Discount Road Bikes

The fascinating city of Sheffield - South Yorkshire, England can boast of a current population of at least 535,000 residents living in this attractive metropolitan borough. In and of itself, the Sheffield Urban Area can count more than 650,000 people and the area as a whole has continued to grow apace over the centuries. It has gradually shifted from being mostly industrial in nature to now being economically more diverse than ever before.

Sheffield's name actually is derived from the name given to the river that runs through its center; the River Sheaf. It came to perhaps its greatest prominence in the past in the 19th century, when it was known for the production facilities and skill of its workforce in producing high-quality steel and the products made from that metal. It is also the city that gave birth to stainless steel, and it experienced much growth during the Industrial Revolution.

Over time, improvements in steel and iron production in other parts of the world would mean that Sheffield would lose its place as the center of such production in the 1970s and 1980s. This coincided with the collapse of the coal mining industry in the area (and throughout much of England) at the same time, though Sheffield -- never one to rest on its laurels -- began an overhaul of its economic base in the 21st century to great effect.

This success is made evident through the fact of the diversification of its economy, which has also helped to contribute to a 5 percent annual growth rate over the last several years. The city's rate of growth actually exceeds that of the wider Yorkshire and Humber region in which it is located, in fact. In terms of monetary valuation, Sheffield can boast of a gross added value of more than 7 million British pounds.

Sheffield is also known as being particularly fond of trees, with more of them per person than in any other city in Europe. The town has filled over 61% of its land area with trees, and more are planted every day with the help of local residents and under careful planning by the city council. It is also an area of scenic interest, being built up on several different hillsides which provide the opportunity for scenic vistas all about.

Historically, there is evidence of humans in the area going back nearly 13,000 years to the Upper Paleolithic era. Sheffield itself is the result of the merging of several communities of Anglo-Saxons and Danes at some point late in the second half of the first millennium. The town eventually gained the right to hold a market, which it did starting in 1296. By the 14th century, it had gained a sterling reputation for production of quality knives.

The metropolitan county of South Yorkshire -- in which Sheffield resides -- has a current population exceeding 1. 3 million people. It is a landlocked county, and its modern history dates to its formation in 1974 as part of a wider nationwide effort to redesignate counties and other regions. It is also made up of four different metropolitan boroughs, including that of Sheffield.

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