Editing Stoke-on-Trent

{{Short description|City in Staffordshire, England}}
{{For-multi|one of the six towns|Stoke-upon-Trent|the built-up area|Stoke-on-Trent built-up area|the local authority|Stoke-on-Trent City Council}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Stoke-on-Trent<br />{{nobold|Stoke}}
| settlement_type         = [[City status in the United Kingdom|City]] and [[Unitary authorities of England|Unitary authority]]
| image_skyline           = {{multiple image |border=infobox|perrow=1/2|total_width=280|align=center
| image1 = Roofscape, Stoke - geograph.org.uk - 4378045.jpg
| image2 = Bottle Kilns (Eastwood area of Hanley) - geograph.org.uk - 4695324.jpg
| image3 = At Trentham Estate 2022 084.jpg
| image4 = The Potteries Shopping Centre - geograph.org.uk - 2767035.jpg
| image5 = Hanley Park, Caldon Canal - geograph.org.uk - 5182581.jpg
| image6 =
| image7 =}}
| imagesize               = 
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = {{ubl|From left to right:|Top: [[Stoke Minster]] and surrounding skyline|Middle: Bottle Kilns and [[Trentham Estate]]|Bottom: The [[Potteries Shopping Centre]] in [[Hanley]] and [[Hanley Park]]}}
| image_flag              = 
| flag_alt                = 
| image_seal              = 
| seal_alt                = 
| image_shield            = 
| shield_size             = 
| shield_alt              = Coat of arms of Stoke-on-Trent
| shield_link             = Coat_of_arms_of_Stoke-on-Trent.svg
| image_blank_emblem = 
| blank_emblem_size  = 
| blank_emblem_type  =
| blank_emblem_link  =
| etymology               = 
| nickname                = [[Staffordshire Potteries|The Potteries]], [[Federation of Stoke-on-Trent|City of the Six Towns]], Stoke and Stokie
| motto                   = Vis Unita Fortior (united strength is stronger)
| image_map               = Stoke-on-Trent UK locator map.svg
| mapsize                 = 
| map_alt                 = 
| map_caption             = Shown within [[Staffordshire]]
| pushpin_map             = 
| pushpin_map_alt         = 
| pushpin_map_caption     = 
| pushpin_mapsize         = 
| pushpin_label_position  = 
| coordinates             = {{coord|53.0255|-2.1761|type:adm2nd_region:GB-DER|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint           = 
| coordinates_footnotes   =
| grid_name          = [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|OS grid reference]]
| grid_position      = {{Ordnance Survey coordinates |SJ8795145147_type:adm2nd_region:GB-DER |SJ 87951 45147}}
| subdivision_type        = [[Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name        = [[United Kingdom]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Country]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[England]]
| subdivision_type2       = [[Regions of England|Region]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]]
| subdivision_type3       = [[Ceremonial counties of England|Ceremonial county]]
| subdivision_name3       = [[Staffordshire]]
| subdivision_type4       = 
| subdivision_name4       = 
| subdivision_type5       = 
| subdivision_name5       = 
| established_title       = [[County borough|County Borough]] established ([[Burslem]], [[Fenton, Staffordshire|Fenton]], [[Hanley]], [[Longton, Staffordshire|Longton]], [[Stoke-upon-Trent]] and [[Tunstall, Staffordshire|Tunstall]])
| established_date        = 31 March 1910
| established_title1      = [[City status in the United Kingdom|City status]]
| established_date1       = 5 June 1925<ref>{{London Gazette |issue= 33063 |page=4449 |date= 3 July 1925 }}</ref>
| established_title2      = Unitary authority
| established_date2       = [[Local Government Commission for England (1992)|1 April 1998]]
| founder                 = 
| named_for               = 
| seat_type               = Administrative HQ
| seat                    = [[Hanley Town Hall|Hanley]] & [[Stoke-upon-Trent Town Hall|Stoke-upon-Trent]]
| seat1_type              = 
| seat1                   = 
| parts                   = 
<!-- government type, leaders -->
| government_footnotes    = <ref name="Leadership of the Council">{{cite web |url=https://www.derby.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/your-council/leadership-of-the-council/ |title=Leadership of the Council |website=Derby City Council |access-date=12 November 2023}}</ref>
| government_type         = [[Unitary authorities of England|Unitary authority]] with [[Executive arrangements#Leader and cabinet|leader and cabinet]]
| governing_body          = [[Stoke-on-Trent City Council]]
| leader_title            = [[Political make-up of local councils in the United Kingdom|Control]]
| leader_name             = {{English district control|GSS=E06000021}}
| leader_title1           = [[Executive arrangements#Leader and cabinet|Leader]] 
| leader_name1            = Jane Ashworth ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])
| leader_title2           = [[Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent|Lord Mayor]]
| leader_name2            = Lyn Sharpe
| leader_title3           = [[Chief Executive|City Director]]
| leader_name3            = Jon Rouse
| leader_title4           = [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]]
| leader_name4            =
 {{Collapsible list | title = 3 MPs
 | [[Gareth Snell]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])
 | [[David Williams (Stoke-on-Trent North MP)|David Williams]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])
 | [[Allison Gardner]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])
 }}
| parts_type               = Areas of the city<br/><small>(2011 census BUASD)</small>
| p1                       = [[Abbey Hulton]]
| p2                      = [[Baddeley Green]]
| p3                       = [[Bentilee]]
| p4                      = [[Berryhill Fields]]
| p5                       = [[Birches Head]]
| p6                       = [[Blurton]]
| p7                       = [[Bucknall, Staffordshire|Bucknall]]
| p8                       = [[Burslem]] (One of the Six Towns)
| p9                       = [[Chell, Staffordshire|Chell]]
| p10                     = [[Cliffe Vale, Staffordshire|Cliffe Vale]]
| p11                     = [[Cobridge]]
| p12                     = [[Dresden, Staffordshire|Dresden]]
| p13                     = [[Etruria, Staffordshire|Etruria]]
| p14                     = [[Fenton, Staffordshire|Fenton]] (One of the Six Towns)
| p15                     = [[Florence, Staffordshire|Florence]]
| p16                     = [[Goldenhill]]
| p17                     = [[Hanford, Staffordshire|Hanford]]
| p18                     = [[Hanley]] (One of the Six Towns)
| p19                     = [[Hartshill, Staffordshire|Hartshill]]
| p20                     = [[Hem Heath]]
| p21                     = [[Heron Cross]]
