! Ethnicity
! Percentage of <Br>population<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/B7F27247-10C2-49C5-9DEA-0EF60B2C1DEB/0/keystats_ethnicity.pdf |title=ETHNICITY |publisher=Wolverhampton City Council |format=pdf |accessdate=2007-07-15}}</ref>
|-
| '''White'''
|-
| British
| 75.4%
|-
| Irish
| 1.0%
|-
| Other White
| 1.4%
|-
| '''Mixed'''
|-
| White and Black Caribbean
| 1.8%
|-
| White and Black African
| 0.1%
|-
| White and Asian
| 0.5%
|-
| Other mixed
| 0.4%
|-
| '''Asian or Asian British'''
|-
| Indian
| 12.3%
|-
| Pakistani
| 1.2%
|-
| Bangladeshi
| 0.1%
|-
| Other Asian
| 0.7%
|-
| '''Black or Black British'''
|-
| Black Caribbean
| 3.9%
|-
| Black African
| 0.3%
|-
| Other Black
| 0.5%
|-
| '''Chinese or other'''
|-
| Chinese
| 0.4%
|-
| Other Ethnicity
| 0.2%
|}
{| class="wikitable" align="right" style="font-size:90%;"
! Religion
! Percentage of <Br>population<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/17514114-1BA1-4E19-9EE8-07999414C944/0/keystats_religion.pdf |title=RELIGION |publisher=Wolverhampton City Council |format=pdf |accessdate=2007-07-15}}</ref>
|-
| [[Christianity|Christian]]
| 66.5%
|-
| No religion
| 11.4%
|-
| Not stated
| 8.4%
|-
| [[Sikhism|Sikh]]
| 7.6%
|-
| [[Hinduism|Hindu]]
| 3.9%
|-
| [[Islam|Muslim]]
| 1.7%
|-
| [[Buddhism|Buddhist]]
| 0.3%
|-
| [[Judaism|Jewish]]
| less than 0.1%
|-
| Other
| 0.2%
|}

The [[United Kingdom Census 2001|2001 Census]] gives the Wolverhampton urban sub-area as the second largest in the [[West Midlands conurbation]]. The figure given for Wolverhampton is 251,462 which also includes areas outside the borough (236,582). By this reckoning it is the 13th largest city in England.

Wolverhampton has a relatively old population, with the proportion of the population aged 60 and over being larger than the proportion of children aged 15 or under. The proportion of young people in the city has decreased between the [[United Kingdom Census 1991|1991 Census]] and the 2001 Census by 7.4%, compared with an England and Wales average increase of 1.7%. The proportion of females within the city (51%) is slightly higher than that of males (49%).

Of adults aged over 16, 31.3% were single, 43.4% were married for the first time, 7.7% divorced and 9.6% were widowed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/BE7BAD9A-265D-4D15-9CC0-AA146F0FEA87/0/keystats_marital.pdf |title=MARITAL STATUS |publisher=Wolverhampton City Council |format=pdf |accessdate=2007-07-15}}</ref>

Wolverhampton is an ethnically diverse city, with nearly a quarter (24.6%) of the population being of black or minority ethnic (BME) origin and 22.2% of residents classifying themselves as non-white in the 2001 Census, with the largest non-white category being Indian at 12.3%, which compares with a West Midlands average of 6.2% and an England and Wales average of 2.1%.

Wolverhampton's multi-cultural nature is reflected in an above–average level of non-[[Christianity|Christian]] religions (13.6% of people, compared with 5.5% for England and Wales), with [[Sikhism|Sikhs]] accounting for 7.6% of Wolverhampton's population, the fourth largest Sikh community in England and Wales. The number of [[Hinduism|Hindus]] is also higher than the England and Wales average (Wolverhampton 3.9%, England and Wales 1.1%), while the proportion of people following [[Judaism]] and [[Islam]] was below the average for England and Wales. The figure for [[Buddhism]] is in line with the England and Wales average.

According to the 2001 Census, 62.2% of the population of the city between the ages of 16 and 75 are considered to be economically active, with 37.5% holding full time employment, 11.3% part time employment, 5.4% self-employed and 2.6% being full-time students with other employment.

Of those who are economically inactive, 14.4% were retired, 7.1& were looking after homes or families, whilst 5.1% were full-time students without other employment.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/48B872C0-9D67-4AA0-943D-196056FFB88B/0/keystats_econactivity.pdf |title=ECONOMIC ACTIVITY |publisher=Wolverhampton City Council |format=pdf |accessdate=2007-07-15}}</ref>

Degree-level qualifications (or above) were held by 13.6% of the population (compared with 19.8% in England and Wales), while 40.7% possessed no qualifications (compared with 29.1& across England and Wales).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/027DE738-9E1F-4291-893D-72F5370CCB17/0/keystats_qualifications.pdf |title=QUALIFICATIONS |publisher=Wolverhampton City Council |format=pdf |accessdate=2007-07-15}}</ref>

Wolverhampton is within the top 11% of local authority areas in England and Wales (excluding London Boroughs) for public transport use for travelling to work at 16% of the total. 63% used private transport, either as a driver or passenger, 13% cycled or travelled on foot, whilst 8% worked from home.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/0C868727-A44E-4A93-AD3A-EC5FB425E067/0/keystats_travel.pdf |title=TRAVEL TO WORK |publisher=Wolverhampton City Council |format=pdf |accessdate=2007-07-15}}</ref>

