Editing Runcorn (section)

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{{Use British English|date=July 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
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{{Infobox UK place
| country                  = England
| static_image_name        = Silver Jubilee Bridge, Runcorn at night (geograph 4431283).jpg
| static_image_caption     = Runcorn's [[Silver Jubilee Bridge]]
| official_name            = Runcorn
| type                     = Town
| coordinates              = {{coord|53.3417|-2.7313|type:city_region:GB-HAL|display=inline,title}}
| london_distance          = {{cvt|167|mi|km}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://boulter.com/gps/distance/?from=53.328+-2.712&to=51.507+-0.127&units=m |title=Coordinate Distance Calculator |work=boulter.com |access-date=8 March 2016 |archive-date=8 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308233537/http://boulter.com/gps/distance/?from=53.328+-2.712&to=51.507+-0.127&units=m |url-status=live}}</ref>
| london_direction         = SE
| population               = 61,145
| population_ref           = (Built-up area, 2021)<ref name="2021 Census">{{cite web |title=Towns and cities, characteristics of built-up areas, England and Wales: Census 2021 |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/housing/articles/townsandcitiescharacteristicsofbuiltupareasenglandandwales/census2021 |website=Census 2021 |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=8 August 2023}}</ref>
| population_demonym       = Runcornian
| statistic_title          = 
| statistic                = 
| statistic_title1         = 
| statistic1               = 
| statistic_title2         = 
| statistic2               = 
| unitary_england          = [[Borough of Halton|Halton]]
| region = North West England
| lieutenancy_england      = [[Cheshire]]
| constituency_westminster = [[Runcorn and Helsby (UK Parliament constituency)|Runcorn and Helsby]]
| post_town                = RUNCORN
| postcode_area            = WA
| postcode_district        = WA7
| dial_code                = 01928
| os_grid_reference        = SJ 5140 8300
}}

'''Runcorn''' is an industrial town and [[Runcorn Docks|cargo port]] in the [[Borough of Halton]], [[Cheshire]], England. Runcorn is on the south bank of the [[River Mersey]], where the estuary narrows to form the [[Runcorn Gap]]. It is {{convert|15|miles|km|0}} upstream from the port of [[Liverpool]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Runcorn {{!}} Industrial Town, River Mersey, Cheshire {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Runcorn |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=www.britannica.com}}</ref> The Runcorn built-up area had a population of 61,145 at the [[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 census]].

Runcorn was founded by [[Æthelflæd|Æthelflæd of Mercia]] in 915 AD as a fortification to guard against Viking invasion at a narrowing of the River Mersey.<ref>{{Harvnb|Nickson|1887|pp=6–13.}}</ref> Under Norman rule, Runcorn fell under the [[Halton (barony)|Barony of Halton]], and an [[Augustinians|Augustinian]] abbey was established there in 1115.<ref name="Greene 1989 1–9">{{Harvnb|Greene|1989|pp=1–9.}}</ref> It remained a small, isolated settlement until the [[Industrial Revolution]], when the extension of the [[Bridgewater Canal]] to Runcorn in 1776 established it as a [[Port of Runcorn|port]] that would link [[Liverpool]] with inland [[Manchester]] and Staffordshire.<ref name="Starkey 1983 19–24">{{Harvnb|Starkey|1983|pp=19–24.}} and {{Harvnb|Starkey|1990|pp=125–130.}}</ref> The docks enabled the growth of industry, initially shipwrights and sandstone quarries. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, it was a spa and health resort, but that ended with the growth of polluting industries, especially soap and chemical works.<ref name="Starkey 1990 133–137">{{Harvnb|Starkey|1990|pp=133–137.}}</ref> In 1964, Runcorn was designated a [[New towns in the United Kingdom|new town]] and expanded eastward, swallowing neighbouring settlements and more than doubling its population.<ref name="New Town Masterplan">{{cite book |last=Ling |first=Arthur |author-link=Arthur Ling |oclc=311425 |url=http://www4.halton.gov.uk/Pages/planning/policyguidance/pdf/evidencebase/Area%2520Specific%2520Evidence/RuncornNewTown/Runcorn_New_Town_Masterplan_(1967).pdf |date=1967 |title=Runcorn New Town Master Plan |publisher=Runcorn Development Corporation |access-date=25 February 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621015846/http://www4.halton.gov.uk/Pages/planning/policyguidance/pdf/evidencebase/Area%20Specific%20Evidence/RuncornNewTown/Runcorn_New_Town_Masterplan_(1967).pdf |archive-date=21 June 2018}}</ref>

Three bridges span the River Mersey and the [[Manchester Ship Canal]] at Runcorn: the [[Silver Jubilee Bridge]], [[Mersey Gateway]], and [[Runcorn Railway Bridge]]. Its location between Liverpool and Manchester and its links to the rail, motorway and canal networks have made it a centre for manufacturing, logistics, and wholesale and retail.<ref name="2011 Census Halton key statistics profile">{{cite web |url=https://www3.halton.gov.uk/Pages/councildemocracy/pdfs/CensusandStatistics/Census2011_SpineCharts.pdf |title=2011 Census Halton key statistics profile |author=Halton Borough Council |website=Census and Statistics |access-date=31 October 2019 |archive-date=19 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819103319/https://www3.halton.gov.uk/Pages/councildemocracy/pdfs/CensusandStatistics/Census2011_SpineCharts.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>