| p22                     = [[Lightwood, Stoke-on-Trent|Lightwood]]
| p23                     = [[Longport, Staffordshire|Longport]]
| p24                     = [[Longton, Staffordshire|Longton]] (One of the Six Towns)
| p25                     = [[Meir, Staffordshire|Meir]]
| p26                     = [[Meir Heath]] (Village)
| p27                     = [[Middleport, Staffordshire|Middleport]]
| p28                     = [[Milton, Staffordshire|Milton]]
| p29                     = [[Normacot]]
| p30                     = [[Northwood, Stoke-on-Trent|Northwood]]                
| p31                    = [[Norton le Moors]] (Part)
| p32                    = [[Penkhull]]
| p33                     = [[Shelton, Staffordshire|Shelton]]
| p34                     = [[Sideway]]
| p35                     = [[Smallthorne]]
| p36                     = [[Sneyd Green]]
| p37                     = [[Stoke-upon-Trent]] (One of the Six Towns)         
| p38                    = [[Trentham, Staffordshire|Trentham]]
| p39                    = [[Tunstall, Staffordshire|Tunstall]] (One of the Six Towns)
| p40                     = [[Weston Coyney]]
| total_type              = 
| unit_pref               = Metric
| area_footnotes          = <ref name="OGP">{{cite web |title=Standard Area Measurements for Administrative Areas (December 2022) in the UK (V2) |url=https://geoportal.statistics.gov.uk/datasets/235c70d40c494361bd6b0ddaebdf0bad/about |website=Open Geography Portal |publisher=Office of National Statistics |access-date=6 May 2025}}</ref>
| area_urban_footnotes    = 
| area_rural_footnotes    = 
| area_metro_footnotes    = 
| area_note               = 
| area_water_percent      = 
| area_rank               = [[List of English districts by area|{{English district area rank|GSS=E06000015}}]]
| area_blank1_title       = 
| area_blank2_title       = 
<!-- square kilometers -->
| area_total_km2          = 93.4
| area_land_km2           = 
| area_water_km2          = 
| area_urban_km2          = 
| area_rural_km2          = 
| area_metro_km2          = 
| area_blank1_km2         = 
| area_blank2_km2         = 
| length_km               = 
| width_km                = 
| dimensions_footnotes    = 
| elevation_footnotes     = 
| elevation_m             = 
| population_footnotes    = <ref name="popstats">{{United Kingdom district population citation}}</ref>
| population_as_of        = {{English statistics year}}
| population_total        = 259,965
| population_rank         = [[List of English districts by population|{{English district rank|GSS=E06000021}}]]
| population_density_km2  = {{English district density|GSS=E06000021}}
| population_density_rank = 
| population_est          = 
| pop_est_as_of           = 
| pop_est_footnotes       = 
| population_urban        = 
| population_density_urban_km2 = 
| population_metro        = 
| population_density_metro_km2 = 
| population_note         = 
| population_demonym      = Stokie
<!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| demographics_type1      = Ethnicity <span style="font-weight:normal;">([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]])</span>
| demographics1_footnotes = 
| demographics1_title1    = [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|Ethnic groups]]
| demographics1_info1     =
 {{Collapsible list
 | 88.6% [[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]
 | 7.4% [[British Asians|Asian]]
 | 1.8% [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]]
 | 1.5% [[Black British people|Black]]
 | 0.7% [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|other]]
 }}
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->
| demographics_type2      = Religion <span style="font-weight:normal;">(2021)</span>
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis">{{NOMIS2021|id=E06000021|title=Stoke-on-Trent Local Authority|access-date=5 January 2024}}</ref>
| demographics2_title1    = [[Religion in England|Religion]]
| demographics2_info1     =
 {{Collapsible list
 | 60.9% [[Religion in England#Christianity|Christianity]]
 | 25.2% [[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|no religion]]
 | 6.0% [[Islam in England|Islam]]
 | 0.6% [[Hinduism in England|Hinduism]]
 | 0.4% [[Religion in England|other]]
 | 0.3% [[Buddhism in England|Buddhism]]
 | 0.2% [[Sikhism in England|Sikhism]]
 | 0.1% [[History of the Jews in England|Judaism]]
 | 6.4% not stated
 }}
| timezone1               = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
| utc_offset1             = +0
| timezone1_DST           = [[British Summer Time|BST]]
| utc_offset1_DST         = +1
| postal_code_type        = [[Postcodes in the United Kingdom|Postcode area]]
| postal_code             = [[ST postcode area|ST]]1-4, 6-9, 12
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom|Dialling code]]
| area_code               = 01782
| area_codes              = 01
| iso_code                = [[ISO 3166-2:GB|GB-STE]]
| code1_name              = [[GSS coding system|GSS code]]
| code1_info              = E06000021
| code2_name              = [[International Territorial Level|ITL code]]
| code2_info              = UKG23
<!-- GVA -->
| blank_name_sec1         = [[Gross value added|GVA]]
| blank_info_sec1         = 
| blank1_name_sec1        = {{•}}Total
| blank1_info_sec1        = [[Pound sterling|£]]7.5 billion
| blank2_name_sec1        = {{•}}Per capita
| blank2_info_sec1        = £28,627
<!-- GDP -->
| blank_name_sec2         = [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] (nominal)
| blank_info_sec2         = 
| blank1_name_sec2        = {{•}}Total
| blank1_info_sec2        = 
| blank2_name_sec2        = {{•}}Per capita
| blank2_info_sec2        = 
| website                 = {{URL|stoke.gov.uk}}
| module                  = 
| footnotes               = 
}}
'''Stoke-on-Trent''' (often abbreviated to '''Stoke''') is a city and [[Unitary authorities of England|unitary authority area]] in [[Staffordshire]], England. It has an estimated population of 259,965 as of 2022,<ref>{{cite web |title=Stoke-on-Trent Population Change |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/censuspopulationchange/E06000021/ |website=ons.gov,uk |access-date=November 21, 2023}}</ref><ref name="2019-pop">{{cite web |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/populationestimatesforukenglandandwalesscotlandandnorthernireland |title=Estimates of the population for the UK, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland |website=[[Office for National Statistics]]|access-date=24 January 2021}}</ref> making it the largest settlement in Staffordshire and one of the largest cities of the [[Midlands]]. Stoke is surrounded by the towns of [[Newcastle-under-Lyme]], [[Alsager]], [[Kidsgrove]] and [[Biddulph]], which form a [[conurbation]] around the city.