Car ownership is lower than the average for England and Wales with 35.2% of households not owning a car, compared with 26.8% nationally. Single car ownership is in line with national averages (Wolverhampton 42.9%, England and Wales 43.8%), while the proportion of households owning more than one car is lower than the national average.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/F023DBE5-E4D1-4739-B29D-10642E7B7335/0/keystats_car.pdf |title=CAR OWNERSHIP |publisher=Wolverhampton City Council |format=pdf |accessdate=2007-07-15}}</ref>

According to the 2001 Census, Wolverhampton is one of the 243 [[Travel to Work Area|Travel to Work Areas]] in the United Kingdom. There were 163,378 people resident within the TTWA who were in employment, and 157,648 jobs. The TTWA extends outside the city itself into the local authority districts of [[Metropolitan Borough of Dudley|Dudley]], [[Metropolitan Borough of Walsall|Walsall]], [[South Staffordshire]] and [[Bridgnorth (district)|Bridgnorth]] and has an area of 405 square km.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/geography/ttwa.asp |title=Travel to Work Areas |publisher=Office for National Statistics |accessdate=2008-09-24}}</ref>

According to [[Eurostat]] data, Wolverhampton has its own [[Larger Urban Zone]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/tender/pdf/2007urban/reference.pdf|title=Urban Audit Analysis II|publisher=Eurostat|accessdate=2008-10-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-RA-07-024/EN/KS-RA-07-024-EN.PDF|title=European Regional and Urban Statistics|publisher=Eurostat|accessdate=2008-10-05}}</ref> which had a total resident population in 2004 of 344,400.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.urbanaudit.org/CityProfiles.aspx?CityCode=UK013C&CountryCode=UK|title=Urban Audit - City Profiles: Wolverhampton|publisher=Urban Audit|accessdate=2008-10-05}}</ref>

<center>
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%;width:70%;border:0px;text-align:center;line-height:120%;"
| colspan="12" style="text-align:center;"|'''Historical population of Wolverhampton'''
|-
! style="background: #99CCCC; color: #000080" height="17" | Year
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1750
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1801
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1811
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1821
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1831
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1841
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1851
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1861
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1871
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1881
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1891
|-
! style="background: #99CCCC; color: #000080" height="17" | Population
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 7,454
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 20,710
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 29,253
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 35,816
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 46,937
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 68,426
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 90,301
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 111,033
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 68,291
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 75,766
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 82,662
|-
| colspan="12" style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! style="background: #99CCCC; color: #000080" height="17" | Year
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1901
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1911
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1921
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1931
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1939
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1951
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1961
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1971
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1991
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 2001
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" |
|- Align="center"
! style="background: #99CCCC; color: #000080" height="17" | Population
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 94,107
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 95,328
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 102,342
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 133,212
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 143,213
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 162,172
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 150,825
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 269,168
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 257,943
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 251,462
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" |
|-
| colspan="12" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;"|<small>Issac Taylor's Map 1750<ref name="WHHS"/> {{•}} Township 1801-1881<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10297485&c_id=10001043&add=N |title=Wolverhampton USD |publisher=Vision of Britain |accessdate=2008-07-24}}</ref> {{•}} Urban Sanitary District 1891<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10137445&c_id=10001043&add=N |title=Wolverhampton USD |publisher=Vision of Britain |accessdate=2008-07-24}}</ref><br>
County Borough 1901-1971 <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10136544&c_id=10001043&add=N |title=Wolverhampton County Borough |publisher=Vision of Britain |accessdate=2008-07-24}}</ref> {{•}} Urban Subdivision 1991-2001 <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/west_midlands_urban_area.asp |title=West Midlands Urban Area 1991 Census |publisher=National Statistics |accessdate=2008-07-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/ssdataset.asp?vlnk=8271&Pos=2&ColRank=1&Rank=224 |title=KS01 Usual resident population: Census 2001, Key Statistics for urban areas |publisher=National Statistics |accessdate=2008-07-24}}</ref></small>
|}
</center>

<center>
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%;width:70%;border:0px;text-align:center;line-height:120%;"
| colspan="12" style="text-align:center;"|'''Historical population of area now administered by Wolverhampton City Council'''
|-
! style="background: #99CCCC; color: #000080" height="17" | Year
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1801
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1811
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1821
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1831
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1841
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1851
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1861
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1871
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1881
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1891
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" |
|-
! style="background: #99CCCC; color: #000080" height="17" | Population
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 11,786
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 15,597
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 19,012
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 23,067
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 54,365
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 70,112
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 87,254
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 104,395
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 121,537
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 130,868
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" |
|-
| colspan="12" style="text-align:center;"|
|-
! style="background: #99CCCC; color: #000080" height="17" | Year
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1901
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1911
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1921
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1931
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1939
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1951
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1961
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1971
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1981
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 1991
! style="background: #FFFFFF; color:#000080;" | 2001
|- Align="center"
! style="background: #99CCCC; color: #000080" height="17" | Population
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 145,645
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 162,098
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 178,068
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 195,621
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 214,359
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 234,893
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 251,435
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 269,166
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 252,474
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 248,454
| style="background: #FFFFFF; color: black;" | 236,573
|-
| colspan="12" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;"|<small>Source: Vision of Britain<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10168650&c_id=10001043&add=N |title=Wolverhampton Metropolitan Borough |publisher=Vision of Britain |accessdate=2008-07-24}}</ref></small>
|}
</center>

