Facts on LEEDS

http://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/features/facts/index.shtml

• Leeds is the second largest metropolitan district in the UK
• Leeds measures 15 miles from east to west, and 13 miles from north to south.
• Leeds' wide boundary contains some 562 square kilometres - of which two thirds is Green Belt - affording some of the most beautiful scenery in Yorkshire.
• According to the data, the population of Leeds is 715,404 - malking it the third biggest city in the UK after London and Birmingham.
• There are more females (369,570) than males (345,834) living in Leeds.
• In 731 AD Bede’s “History of English Church and People” mentions Leeds Parish Church. Leeds was then called Loidis.
• The foundations of Kirkstall Abbey were built in 1152.
• Leeds became a city by Royal Charter in 1893.
• Natives of Leeds are known as Loiners.
• Kirkgate Market in Leeds is where Michael Marks first opened his Penny Bazaar (1884) which was to lead, ultimately, to the foundation of Marks & Spencer, in 1890.

http://www.yorkshire-forward.com/our-wonderful-region/our-cities/Leeds-the-facts

• Leeds is the ‘capital city’ of Yorkshire & Humber; it’s also the financial capital of the North, and one of the fastest-growing cities in the country.
• Leeds has seen £3.5bn of investment in major commercial, retail and residential property developments over the last decade. A further £7.3bn of projects are in progress or in the pipeline.
• Leeds is a major employment centre for adjacent districts. Out of a total workforce in West Yorkshire of 936,000, nearly half (that’s 442,000 people) work in Leeds.
• 112,000 people work in the city’s financial and business sectors
• Leeds is the UK’s third-largest manufacturing centre, with 1,800 companies employing over 39,000 people. It has recognised strengths in advanced engineering, printing, chemicals and food industries
• The city is fast developing as a centre for the new, online economy.
• The city's media, communications & advertising sector is growing by about 10% a year.
• Leeds is one of the greenest cities in Europe, with greenbelt land covering over two-thirds of its total area
• The city centre is less than 20 miles from the Yorkshire Dales National Park
• Leeds was named ‘Best Place in Britain to Live’ by Henley Management Centre
• It was also named ‘The UK’s Favourite City’ by Condé Nast Traveller Magazine.
• Leeds is one of the top student destinations in the UK and the University of Leeds is one of the UK's top ten research universities
• There are over 200,000 students here, 64,000 of whom are degree students at Leeds’ two internationally acclaimed universities
• Leeds Metropolitan University is home to the largest business school of its kind, and is rated in the top 50 globally
• The Independent called Leeds the ‘Best UK University Destination’.