The city is [[wikt:polycentric|polycentric]], formed from [[Federation of Stoke-on-Trent|the federation of six towns]] in 1910. It took its name from the town of [[Stoke-upon-Trent]] where the main centre of government and the principal [[Stoke-on-Trent railway station|railway station]] in the district were located. [[Hanley]] is the primary commercial centre. The other four towns which form the city are [[Burslem]], [[Tunstall, Staffordshire|Tunstall]], [[Longton, Staffordshire|Longton]] and [[Fenton, Staffordshire|Fenton]].

The home of the [[pottery]] industry in England, it is known as [[Staffordshire Potteries|The Potteries]]. It is a centre for [[Tertiary sector of the economy|service industries]] and [[Distribution (marketing)|distribution centres]]. It formerly had a primarily [[heavy industry]] sector.

== History ==
=== Toponymy and etymology ===
The name ''Stoke'' is taken from the town of [[Stoke-upon-Trent]], the original [[civil parish|ancient parish]], with other settlements being [[Chapelry|chapelries]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2835945.stm Mayor backs Stoke name change] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111204844/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2835945.stm |date=11 January 2009 }}, BBC News, 10 March 2003</ref> ''Stoke'' derives from the [[Old English]] ''stoc'', a word that at first meant little more than ''place'', but which subsequently gained more specific – but divergent – connotations. These variant meanings included ''dairy farm'', ''secondary or dependent place or farm'', ''summer pasture'', ''crossing place'', ''meeting place'' and ''place of worship''. It is unknown which of these was intended here, and all are plausible. 

The most frequently suggested interpretations derive from a crossing point on the [[Roman roads|Roman road]] that ran from present-day [[Derby]] to [[Chesterton, Staffordshire|Chesterton]] or the early presence of a [[Stoke Minster|church]], said to have been founded in 670 AD. Because ''Stoke'' was such a common name for a settlement, some kind of distinguishing [[affix]] was usually added later, in this case, the name of the [[River Trent|river]].

The motto of Stoke-on-Trent is ''Vis Unita Fortior'' which can be translated as: United Strength is Stronger, or Strength United is the More Powerful, or A United Force is Stronger.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thepotteries.org/sot/index.htm|title=Facts and figures about Stoke-on-Trent|access-date=10 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922015728/http://www.thepotteries.org/sot/index.htm|archive-date=22 September 2008|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Administration ===
{{See also|Federation of Stoke-on-Trent}}
An early proposal for a federation took place in 1888 when an amendment was raised to the [[Local Government Act 1888|Local Government Bill]] which would have made the six towns into districts within a county of "Staffordshire Potteries". On 1 April 1910 the "Six Towns" were brought together. The [[county borough]] of Hanley, the [[municipal borough]]s of Burslem, Longton, and Stoke, together with the [[Urban district (England and Wales)|urban districts]] of Tunstall and Fenton now formed a single county borough of Stoke-on-Trent.<ref>{{cite news |title=A New County Borough |work=The Times |location=UK |date=21 March 1910}}</ref>

In 1919, the borough proposed to expand further and annex the neighbouring borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme and the [[Wolstanton United Urban District]], both to the west of Stoke. This never took place, due to strong objections from Newcastle Corporation.<ref>{{cite news |title="Greater Potteries" Scheme: Extension of Stoke-on-Trent |work=The Times |location=UK |date=25 April 1919}}</ref> A further attempt was made in 1930, with the promotion of the Stoke-on-Trent Extension Bill.<ref>{{cite news |title=Stoke-on-Trent Bill: Extension of the City |work=The Times |location=UK |date=2 May 1930}}</ref> Ultimately, Wolstanton was instead added to Newcastle-under-Lyme in 1932. Although attempts to merge Newcastle, Wolstanton and [[Kidsgrove]] (north of Tunstall) were never successful, the borough expanded in 1922, taking in [[Smallthorne Urban District]] and parts of other parishes from [[Stoke upon Trent Rural District]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Beckett |first1=J. V. |title=City status in the British Isles, 1830–2002 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jqqSSOyjBEoC |year=2005 |publisher=Ashgate |isbn=978-0-7546-5067-6 }}</ref>

The borough was granted [[city status in the United Kingdom|city status]] in 1925, with a [[lord mayor]] from 1928. When the county borough of Stoke-on-Trent initially applied for city status in 1925, citing its importance as the centre of the pottery industry, it was refused by the [[Home Office]] as it had fewer than 300,000 inhabitants. The decision was overturned, when a direct approach was made to [[George V|King George V]], who agreed that the borough ought to be a city. The public announcement of the elevation to city status was made by the king during a visit to Stoke in June 1925.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Beckett |first1=J. V. |title=City status in the British Isles, 1830–2002 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jqqSSOyjBEoC |year=2005 |publisher=Ashgate |isbn=978-0-7546-5067-6 }}</ref>

The county borough was abolished in 1974. Stoke became a [[non-metropolitan district]] of Staffordshire. Its status as a unitary authority was restored in April 1997. It remains part of the [[Ceremonial counties of England|ceremonial county]] of Staffordshire. For [[Eurostat]] purposes it is a [[International Territorial Level|ITL 3 region]] (code TLG31).

=== Industry ===
==== Pottery ====
[[File:Restored bottle kilns, Stoke-on-Trent - geograph.org.uk - 1578523.jpg|thumb|left|Restored bottle kilns, Stoke-on-Trent]]
[[File:Dudson Ware.jpg|thumb|''Colorado Bouillons Regina'' and teapots, vitrified tableware by Dudson Brothers Ltd.]]
[[File:Porcelain teapot, Walker Art Gallery (1).jpg|thumb|Porcelain teapot by Henry and Richard Daniel, 1830]]
Since the 17th century, the area has been almost exclusively known for its industrial-scale pottery manufacturing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thepotteries.org/sot/five.htm|title=all about Stoke-on-Trent in 5 minutes...|access-date=10 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915190319/http://www.thepotteries.org/sot/five.htm|archive-date=15 September 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> Companies such as [[Royal Doulton]], [[Dudson]], [[Spode]] (founded by [[Josiah Spode]]), [[Wedgwood]] (founded by [[Josiah Wedgwood]]), [[Mintons|Minton]] (founded by [[Thomas Minton]]) and Baker & Co. (founded by William Baker) were established and based there. The local abundance of coal and clay suitable for earthenware production led to the early (initially limited) development of the local pottery industry. The construction of the [[Trent and Mersey Canal]] (completed in 1777) enabled the import of [[Kaolinite|china clay]] from [[Cornwall]] together with other materials and facilitated the production of [[creamware]] and [[bone china]].