==Economy==
[[Image:Chubb building modern.jpg|right|thumb|The Chubb Building, Fryer Street]]
Traditionally, Wolverhampton's economy has been dominated by [[engineering]] and [[manufacturing]] industries. However, today the economy is dominated by the [[Tertiary sector of economic activity|service sector]], with 79.6% of the city's employment being in this area. The major subcomponents of this sector are in public administration, education and health (32% of the total employment), while distribution, hotels and restaurants take up 25.3%, and finance and IT takes up 13.9%. The largest non-service industry is that of manufacturing (15.5%). Perhaps surprisingly, 6.2% of the total employment is related to the tourism industry.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://129.234.4.33/reports/lmp/la/2038431971/report.aspx?town=wolverhampton#tabjobs |title=Local Authority Profile: Wolverhampton |publisher=Office for National Statistics, Nomis Official Labour Market Statistics (Annual Business Inquiry Employee Analysis 2004}}{{Dead link|date=June 2008}}</ref>

The largest single employer within the city is Wolverhampton City Council.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wolvcoll.ac.uk/international/details/about_us.html |title=About Us |publisher=City of Wolverhampton College |accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref> which has over 12,000 staff<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/jobs_careers/ |title=Jobs and Careers |publisher=Wolverhampton City Council |accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref> Other large employers within the city include:

* Banking: [[Birmingham Midshires]] (which is headquartered within the city) and [[Portman Building Society]]
* Education: [[University of Wolverhampton]] and [[City of Wolverhampton College]]
* Construction: [[Carillion plc]] (headquarters)
* Brewing: [[Marston's]], formerly [[Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries]]
* Aerospace: [[H S Marston]], [[GE Aviation Systems|Smiths Aerospace]] and [[Goodrich Corporation]]
* Retail: [[Beatties]] (now owned by [[House of Fraser]])
* Manufacturing: [[Chubb Locks]]
* the [[National Health Service]]
[[Image:Beatties Building, Wolverhampton.jpg|thumb|right|[[Beatties]] Wolverhampton.]]
Wolverhampton is one of the major retail centres in the [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands Region]], being placed at fifth largest in 2005, with an annual turnover of £380 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.caci.co.uk/msd.asp?url=lsp-retailfootprint.htm |title=Comparison Expenditure |publisher=CACI Retail Footprint 2005}}{{Dead link|date=June 2008}}</ref>

Many of the traditional industries in the city have closed or dramatically downsized. Famous companies once based in the city include:
* Vehicle manufacturers: [[AJS]], [[Clyno]], [[Guy Motors]], [[Kieft Cars]], [[Norton-Villiers]], [[Sunbeam Car Company]], [[Sunbeam (motorcycle)|Sunbeam Motorcycles]]
* Aerospace: [[Boulton Paul Aircraft]]
* Tyres: [[Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company]]
* Paint, varnish, printing inks and property: [[Mander Brothers]]

Unemployment within the City Council area at November 2007 was 4.7%,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/8EDD3203-4C4E-4CC4-9F2F-1ACCBF334854/0/unem_brief_nov07.pdf |title=Unemployment Briefing |publisher=Wolverhampton City Council |author=Wolverhampton City Council Policy Team |month=November |year=2007 |format=pdf |accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref> which varied across wards, with three wards having rates of over 7% (being [[Ettingshall]], [[St Peter's ward, Wolverhampton|St Peter's]] and [[Heath Town]]), and three wards with rates less than 3% ([[Penn, West Midlands|Penn]], [[Tettenhall Wightwick]] and [[Tettenhall Regis]]).

==Transport==
===Road===
Wolverhampton is near to several [[motorway]]s, with the following being within 7 miles of the city centre:
* [[M6 motorway|M6]] linking the city with the north-west of England (including [[Manchester]] and [[Liverpool]]), [[Scotland]] and [[London]] via the [[M1 motorway|M1]]. This section opened between 1966 and 1970.<ref name=tma/> The section of M6 motorway nearest to the city is one of the busiest within the UK.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.trafficmaster.co.uk/shownews.cfm?num=454 |title=Traffic Master}}{{Dead link|date=June 2008}}</ref>
* [[M5 motorway|M5]] connecting with the south-west of England, and London via the [[M40 motorway|M40]] (opened 1970)<ref name=tma>{{cite web |url=http://www.iht.org/motorway/openings.htm |title=Opening dates for Motorways in the UK in chronological order |publisher=The Motorway Archive |accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref>
* [[M6 Toll]] which bypasses the busiest section of the M6 near the city (opened 2003)<ref name=tma/>
* [[M54 motorway|M54]] linking the city with [[Telford]], [[Shrewsbury]] and [[Wales]]<ref name=tma/>
[[Image:Wolverhampton RR St Patricks.jpg|right|thumb|Wolverhampton Inner Ring Road]]

There have also been several motorways proposed near to the city that have not been constructed, or have been constructed to a lower standard:
* Western Orbital or Wolverhampton Western Bypass. First proposed in the 1970s, and cancelled in the 1990s<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pathetic.org.uk/unbuilt/western_orbital/ |title=Western Orbital |publisher=Pathetic Motorways |accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref>
* Bilston Link Motorway. First proposed in 1960s, built in the 1990s as the [[Black Country Route]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pathetic.org.uk/unbuilt/bilston_link_motorway/ |publisher=Pathetic Motorways |title=Bilston Link Motorway |accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref>
* M54 to M6 / M6 (Toll) Link Road. Proposed in 2000s to relieve the overloaded section of A460 near the city<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/11814.aspx |title=M54 to M6 / M6 (Toll) Link Road |publisher=Highways Agency |accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref>

The main roads radiating from the city centre meet the city's [[Wolverhampton Ring Road|Ring Road]], which is acts to keep through traffic out of the city centre itself.

