Here are some facts about Sheffield.
- Sheffield is a city with a population of about 550,000, located in South Yorkshire. It is on the edge of the Peak District and on the River Sheaf, from where it gets its name.
- During the 18th century, Sheffield became a major centre for steel production and other industries. A technique for silver plating was developed there, becoming known as the Sheffield plate. Sheffield is sometimes called the Steel City.
- The Sheffield Walk of Fame is modelled on the Hollywood Walk, honouring famous local residents. These include actor Sean Bean, singer Joe Cocker and the writer Margaret Drabble.
- Sheffield was home to the UK’s first football team and the first floodlit football match. The World Snooker Championship has been held at the city’s Crucible Theatre since 1977.
- About a third of the city is located within the Peak District National Park. Sheffield is also said to have 2 million trees and is one of the greenest cities in Europe.
- Trams were introduced to Sheffield in 1873 and they were upgraded to electric trams in 1899. In 1994, Supertrams were introduced, giving the city one of the UK’s most advanced tram networks.
- Sheffield has two large universities and is home to over 50,000 students. The city has also been voted one of the most popular destinations in the UK for students.
- During the 1980s, Sheffield was sometimes known as the Socialist Republic of South Yorkshire, because of its strong political views.
- The suburb of Hallam is one of the wealthiest areas of the UK.
- The Sheffield Ski Village is one of the largest artificial ski resorts in Europe. The city also has the largest theatre complex outside London and is the home of many electronic rock groups.
- Sheffield has a programme to burn waste and convert it to electricity. The resulting hot water is distributed through 40 km of pipes to shops, restaurants, hospitals and the two universities.
- Many bands and solo artists come from Sheffield, including: The Arctic Monkeys, Pulp, Def Leppard, Richard Hawley, The Human League, Joe Cocker and Moloko.