Other production centres in Britain, Europe and worldwide had a considerable lead in the production of high-quality wares. Methodical and highly detailed research and experimentation, carried out over many years, nurtured the development of artistic talent throughout the local community and raised the profile of [[Staffordshire Potteries]]. This was spearheaded by one man, [[Josiah Wedgwood]], who cut the first sod for the canal in 1766 and erected his [[Etruria Works]] that year. 

Wedgwood built upon the successes of earlier local potters such as his mentor [[Thomas Whieldon]] and along with scientists and engineers, raised the pottery business to a new level. [[Josiah Spode]] introduced [[bone china]] at Trent in 1796, and [[Thomas Minton]] opened his manufactory. With the industry came a large number of notable 20th-century ceramic artists including [[Clarice Cliff]], [[Susie Cooper]], [[Charlotte Rhead]], [[Frederick Hurten Rhead]] and [[Jabez Vodrey]].

==== Coal mining ====
[[File:Film Photo Whitfield Colliery.jpg|thumb|Chatterley Whitfield Colliery]]
North Staffordshire was a centre for coal mining. The first reports of coal mining in the area come from the 13th century.<ref name=staffspasttrack/> The Potteries Coalfield (part of the North Staffordshire Coalfield) covers {{convert|100|sqmi|km2|-2}}.<ref name=staffspasttrack>{{cite web |url=http://www.staffspasttrack.org.uk/exhibit/coal/historical%20overview/historicaloverview.htm |title=Coal Mining in North Staffordshire |publisher=Staffordshire County Council, Keele University, Staffordshire Learning Net |work=Staffordshire Past Track |access-date=20 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070531060704/http://www.staffspasttrack.org.uk/exhibit/coal/historical%20overview/historicaloverview.htm |archive-date=31 May 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Striking coal miners in the [[Hanley, Staffordshire|Hanley]] and [[Longton, Staffordshire|Longton]] area ignited the nationwide [[1842 general strike]] and its associated [[1842 Pottery Riots|Pottery Riots]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Fyson |first=R |editor1-first=Epstein |editor1-last=J |editor2-last=Thompson |editor2-first=D |title=The Chartist Experience: Studies in Working-Class Radicalism and Culture, 1830–1860 |publisher=Macmillan |location=London |year=1982 |chapter=The Crisis of 1842: Chartism, the Colliers' Strike and the Outbreak in the Potteries |pages=[https://archive.org/details/chartistexperien0000unse/page/194 194–195, 214–216] |isbn=978-0-333-32972-6 |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/chartistexperien0000unse/page/194 }}</ref>

When coal mining was [[National Coal Board|nationalised]] in 1947, about 20,000 men worked in the industry in Stoke-on-Trent. Notable collieries included Hanley Deep Pit, Trentham Superpit (formerly Hem Heath, Stafford and Florence Collieries), Fenton Glebe, [[Silverdale, Staffordshire#Silverdale Colliery|Silverdale]], Victoria, Mossfield, Parkhall, Norton, [[Chatterley Whitfield]] and [[Wolstanton]].<ref name=staffspasttrack/> The industry developed greatly, and new investments in mining projects were planned within the City boundaries as recently as the 1990s.<ref>[http://www.stokecoll.ac.uk/NSCFWEB/Sentinel/1991.htm stokecoll.ac.uk] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081229144432/http://www.stokecoll.ac.uk/NSCFWeb/Sentinel/1991.htm |date=29 December 2008 }} Evening Sentinel (28 March 1991) Page 22 Co.</ref> However, 1994 saw the last pit to close as the Trentham Superpit was shut.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.urbed.com/cgi-bin/main.cgi?org_code=fffgggretyuiopef57&option=article&doc_id=44 |title=Trentham Lakes – Successful URBED strategy |access-date=20 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928060150/http://www.urbed.com/cgi-bin/main.cgi?org_code=fffgggretyuiopef57&option=article&doc_id=44 |archive-date=28 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The Stoke mining industry set several national and international records. [[Wolstanton]] Colliery, when modernised, had the deepest mining shafts in Europe at 3,197&nbsp;ft.<ref>{{ISBN|978-0-19-955129-3}} The Riches Beneath our Feet: How Mining Shaped Britain by Geoff Coyle (2010)</ref> In 1933, Chatterley Whitfield Colliery became the first Colliery in the country to mine one million tons of coal. In the 1980s Florence Colliery in [[Longton, Staffordshire|Longton]] repeatedly set regional and national production records; in 1992 the combined Trentham Superpit (Hem Heath and Florence) was the first mine in Europe to produce 2.5&nbsp;million saleable tonnes of coal.

Today the mines are all closed, though the scars of mining remain on the landscape. Slag heaps are still visible on the skyline, now covered with flora and fauna. The [[Chatterley Whitfield]] site reopened as a museum two years after its closure in 1976. The museum closed in 1991 and the site became a [[Local Nature Reserve]]. It was declared a [[scheduled monument]] by [[English Heritage]] in 1993.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.lnr.naturalengland.org.uk/Special/lnr/lnr_details.asp?C=0&N=&ID=508 |title=Local Nature Reserves – Whitfield Valley<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=20 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020222247/http://www.lnr.naturalengland.org.uk/Special/lnr/lnr_details.asp?C=0&N=&ID=508 |archive-date=20 October 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.chatwhitfriends.org.uk/ |title=The Friends of Chatterley Whitfield<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=20 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216080920/http://www.chatwhitfriends.org.uk/ |archive-date=16 February 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> The abandoned subterranean mines are inaccessible, though they still add complications to many building projects and occasionally cause minor tremors, detectable only by specialised equipment.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/8486316.stm|title=Mine works cause tremors in Stoke-on-Trent |date=28 January 2010|work=BBC News |access-date=29 January 2010}}</ref>