Other major roads passing through the city include:
* [[A41 road|A41]] between London and [[Birkenhead]]
* [[A449 road|A449]] between South Wales and [[Stafford]]
* [[A454 road|A454]] between [[Bridgnorth]] and [[Sutton Coldfield]]
* [[A4123 road|A4123]] between Wolverhampton and Birmingham. Constructed in 1927,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sedgleymanor.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=topn&cat=0&pos=8 |title=Birmingham New Road circa 1927 |publisher=Sedgleymanor Photo Gallery |accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref> it was the first purpose built inter-city road in the United Kingdom within the 20th century,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lmars.co.uk/roadpix/a580/index.html |title=A580 East Lancashire Road |publisher=Lancashire Roads and Motorways Site |accessdate=2008-07-24}}</ref> and was said to be the longest stretch of new road in Britain since the [[Roman Empire|Romans]]. It took just three years to complete and cost £600,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/Media/75.pdf?MEDIA_ID=223058&FILENAME=75.pdf |title=Forward |publisher=Birmingham City Council |accessdate=2008-07-24}}</ref>

===Public transport===
[[Image:Wolverhampton station.jpg|left|thumb|Wolverhampton railway station]]
{{main|Wolverhampton railway station}}
{{see also|Category:Disused railway stations in Wolverhampton}}
The city's [[Wolverhampton railway station|railway station]] is served by the [[West Coast Main Line]]. It has regular rail services to [[London]], [[Birmingham]] and [[Manchester]], as well as many other major cities in the UK. The [[Wrexham & Shropshire|Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone Railway]] has started its train service to London, via [[Bescot]]. The railway station is due for redevelopment, with the main station buildings being demolished in a project called Wolverhampton Interchange. It is due to open in 2012.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.expressandstar.com/2006/10/18/all-change-at-station/ |title=All change at station |publisher=''[[Express & Star]]'' |author=Becky Sharpe |date=2006-10-18 |accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref>

There are many local services, including those on the [[Cambrian Line]], the [[Walsall to Wolverhampton Line]], the [[Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury Line]] and the [[Rugby-Birmingham-Stafford Line]]. There are also many closed stations within the city, including [[Wolverhampton Low Level railway station|Wolverhampton Low Level]], the most northerly [[broad gauge]] station on the [[Great Western Railway|Great Western]] network.

The [[Wolverhampton bus station|city's bus station]] is situated adjacent to the railway station, providing an interchange between the two modes of transport. Buses in the city are regulated by [[West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive]] and the largest provider of services is [[National Express West Midlands]].

====Metro====
{{main|Midland Metro}}
[[Image:Midland Metro terminus, Wolverhampton.jpg|right|thumb|Midland Metro terminus]]
The Midland Metro, a [[light rail]] [[tram]] system, currently connects [[Wolverhampton St George's tram stop|Wolverhampton St. George's]] to [[Birmingham Snow Hill station]] via [[West Bromwich]] and [[Wednesbury]], mostly following the former [[Birmingham Snow Hill-Wolverhampton Low Level Line]]. There are plans for further lines within the city, with both a city centre loop and a line to [[Walsall]] via [[Wednesfield]] and [[Willenhall]], mostly following the route of the closed [[Wolverhampton and Walsall Railway]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.centro.org.uk/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.asp?lID=1826&sID=4319 |title=The 5Ws Route |publisher=Centro |format=pdf |accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref>

===Air===
Wolverhampton's original [[airport]] was at [[Pendeford]], opened in 1938 and closed on [[31 December]] [[1970]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/articles/Pendeford/Airport.htm |title=The Airport and Boulton Paul |work=The History of Pendeford |publisher=Wolverhampton History & Heritage Society |author=Phil Clayton |month=February |year=2004 |accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref> The current [[Wolverhampton Airport]], renamed from Halfpenny Green, is a small general aviation airfield located {{convert|8|mi|km|1}} southwest of the city. Expansion of the airport has been suggested, but this has been successfully resisted by local residents.

The nearest major airport is [[Birmingham International Airport (UK)|Birmingham International Airport]], approximately {{convert|25|mi|km|1}} away. The airport is easy to reach by train, with a direct express service to it. By car, it can actually sometimes be quicker to reach [[Manchester Airport]] instead, due to traffic delays on the M6 eastbound motorway towards Birmingham International.

===Waterways===
There are no navigable rivers within the city, but there are many miles of canal network: the [[BCN Main Line|Birmingham Main Line Canal]], the [[Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal]], the [[Shropshire Union Canal]] and the [[Wyrley & Essington Canal]] are all to be found.

===Cycling===
Most places in the borough and some of the neighbouring villages in South Staffordshire are within easy reach by pedal cycle of the city centre and terrain is moderately hilly. Climbs tend to be of two to three minutes duration. Cycling benefits from the {{convert|20|mph|km/h|0}} city centre within the Ring Road and a number of routes that use quieter roads and paths to avoid the ten 'A' roads that radiate from the Ring Road. Wolverhampton is on the Smethwick to Telford section of [[Sustrans]] [[National Cycle Network]] Route 81.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sustrans.org.uk/default.asp?sID=1099911816156 |title=strans Route 81 |publisher=Sustrans |accessdate=2008-07-24}}</ref> This follows the [[BCN Main Line|Birmingham Main Line Canal]] towpath from [[Smethwick]] to Broad Street Basin, Wolverhampton where the route splits in two. The choice here is between riding the 21 locks section of the [[BCN Main Line|Birmingham Main Line Canal]] to Aldersley Junction or taking the Cross-City route braid in order to visit the city centre, West Park or [[Smestow Valley Leisure Ride]] before returning to Aldersley Junction. NCN81 continues to Autherley Junction along the towpath of the [[Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal]] and then along the east bank towpath of the [[Shropshire Union Canal]] as far as Pendeford Mill Lane before turning to [[Bilbrook, Staffordshire|Bilbrook]] in Staffordshire. The lanes of nearby South Staffordshire and east Shropshire provide ideal cycle touring conditions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sustrans.org.uk/default.asp?sRegion=The_Midlands&map.x=-2.12099658260843&map.y=52.5904259392369&bLarge=&nZoom=3 |title=Cycle routes in Wolverhampton |publisher=Sustrans |accessdate=2008-07-24}}</ref>