==== Steel ====
The iron and steel industries occupied important roles in the development of the city, both before and after the federation. Especially notable were those mills located in the valley at Goldendale and [[Shelton, Staffordshire|Shelton]] below the hill towns of [[Tunstall, Staffordshire|Tunstall]], Burslem and Hanley. [[Shelton Bar|Shelton Steelworks]]' production of steel ended in 1978—instead of producing crude steel, they concentrated on rolling steel billet which was transported from [[Scunthorpe]] by rail. The rolling plant finally closed in 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.search.exploringthepotteries.org.uk/engine/resource/default.asp?theme=451&originator=%2Fengine%2Ftheme%2Fdefault%2Easp&page=&records=&direction=&pointer=2191&text=1&resource=553 |title=Blast furnace demolition at Shelton Bar Steel Works |access-date=20 May 2007 |publisher=Stoke-on-Trent museum |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928043758/http://www.search.exploringthepotteries.org.uk/engine/resource/default.asp?theme=451&originator=%2Fengine%2Ftheme%2Fdefault.asp&page=&records=&direction=&pointer=2191&text=1&resource=553 |archive-date=28 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> From 1864 to 1927 Stoke housed the [[Stoke railway works|repair shops]] of the [[North Staffordshire Railway]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Edgar J |last2=Larkin |first2=John G |year=1988 |title=The Railway Workshops of Great Britain 1823–1986 |publisher=Macmillan Press |isbn=978-0-333-39431-1}}</ref> and was the home of independent railway locomotive manufacturers [[Kerr, Stuart and Company]] from 1881 to 1930.<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Kerr Stuart Wren Class |last=Horsman |first=Geoffrey |journal=The Industrial Railway Record |issue=5 & 6 |pages=85–99 |date=December 1964 |url=http://www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/5+6/KS_Wren.htm |access-date=20 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629072457/http://www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/5+6/KS_Wren.htm |archive-date=29 June 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Shelton Steel Works and the mining operations were heavily involved in the [[World War II]] industrial effort. Central to the [[Royal Air Force|RAF]]'s success was the [[Supermarine Spitfire]] designed by [[R. J. Mitchell|Reginald Mitchell]] who, whilst born at 115 Congleton Road in the nearby village of [[Butt Lane]], had his [[apprenticeship]] at Kerr, Stuart and Company's railway works.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/local_heroes/g_m/mitchell.shtml |title=Hugh Bourne, the religious reformer who also promoted social change |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |work=BBC Stoke & Staffordshire |year=2002 |access-date=20 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821005731/http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/local_heroes/g_m/mitchell.shtml |archive-date=21 August 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Other ====
The [[Michelin]] tyre company has a presence in Stoke-on-Trent, and in the 1920s built their first UK plant in the city. In the 1980s nearly 9,000 workers were employed at the plant. In 2006 about 1,200 worked there.<ref>{{cite web|title=EMCC: Managing large-scale restructuring: Michelin Stoke-on-Trent|url=http://www.emcc.eurofound.europa.eu/publications/2006/ef0548enC8.pdf|website=eurofound.europa.eu/|access-date=8 August 2014|year=2006}}{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> [[RAF Meir]] was located on the outskirts of the city.

==Geography==

=== Location ===
[[File:Tunstall tower square.jpg|thumb|Tunstall Tower Square.]]

Stoke-on-Trent has an area of {{convert|36|sqmi|km2|0}}.<ref name="Meir Heath, England">{{cite web |title=Meir Heath, England |url=https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=47256 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110014030/https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=47256 |archive-date=10 January 2019 |access-date=9 January 2019}}</ref> It is located between [[Manchester]], [[Wolverhampton]] and [[Birmingham]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/content/cc/about-stoke-on-trent.en |title=Stoke-on-Trent – a changing city |publisher=Stoke-on-Trent City Council |access-date=20 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051201232904/http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/content/cc/about-stoke-on-trent.en |archive-date=1 December 2005 |url-status=dead }}</ref> on the [[M6 motorway|M6]] corridor in the [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]] region. It lies on the upper valley of the [[River Trent]] at the south-west foothills of the [[Pennines]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thepotteries.org/sot/|title=Facts and figures about Stoke-on-Trent|access-date=15 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304044151/http://www.thepotteries.org/sot/|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> near the uplands of the [[Peak District]] to the north-east and the lowlands of the [[The Midlands|Midlands]] and [[Cheshire Plain]] to the south and west. The city ranges from 96 to 250 metres (315 to 820&nbsp;ft) above sea level.

As well as [[Newcastle-under-Lyme]], which adjoins it to the west, other nearby towns include [[Crewe]], [[Nantwich]], [[Alsager]], [[Congleton]], [[Biddulph]], [[Kidsgrove]], [[Stafford]], [[Uttoxeter]], [[Eccleshall]], [[Cheadle, Staffordshire|Cheadle]], [[Stone, Staffordshire|Stone]] and [[Leek, Staffordshire|Leek]].

=== The Five Towns conurbation ===
Stoke-on-Trent is often known as "the city of five towns", the name given to it by local novelist [[Arnold Bennett]], and is the only [[wikt:polycentric|polycentric city]] in the UK. In his novels, Bennett used mostly recognisable aliases for five of the six towns, although he called Stoke "Knype". Bennett said that he believed "Five Towns" was more euphonious than "Six Towns", so he omitted Fenton, now sometimes referred to as "the forgotten town". As it is a city made up of multiple towns, the city forms a [[conurbation]]. In this case, the conurbation is bigger than Stoke itself, because the urban area of Stoke is contiguous with that of administratively separate Newcastle.

The six towns run in a rough line from north to south along the [[A50 road]] – Tunstall, Burslem, Hanley, Stoke, Fenton and Longton. Although the city is named after the original town of Stoke, and the City Council offices are located there, the city centre is usually regarded as being in Hanley, which had earlier developed into a major commercial centre.

For [[Eurostat]] purposes, it is a [[NUTS statistical regions of the United Kingdom|NUTS 3 region]] (code UKG23); it is also one of four counties or unitary districts that compose the Shropshire and Staffordshire NUTS 2 region.

===Suburbs===
As well as the Six Towns, there are numerous suburbs. These include [[Abbey Hulton]], [[Stockton Brook]], [[Adderley Green]], Ball Green, [[Baddeley Green]], [[Bentilee]], [[Birches Head]], [[Blurton]], [[Bucknall, Staffordshire|Bucknall]], [[Bradeley]], [[Chell, Staffordshire|Chell]], [[Cliffe Vale, Staffordshire|Cliffe Vale]], [[Cobridge]], [[Dresden, Staffordshire|Dresden]], [[Etruria, Staffordshire|Etruria]], Fegg Hayes, Florence, [[Goldenhill]], [[Hartshill, Staffordshire|Hartshill]], [[Heron Cross]], [[Meir, Staffordshire|Meir]], Meir Park, Meir Hay, [[Middleport, Staffordshire|Middleport]], [[Milton, Staffordshire|Milton]],Newstead,Normacot, Northwood, [[Norton le Moors]], Oakhill, Packmoor, [[Penkhull]], Sandyford, [[Shelton, Staffordshire|Shelton]], [[Smallthorne]], [[Sneyd Green]], [[Trentham, Staffordshire|Trentham]], [[Trent Vale]] and [[Weston Coyney]]. [[Blythe Bridge]], [[Werrington, Staffordshire|Werrington]] and [[Endon]], although outside the city's boundaries, are part of the built-up area.

===Climate===
Stoke-on-Trent, as with all of the United Kingdom, experiences a temperate [[maritime climate]], lacking in weather extremes. The local area is a little more elevated than much of Staffordshire and Cheshire, resulting in cooler temperatures year-round compared to the nearby Cheshire Plain. On calm, clear nights this is often reversed as cold air drainage causes a [[temperature inversion]] to occur. As such, the Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle areas are generally not susceptible to severe frosts. The nearest [[Met Office]] weather station is [[Keele University]], about four miles west of the city centre.

The absolute high temperature is {{convert|36.1|C|F}},<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/ukobs/maxtemp_map.php
|title=Maximum Temperatures observed on 19th July 2022 at 18Z (SYNOP)/21Z (Midas) UTC (263 reports).
|access-date=2 February 2023
}}</ref> recorded in July 2022. More typically the average warmest day of the year should be {{convert|27.0|C|F}}.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=TXx&stationid=1854
|title=Annual average maximum
|access-date=1 March 2011
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507121628/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=TXx&stationid=1854
|archive-date=7 May 2012
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Just under fourteen days per year have a temperature of 25.1&nbsp;°C (77.2&nbsp;°F) or above.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=SU&stationid=1854
|title=1971-00 &gt;25c days
|access-date=1 March 2011
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507121641/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=SU&stationid=1854
|archive-date=7 May 2012
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

The absolute minimum temperature stands at −13.3&nbsp;°C (8.1&nbsp;°F),<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=7&year=1963&indexid=TNn&stationid=1854
|title=1963 minimum
|access-date=1 March 2011
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507121649/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=7&year=1963&indexid=TNn&stationid=1854
|archive-date=7 May 2012
|url-status=live
}}</ref> recorded in January 1963. In an average year, 48.3 air frosts are registered.

Rainfall averages around 806&nbsp;mm a year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/gcqmkqe11|title=Keele climate information 1981-2010|publisher=Met Office|access-date=22 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016235810/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/gcqmkqe11|archive-date=16 October 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Weather box|location = [[Keele University]],{{efn|Weather station is located {{convert|4.3|mi|1|abbr=out}} from the Stoke-on-Trent city centre.}} elevation: {{convert|178|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1960–present
| collapsed    = 
| metric first = y
| single line  = y
| Jan record high C = 13.3
| Feb record high C = 15.4
| Mar record high C = 20.6
| Apr record high C = 23.7
| May record high C = 25.9
| Jun record high C = 32.5
| Jul record high C = 36.1
| Aug record high C = 32.9
| Sep record high C = 26.5
| Oct record high C = 26.8
| Nov record high C = 17.3
| Dec record high C = 14.4
| Jan high C = 6.2
| Feb high C = 6.5
| Mar high C = 9.1
| Apr high C = 11.8
| May high C = 15.1
| Jun high C = 17.6
| Jul high C = 20.4
| Aug high C = 19.9
| Sep high C = 16.9
| Oct high C = 13.0
| Nov high C = 9.0
| Dec high C = 6.4
| year high C = 12.8
| Jan mean C = 3.7
| Feb mean C = 3.8
| Mar mean C = 5.9
| Apr mean C = 7.9
| May mean C = 11.0
| Jun mean C = 13.7
| Jul mean C = 16.0
| Aug mean C = 15.8
| Sep mean C = 13.3
| Oct mean C = 9.9
| Nov mean C = 6.4
| Dec mean C = 3.9
| year mean C = 9.3
| Jan low C = 1.1
| Feb low C = 0.5
| Mar low C = 2.6
| Apr low C = 4.0
| May low C = 6.9
| Jun low C = 9.6
| Jul low C = 11.9
| Aug low C = 11.6
| Sep low C = 9.7
| Oct low C = 6.8
| Nov low C = 3.7
| Dec low C = 1.9
| year low C = 5.9
| Jan record low C = -13.3
| Feb record low C = -11.0
| Mar record low C = -9.4
| Apr record low C = -4.7
| May record low C = -2.8
| Jun record low C = 1.4
| Jul record low C = 5.0
| Aug record low C = 4.6
| Sep record low C = 1.1
| Oct record low C = -2.5
| Nov record low C = -7.0
| Dec record low C = -12.5
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 67.9
| Feb precipitation mm = 48.3
| Mar precipitation mm = 58.0
| Apr precipitation mm = 58.5
| May precipitation mm = 62.7
| Jun precipitation mm = 67.3
| Jul precipitation mm = 62.1
| Aug precipitation mm = 75.4
| Sep precipitation mm = 69.1
| Oct precipitation mm = 82.7
| Nov precipitation mm = 76.7
| Dec precipitation mm = 77.4
| year precipitation mm = 806.1
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 13.2
| Feb precipitation days = 10.4
| Mar precipitation days = 13.0
| Apr precipitation days = 11.6
| May precipitation days = 10.8
| Jun precipitation days = 11.0
| Jul precipitation days = 11.3
| Aug precipitation days = 11.6
| Sep precipitation days = 10.6
| Oct precipitation days = 13.4
| Nov precipitation days = 13.5
| Dec precipitation days = 13.4
| year precipitation days = 143.6
| Jan sun = 52.6
| Feb sun = 71.7
| Mar sun = 100.4
| Apr sun = 143.9
| May sun = 182.0
| Jun sun = 159.4
| Jul sun = 178.5
| Aug sun = 167.1
| Sep sun = 123.4
| Oct sun = 100.2
| Nov sun = 58.1
| Dec sun = 45.5
| year sun = 1382.9
| source 1 = [[Met Office]]<ref name="Met Averages">{{cite web |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gcqmkqe11|title= Keele 1981–2010 averages |access-date=6 February 2020|publisher=Met Office}}</ref>
| source 2 = [[Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute|KNMI]]<ref>{{cite web| url = https://eca.knmi.nl//download/millennium/millennium.php| title = Indices Data - Keele 1854| access-date = 6 February 2020| publisher = [[KNMI (institute)|KNMI]]| archive-date = 9 July 2018| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180709010608/https://eca.knmi.nl//download/millennium/millennium.php| url-status = dead}}</ref>