== Culture ==
===Music===
The rock groups [[Slade]], [[Cornershop]], [[The Mighty Lemon Drops]], [[Ned's Atomic Dustbin]] and [[Babylon Zoo]] came from Wolverhampton, as do [[soul music|soul]]/ [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] singer [[Beverley Knight]] and [[Drum and bass]] guru [[Goldie]]. Musician [[Jamelia]] lives in Wolverhampton with her mother and daughter, as does singer-songwriter Rick Dougall (of 'Cabin Fever' fame).

Wolverhampton has a number of live music venues; the biggest is technically the [[Association football|football]] ground, [[Molineux Stadium]], which was used for a [[Bon Jovi]] concert in 2003,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/blackcountry/music/2003/06/bon_jovi/bon_jovi.shtml |title=BBC Black Country music |publisher=BBC |accessdate=2007-11-03}}</ref> but the biggest indoor venue is [[Wolverhampton Civic Hall]], with a standing capacity of 3,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wolvescivic.co.uk/index.asp?loc=venues&venueid=1&subnav=tech |title=Wolves Civic details |publisher=Wolverhampton City Council |accessdate=2008-07-24}}</ref> Second to that is Wulfrun Hall (part of the same complex as the Civic Hall, which is owned and operated by the City Council) which has a standing capacity of just over 1,100.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.safeconcerts.com/safe-concerts-venues-details.asp?vurn=128 |title=Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall Information |publisher=Safe Concerts |accessdate=2008-07-24}}</ref> There are also a number of smaller venues with capacities between 100 and 250: the Little Civic and the Wolverhampton Varsity being the most long-standing of these. The 18th century church of St John's-in-the-Square is a popular venue for smaller scale classical concerts. The city is also home to Regent Records, a choral and organ music recording company.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.regent-records.co.uk/contact_us.htm |title=Regent Records: Contact Us |accessdate=2008-09-23}}</ref>

The city's main choral groups include the City of Wolverhampton Choir,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cityofwolverhamptonchoir.org.uk |title=City of Wolverhampton Choir |accessdate=2008-09-23}}</ref> (a choral society founded as the Wolverhampton Civic Choir in 1947) and the Choir of [[St. Peter's Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton|St. Peter's Collegiate Church]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://home2.btconnect.com/Nik-Peters/Choir/Main.htm |title=St.Peter's Collegiate Church Choir |accessdate=2008-09-23}}</ref> who perform cathedral style church services each week during term time.

===Arts and museums===
[[Image:Wolverhampton Art Gallery 2.jpg|thumb|250px|Wolverhampton Art Gallery]]
The Grand Theatre on Lichfield Street is Wolverhampton's largest theatre, opening on [[10 December]] [[1894]]. It was designed by [[Charles J. Phipps|C. J. Phipps]] and completed within six months. Included amongst the people to have appeared at the theatre are [[Henry Irving]], [[Charlie Chaplin]] and [[Sean Connery]]. It was also used by politicians including [[Winston Churchill]] and [[David Lloyd George]]. The theatre was closed between 1980 and 1982.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.grandtheatre.info/content/CompanyHistory.asp |title=Grand Theatre History |accessdate=2007-11-03}}</ref>

The [[Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton|Arena Theatre]] on Wulfruna Street, within the [[University of Wolverhampton]] is the secondary theatre, seating 150. It hosts both professional and amateur performances.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.wlv.ac.uk/arena/about.htm |title=About the Arena Theatre |publisher=University of Wolverhampton |accessdate=2007-11-03}}</ref>

[[movie theater|Cinema]] is catered for by a multiplex [[Cineworld]] located at [[Bentley Bridge]], [[Wednesfield]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cineworld.co.uk/reservation/ChoixResa.jgi?CINEMA=4 |title=Cineworld Wolverhampton |publisher=Cineworld Cinemas |accessdate=2008-07-25}}</ref> and a smaller cinema, [[The Light House]], housed in the former [[Chubb Locks|Chubb Buildings]] on Fryer Street.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.light-house.co.uk/ |title=Light House |publisher=Light House Media Centre |accessdate=2008-07-25}}</ref> Cineworld caters mainly for popular tastes, showing [[Hollywood, Los Angeles, California|Hollywood]] films and other big-budget films as well as some [[Bollywood]] films whilst The Light House shows a range of older and subtitled films as well as some selected new releases. The Light House has also played host to visual art shows, and incorporates a small café.