}}

=== Green belt ===
{{main|Stoke-on-Trent Green Belt}}
Stoke is at the centre of the Stoke-on-Trent Green Belt, which is an [[environmental policy|environment]] and [[Planning in the United Kingdom|planning]] policy that regulates the rural space in Staffordshire surrounding the city and Newcastle-under-Lyme, and extending into Cheshire. It is in place to prevent [[urban sprawl]] and minimise further convergence with outlying settlements such as Kidsgrove and [[Biddulph]].<ref name="stoke-belt"/> First defined in 1967,<ref name="stoke-belt">{{cite web|title=Joint local plan Green Belt assessment november 2017 - Stoke-on-Trent|url=https://www.stoke.gov.uk/downloads/download/561/joint_local_plan_green_belt_assessment_november_2017|website=www.stoke.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=16 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216143823/https://www.stoke.gov.uk/downloads/download/561/joint_local_plan_green_belt_assessment_november_2017|archive-date=16 February 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> the vast majority of area covered is outside the city. 

There are some landscape features and places of interest that are covered by the designation, mainly along its fringes. These include the Trentham and Goldenhill golf courses, Hem Heath Wood Nature Reserve, Meir Heath, Barlaston Common, Caverswall Cricket Club, Park Hall Nature Reserve, [[Chatterley Whitfield]] Country Park and Enterprise Centre, the villages of [[Baddeley Edge]] and Ravenscliffe, Bucknall Reservoir, Caldon Canal, the River Blythe, and the Head of Trent, [[Wedgwood Museum|Wedgwood Museum and estate]], Strongford Treatment Works and Trent Vale Pumping Station.

== Demographics ==
{|class="wikitable floatright"
|+ [[2011 United Kingdom census]]<ref>{{cite web|title=2011 Census: Key Statistics for Local Authorities in England and Wales|url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/2011censuskeystatisticsforlocalauthoritiesinenglandandwales|website=www.ons.gov.uk|publisher=Office for National Statistics|access-date=9 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410024041/http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/2011censuskeystatisticsforlocalauthoritiesinenglandandwales|archive-date=10 April 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! scope="col" | Country of birth
! scope="col" | Population
|-
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} United Kingdom || 228,294
|-
| {{flagicon|Poland}} Poland || 1,801
|-
| {{flagicon|Germany}} Germany || 693
|-
| {{flagicon|Ireland}} Ireland || 571
|-
| {{flagicon|Italy}} Italy || 324
|-
| {{flagicon|Nigeria}} Nigeria || 323
|-
| {{flagicon|Turkey}} Turkey || 257
|-
| {{flagicon|Ghana}} Ghana || 154
|-
| {{flagicon|Kenya}} Kenya || 150
|-
| {{flagicon|Portugal}} Portugal || 125
|-
| {{flagicon|Lithuania}} Lithuania ||  122
|-
| {{flagicon|Romania}} Romania || 101
|-
| {{flagicon|France}} France || 91
|-
| {{flagicon|Spain}} Spain || 71
|}
In the [[2011 United Kingdom census|2011 census]], the population of the city was 249,008.<ref name="ukcensusdata1">{{cite web |author=Good Stuff IT Services |url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/stoke-on-trent-e06000021 |title=Stoke-on-Trent - UK Census Data 2011 |publisher=Ukcensusdata.com |access-date=31 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031130317/http://www.ukcensusdata.com/stoke-on-trent-e06000021 |archive-date=31 October 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> This was a modest increase from the 240,636 recorded in the [[2001 United Kingdom census|2001 census]]. 50.2% of the population is female.<ref name="ukcensusdata1"/> 91.68% of the population of Stoke-on-Trent were born in the UK.<ref name="ukcensusdata1"/> 

86.43% of the population identified themselves as [[White British]], 4.19% identified as [[British Pakistanis|British Pakistani]], and 1.88% identified as [[Other White]]. 1.35% identified as Other Asian and 1.36% as [[Black people|Black]].<ref name="ukcensusdata1"/> Regarding religion, 60.89% described themselves as [[Christianity|Christian]], 6.02% as [[Muslims|Muslim]] and 25.19% had no religion. 14.28% of the population was retired and 5.61% were students.<ref name="ukcensusdata1"/>