The City's Arts & Museums service, run by the council, covers three sites: [[Wolverhampton Art Gallery]], home to England's biggest [[Pop art]] collection after that held at the [[Tate]];<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk/wolves/exhibitions/002876.html |title=Exhibitions at Wolverhampton Art Gallery |publisher=Wolverhampton Arts and Museums Service |accessdate=2007-11-03}}</ref> [[Bantock House Museum and Park|Bantock House]], a fine historic house with Edwardian interior with a museum of Wolverhampton located within Bantock Park;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk/bantock |title=Bantock House and Museum |publisher=Wolverhampton Arts and Museums Service |accessdate=2008-07-24}}</ref> [[Bilston Craft Gallery]] with exhibitions of contemporary crafts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk/bilston |title=Bilston Craft Gallery |publisher=Wolverhampton Arts and Museums Service |accessdate=2008-07-24}}</ref>

The [[Black Country Living Museum]], situated in nearby [[Dudley]], has a large collection of artefacts and buildings from across the [[Black Country]], including an extensive collection associated with the city.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bclm.co.uk/whatis.htm |title=What is the Black Country |publisher=Black Country Living Museum |accessdate=2008-07-24}}</ref>

[[Eagle Works Studio]] situated in [[Chapel Ash]], has infrequent amateur exhibitions and group shows.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/blackcountry/content/articles/2005/12/07/eagle_works_1_introduction_feature.shtml |title=An Introduction to Eagle Works |publisher=BBC Black Country |accessdate=2008-07-25}}</ref>

The [[National Trust]] owns two properties on the edge of the city that are open to the public: [[Wightwick Manor]], which is a [[Victorian era|Victorian]] [[manor house]] and one of only a few surviving examples of a house built and furnished under the influence of the [[Arts and Crafts movement]],<ref>{{cite book|last=Greeves |first=Lydia |title=History and Landscape: The Guide to National Trust Properties in England, Wales and Northern Ireland |pages=429 |publisher=National Trust Books |year=2005 |isbn=1905400136}}</ref> and [[Moseley Old Hall]], which is famous as one of the resting places of [[Charles II of England]] during his [[Escape of Charles II|escape to France]] following defeat at the [[Battle of Worcester]] in 1651.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-moseleyoldhall.htm |title=Moseley Old Hall |publisher=National Trust |accessdate=2008-08-29}}</ref>

Nearby museums also include the [[Royal Air Force Museum]], at [[DCAE Cosford|RAF Cosford]], the [[Boulton Paul Aircraft|Boulton Paul Association]] at [[Pendeford]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.boultonpaul.com/ |title=Boulton Paul Association |publisher=Boulton Paul |accessdate=2008-08-29}}</ref> and the RAF Fire Service Museum at [[Wolverhampton Airport]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.raf-fireservicemuseum.org/location.htm |title=Museum Location |publisher=RAF Fire Service Museum |accessdate=2008-08-29}}</ref>

=== Libraries ===
Located on the corner of Garrick Street and St George's Parade, Wolverhampton Central Library is a [[Grade II listed building]], designed by architect Henry T Hare and opened in 1902. It was originally commissioned to commemorate [[Queen Victoria]]’s Diamond Jubilee using funds raised by the Mayor, Alderman S Craddock, and by a grant of £1,000 from [[Andrew Carnegie]]. This new library improved public access to information and reading material, replacing its cramped predecessor in the old Garrick Street Police Station.<ref name="library">{{cite web |url=http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/leisure_culture/libraries/central_library/history.htm |title=History of Central Library |publisher=Wolverhampton City Council |accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref>

The terricota exterior has a tripartite theme of related, but distinct façades. The entrance façade is the architect’s centrepiece and is decorated with a frieze under the triple window which carries the Royal Coat of Arms and the Wolverhampton Coat of Arms. The other two façades celebrate English literary giants; [[Geoffrey Chaucer|Chaucer]], [[John Dryden|Dryden]], [[Alexander Pope|Pope]], [[Percy Bysshe Shelley|Shelley]], [[George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron|Byron]] and [[Edmund Spenser|Spenser]] on one side and [[John Milton|Milton]] and [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]] on the other.<ref name="library"/> An extension for a newsroom and a students’ room was added in 1936 followed by a small brick and concrete extension at the rear in the 1970s.<ref name="library"/>

Wolverhampton City Council also operate 19 branch libraries within the city.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/leisure_culture/libraries/branch/|title=Branch Libraries |publisher=Wolverhampton City Council |accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref>

=== Media ===
Wolverhampton is home to the [[Express & Star]] newspaper, which boasts of having the largest circulation of any provincial daily evening newspaper in the UK.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.expressandstar.com/about-us/|title=About Us |publisher=Express & Star |accessdate=2008-09-09}}</ref>

The city is also home to four radio stations, [[WCR FM]], [[107.7 The Wolf]], [[Beacon Radio]] and [[Classic Gold WABC]].

In December 2005, the BBC commissioned the poet [[Ian McMillan (poet)|Ian McMillan]] to write a poem about Wolverhampton, along with four other towns which "had a reputation they didn't deserve".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/breakfast/4528566.stm |title=Talk of the Town: And the winner is... |publisher=BBC News |date=2005-12-19 |accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref>

== Education ==
[[Image:Wolverhampton Grammar School.jpg|left|thumb|Wolverhampton Grammar School]]
[[Wolverhampton Girls' High School]] is a well known selective school which was has produced top of league table results within Wolverhampton.<ref>{{cite web |title=School League Tables, 2004 for Wolverhampton |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/03/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/336.stm |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=2008-07-25}}</ref> Notable old girls include the former English Women's Cricket Captain [[Rachael Heyhoe-Flint]] and [[Helene Hayman, Baroness Hayman|Baroness Hayman]], first [[Lord Speaker]] of the [[House of Lords]].

[[Wolverhampton Grammar School]] was founded in 1512, making it one of the oldest active schools in the UK.<ref>{{cite web |title=History of Wolverhampton Grammar School |url=http://www.wolverhamptongrammarschool.com/pages/prospective/history.aspx |publisher=Wolverhampton Grammar School |accessdate=2008-07-25}}</ref> Old boys include [[Mervyn King (economist)|Mervyn King]], Governor of the [[Bank of England]] since July 2003, and [[David Wright (diplomat)|Sir David Wright]], former British Ambassador to Japan.

Other notably historic schools include [[The Royal Wolverhampton School]] (founded in 1850),<ref>{{cite web |title=Royal Wolverhampton School |url=http://www.isscc.com/detail.php?schoolid=895 |publisher=ISSCC |accessdate=2008-07-25}}</ref> [[St Peter's Collegiate School]] (founded in 1847)<ref>{{cite web |title=S. Peter's Collegiate School |url=http://www.speters.org.uk/ |publisher=S. Peter's Collegiate School |accessdate=2008-07-25}}</ref> and [[Tettenhall College]] (1863).<ref>{{cite web |title=History of the College |url=http://www.tettenhallcollege.co.uk/hist_about01.htm |publisher=Tettenhall College |accessdate=2008-07-25}}</ref>

In 1835, the [[Wolverhampton Mechanics' Institute]] was founded, and its lineage can be traced via the Wolverhampton and Staffordshire Technical College (1935), to The Polytechnic, Wolverhampton (1969) to today's [[University of Wolverhampton]], given university status in 1992. The main university campus is in the city centre, with other campuses at [[Compton, Wolverhampton|Compton]], and in the nearby towns of [[Walsall]] and [[Telford]].

== Sport ==
[[Image:Molineux Ground, Wolverhampton.jpg|right|thumb|[[Molineux Stadium]], home of Wolverhampton Wanderers]]
===Football===
Wolverhampton is represented in the [[Football League Championship]] by [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.]]. "Wolves", as they are known, are one of the oldest English football clubs, and were one of the 12 founder members of the [[Football League]]. Their most successful period was the 1950s, where they won three Football League Championships (then the highest division) and two [[FA Cup]]s, and were involved in the earliest European friendlies. They were hailed by the press as "The Unofficial World Champions" after one of their most famous victories, against [[Budapest Honvéd FC]] of [[Hungary]]. They were also the first English team to play in the [[Soviet Union]]. These victories instigated the birth of the European Cup competition which later evolved into the UEFA Champions' League (see [[European Cup and Champions League History]]).

In total, they have won three Football League Championships (prior to the top division becoming the [[Premier League]]), four FA Cups, have two [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] victories and many other minor honours, including reaching the [[UEFA Cup]] Final in 1972, and appearances in the last eight of both the [[UEFA Champions League|UEFA European Cup]], and the European [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|Cup Winners' Cup]], but have spent just one season in the top division since 1984. They are also the only club to have won five different league titles (Division 1, Division 2, Division 3, Division 4 and Division 3 (North)).

The city's second club, [[Wolverhampton Casuals F.C.]] play in the [[West Midlands (Regional) League]] Premier Division.

===Athletics===
Wolverhampton's Aldersley Leisure Village is also home to [[Wolverhampton & Bilston Athletics Club]], which was formed in 1967 with a merger between Wolverhampton Harriers and Bilston Town Athletic Club. They have won the National League Division One for men from 1975 to 1982, and the Men's National Cup finals in 1976, 1977, 1979 and 1980. It also represented Britain in the European Clubs Cup from 1976 to 1983 with the best finishing position of third.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wolvesandbilstonac.co.uk/ |title=Wolverhampton & Bilston Athletics Club |publisher=Wolverhampton & Bilston Athletics Club |accessdate=2008-06-18}}</ref>

Olympic Medallists in athletics [[Denise Lewis]], [[Tessa Sanderson]], [[Kathy Smallwood-Cook]], [[Garry Cook]] and [[Sonia Lannaman]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/government_democracy/council/documents/news/press_releases/2006/october/301006d.htm |title=Newest Sporting Hall of Fame inductees |publisher=Wolverhampton City Council |date=2006-10-30 |accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref> all lived within the city.

===Cycling===
Wolverhampton Wheelers is the city's oldest cycling club (formed in 1891), and was home to [[Hugh Porter]] who won four world championship pursuit medals; and [[Percy Stallard]] who has been credited with bringing cycle road racing to Britain when he held the Llangollen to Wolverhampton race on [[June 7]], [[1942]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wolverhamptonhistory.org.uk/people/local/stallard_p |title=Percy Stallard |work=The History of Wolverhampton - The City and its People |accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref>

Wolverhampton has also hosted the [[Tour of Britain]], with a stage start in 2006 and a stage finish in 2007.

===Horse and greyhound racing===
[[Wolverhampton Racecourse]] is located at Dunstall Park, just to the north of the city centre. This was one of the first all-weather [[horse racing]] courses in the UK and is Britain's only floodlit horse race track. There is also [[greyhound racing]] at Monmore Green. [[West Park, Wolverhampton|West Park]], a large park near the city centre, was converted from a racecourse.

===Motor sports===
[[Image:Sunbeam 1000HP.jpg|right|thumb|Sunbeam 1000HP at National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, UK]]
[[24 Hours of Le Mans|Le Mans 24 Hours]] winner [[Richard Attwood]] is from the city.

[[Sunbeam Car Company|Sunbeam]] built many early [[Grand Prix motor racing|Grand Prix]] cars and was the only British make to win a Grand Prix in the first half of the 20th century.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sunbeam.org.uk/Sunbeam.htm |title=Sunbeam - The Supreme Car |publisher=The Sunbeam Talbot Darracq Register |author=Colin Weyer |accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref> Sunbeam also built several holders of the [[Land speed record]], including the first vehicle to travel at over {{convert|200|mph|km/h|0}}, the [[Sunbeam 1000 hp]].

[[Kieft Cars]] built [[Formula Three]] cars in the early 1950s. Their best known driver was [[Stirling Moss]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/genealogy/Kieft/CyrilKieft.htm |title=Cyril Kieft |author=Jim Evans |publisher=Wolverhampton History & Heritage Society |accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref>

[[AJS]] was heavily involved in motorcycle racing either side of World War II, which included winning the [[1949 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season|1949 World Championship]] in the 500cc category.

[[Wolverhampton Wolves]], one of the leading [[Motorcycle speedway|Speedway]] clubs in the UK represents the city, participating in the [[Speedway Elite League|Elite League]] at the Monmore Green stadium. Wolverhampton Speedway is one of the oldest speedway tracks in the world that is still in operation being first used, albeit briefly in 1928. The track re-opened in 1950 for a single meeting and in 1952 the Wasps competed in the Third Division on the National League. The track closed early in 1954 and did not re-open until 1961 when the Wolves were introduced to the Provincial League. The track has almost been an ever present ever since and currently operates in the British Elite League.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/blackcountry/content/articles/2005/03/29/wolverhampton_speedway_venue_feature.shtml |title=Wolverhampton Speedway |publisher=BBC Black Country |date=2005-05-04 |accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref> [[Ole Olsen (speedway rider)|Ole Olsen]] (in 1971 and 1975) and [[Sam Ermolenko]] (in 1993) were riders for the club when thay became [[Speedway World Championship|World Speedway Champions]].

==Places of interest==
[[Image:St Peter's Church, Wolverhampton.jpg|thumb|right|St Peter's Church]]
In and around the city there are a number of places of interest, which include the following:

* [[Baggeridge Country Park]]
* [[Bantock House Museum and Park]]
* [[Bilston Craft Gallery]]
* [[Black Country Living Museum]] in nearby [[Dudley]] contains many Wolverhampton artifacts
* [[Boscobel House]]
* Central Library
* [[Chillington Hall]]
* Grand Theatre
* [[Himley Hall]]
* St John's in the Square, city centre church which has a famous [[Renatus Harris]] organ
* Maypole Gallery, Wombourne
* [[Molineux Stadium]]
* [[Moseley Old Hall]]
* [[RAF Museum]], Cosford
* Saxon Pillar and Bargaining stone, city centre
* [[St. Peter's Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton|St. Peter's Collegiate Church]], city centre
* Statue of Prince Albert, city centre
* West Park
* [[Wightwick Manor]]
* [[Wolverhampton Art Gallery]]
* [[Wolverhampton Civic Hall]]
* Wulfrun Hall
* [[Wolverhampton Racecourse]]

==Famous residents==
[[Image:BillyWrightStatue.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Statue of [[Billy Wright (footballer)|Billy Wright]] outside [[Molineux Stadium]]]]
{{main|List of famous residents of Wolverhampton}}
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There are a number of notable people who are associated with Wolverhampton.

Political figures include [[Enoch Powell]] MP, Sir [[Charles Pelham Villiers]] MP - who holds the record for the longest serving MP, [[Helene Hayman, Baroness Hayman]] who was the first [[Lord Speaker]] within the [[House of Lords]], former Cabinet minister [[Stephen Byers]], [[David Wright (diplomat)|David Wright]], a former UK Ambassador to [[Japan]] and [[Button Gwinnett]], who was a signatory of the US [[Declaration of Independence]] in his capacity as [[Governor of Georgia]].

There are many sportspeople associated with the city, with footballers such as [[Billy Wright (footballer)|Billy Wright]], [[Steve Bull]], [[Bert Williams]] and [[Jimmy Mullen (footballer born 1923)|Jimmy Mullen]]; along with [[Percy Stallard]] and [[Hugh Porter]] within the world of cycling, the Olympic medallist swimmer [[Anita Lonsbrough]], racing driver and winner of the [[24 hours of Le Mans]] [[Richard Attwood]] and athletes such as [[Tessa Sanderson]] and [[Denise Lewis]].

Entertainers include actors [[Nigel Bennett]], [[Frances Barber]], [[Meera Syal]] and [[Eric Idle]]; and musicians [[Noddy Holder]], [[Jamelia]], [[Beverley Knight]], [[Dave Holland]], [[Maggie Teyte]], [[Edward Elgar]], [[Mitch Harris]] and [[Robert Plant]]; whilst television presenters [[Suzi Perry]], [[Mark Rhodes]] and [[Mark Speight]] are also associated.

Within the area of commerce and industry, Sir [[Sir Alfred Hickman, 1st Baronet|Alfred Hickman]] (founder of [[Tarmac]]), Sir [[Geoffrey Le Mesurier Mander|Geoffrey Mander]], [[John Marston (industrialist)|John Marston]] (founder of the [[Sunbeam (motorcycle)|Sunbeam]] company), John 'Iron Mad' Wilkinson (pioneer of Cast Iron) and [[Mervyn King (economist)|Mervyn King]] Governor of the [[Bank of England]] are amongst the most notable.

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/blackcountry/ BBC Black Country]
* [http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk Wolverhampton City Council]
* [http://www.wolverhamptoncollege.ac.uk City of Wolverhampton College]
* [http://www.wlv.ac.uk University of Wolverhampton]
* [http://www.wolverhamptonhealth.nhs.uk Wolverhampton City PCT], Wolverhampton's [[National Health Service|NHS]] [[Primary Care Trust]]
* [http://www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk Wolverhampton Art Gallery website, including Bantock House and Bilston Craft Gallery]
* [http://www.wulfruna.org.uk The Parish Of Central Wolverhampton]
* http://www.springfieldbrewery.co.uk Historic film and images of the now destroyed Springfield Brewery Wolverhampton http://www.springfieldbrewery.com

{{Wards of Wolverhampton}}
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