=== Ethnicity ===
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed wiki table"
! rowspan="3" |Ethnic Group
! colspan="10" |Year
|-
! colspan="2" |1981 estimations<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/ethnicityin1991c0000unse |title=Ethnicity in the 1991 census: Vol 3 - Social geography and ethnicity in Britain, geographical spread, spatial concentration and internal migration |date=1996 |publisher=London : HMSO |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-0-11-691655-6}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1991 census<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/ethnicityin1991c0000unse |title=Ethnicity in the 1991 census: Vol 3 - Social geography and ethnicity in Britain, geographical spread, spatial concentration and internal migration |date=1996 |publisher=London : HMSO |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-0-11-691655-6}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2001 census<ref>{{cite web |title=Office of National Statistics; 2001 Census Key Statistics |url=https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20160105160709/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/census-2001-key-statistics/local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/local-authorities-ks06--ethnic-group.xls |access-date=2021-09-07 |website=webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2011 census<ref name=":36">{{Cite web |title=2011 Census: Ethnic Group, local authorities in England and Wales |url=https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20160105160709/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/rft-table-ks201ew.xls |access-date=2021-12-15 |website=webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2021 census<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ethnic group - Office for National Statistics |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/datasets/TS021/editions/2021/versions/1/filter-outputs/d2f0a39a-75b6-4995-b4bd-a5b68ff79027#get-data |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=www.ons.gov.uk}}</ref>
|-
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
![[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]: Total
!243,216
!96.1%
!245,046
!96.8%
!228,107
!94.8%
!220,712
!88.6%
!215,699
!83.5%
|-
|White: [[White British|British]]
|
|
|–
|–
|225,197
|93.6%
|215,222
|86.4%
|202,906
|78.5%
|-
|White: [[White Irish|Irish]]
|
|
|–
|–
|907
|0.4%
|636
|0.3%
|572
|0.2%
|-
|White: [[White Gypsy or Irish Traveller|Gypsy or Irish Traveller]]
|
|
|–
|–
|–
|–
|183
|0.1%
|295
|0.1%
|-
|White: Roma
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|428
|0.2%
|-
|White: [[Other White|Other]]
|
|
|–
|–
|2,003
|0.8%
|4,671
|1.9%
|11,498
|4.5%
|-
![[British Asian|Asian or Asian British]]: Total
!7,281
!2.9%
!6,128
!2.4%
!8,888
!3.7%
!18,442
!7.4%
!25,597
!9.9%
|-
|Asian or Asian British: [[British Indians|Indian]]
|1,196
|0.5%
|898
|0.4%
|1,102
|0.5%
|2,329
|0.9%
|2,772
|1.1%
|-
|Asian or Asian British: [[British Pakistanis|Pakistani]]
|5,007
|2.0%
|4,316
|1.7%
|6,360
|2.6%
|10,429
|4.2%
|15,579
|6.0%
|-
|Asian or Asian British: [[British Bangladeshis|Bangladeshi]]
|343
|0.1%
|309
|0.1%
|572
|0.2%
|1,097
|0.4%
|1,577
|0.6%
|-
|Asian or Asian British: [[British Chinese|Chinese]]
|441
|0.2%
|349
|0.1%
|400
|0.2%
|1,224
|0.5%
|1,073
|0.4%
|-
|Asian or Asian British: Other Asian
|294
|0.1%
|256
|0.1%
|454
|0.2%
|3,363
|1.4%
|4,596
|1.8%
|-
![[Black British people|Black or Black British]]: Total
!1,868
!0.7%
!1,296
!0.5%
!1,076
!0.4%
!3,741
!1.5%
!6,884
!2.8%
|-
|Black or Black British: [[British African-Caribbean people|African]]
|201
|0.1%
|145
|0.1%
|275
|0.1%
|2,536
|1.0%
|5,048
|2.0%
|-
|Black or Black British: [[British African-Caribbean people|Caribbean]]
|1,026
|0.4%
|671
|0.3%
|614
|0.3%
|834
|0.3%
|916
|0.4%
|-
|Black or Black British: [[Classification of ethnicity in the United Kingdom|Other Black]]
|641
|0.3%
|480
|0.2%
|187
|0.1%
|371
|0.1%
|920
|0.4%
|-
![[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed or British Mixed]]: Total
!
!
!–
!–
!2,143
!0.9%
!4,491
!1.8%
!5,860
!2.3%
|-
|Mixed: White and Black Caribbean
|
|
|–
|–
|990
|0.4%
|1,892
|0.8%
|2,040
|0.8%
|-
|Mixed: White and Black African
|
|
|–
|–
|212
|0.1%
|559
|0.2%
|1,020
|0.4%
|-
|Mixed: White and Asian
|
|
|–
|–
|622
|0.3%
|1,347
|0.5%
|1,783
|0.7%
|-
|Mixed: Other Mixed
|
|
|–
|–
|319
|0.1%
|693
|0.3%
|1,017
|0.4%
|-
!Other: Total
!818
!0.3%
!630
!0.2%
!422
!0.2%
!1,622
!0.7%
!4,329
!1.7%
|-
|Other: Arab
|
|
|–
|–
|–
|–
|408
|0.2%
|690
|0.3%
|-
|Other: Any other ethnic group
|
|
|
|
|422
|0.2%
|1,214
|0.6%
|3,639
|1.4%
|-
|Non-White: Total
!9,967
!3.9%
!8,054
!3.2%
!12,529
!5.2%
!28,296
!11.4%
!42,670
!16.5%
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
!Total
!253,183
!100%
!253,100
!100%
!240,636
!100%
!249,008
!100%
!258,369
!100%
|}

=== Religion ===
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! rowspan="2" |Religion
! colspan="2" |2001<ref>{{Cite web |title=KS007 - Religion - Nomis - 2001 |url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/datasets/ks007 |access-date=2022-10-18 |website=www.nomisweb.co.uk}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2011<ref>{{Cite web |title=KS209EW (Religion) - Nomis - 2011 |url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/ks209ew |access-date=2022-10-18 |website=www.nomisweb.co.uk}}</ref>
!colspan="2"|2021<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/datasets/TS030/editions/2021/versions/1|title=Religion - Religion by local authorities, ONS}}</ref>
|-
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|-
!Holds religious beliefs
!189,285
!78.6
!170,329
!68.4
!146,223
!56.6
|-
|[[File:Gold_Christian_Cross_no_Red.svg|26x26px]] [[Christians|Christian]]
| align="right" |179,845
| align="right" |74.7
| align="right" |151,624
| align="right" |60.9
| align="right" |118,434
| align="right" |45.8
|-
|[[File:Dharma_Wheel.svg|20x20px]] [[Buddhism|Buddhist]]
| align="right" |256
| align="right" |0.1
| align="right" |760
| align="right" |0.3
| align="right" |811
| align="right" |0.3
|-
|[[File:Om.svg|21x21px]] [[Hinduism|Hindu]]
| align="right" |428
| align="right" |0.2
| align="right" |1,384
| align="right" |0.6
| align="right" |1,356
| align="right" |0.5
|-
|[[File:Star_of_David.svg|23x23px]] [[Jews|Jewish]]
| align="right" |83
| align="right" |<0.1
| align="right" |66
| align="right" |<0.1
| align="right" |83
| align="right" |<0.1
|-
|[[File:Star_and_Crescent.svg|20x20px]] [[Muslim]]
| align="right" |7,658
| align="right" |3.2
| align="right" |14,993
| align="right" |6.0
| align="right" |23,790
| align="right" |9.2
|-
|[[File:Khanda.svg|24x24px]] [[Sikhism|Sikh]]
| align="right" |563
| align="right" |0.2
| align="right" |579
| align="right" |0.2
| align="right" |602
| align="right" |0.2
|-
|Other religion
| align="right" |452
| align="right" |0.2
| align="right" |923
| align="right" |0.4
| align="right" |1,150
| align="right" |0.4
|-
!No religion
! align="right" |32,214
! align="right" |13.4
! align="right" |62,737
! align="right" |25.2
! align="right" |97,433
! align="right" |37.7
|-
!Religion not stated
! align="right" |19,137
! align="right" |8.0
! align="right" |15,942
! align="right" |6.4
! align="right" |14,710
! align="right" |5.7
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|-
!Total population
! align="right" |240,636
! align="right" |100.0
! align="right" |249,008
! align="right" |100.0
! align="right" |258,366
! align="right" |100.0
|}

==Points of interest==
[[File:Potteries museum & art gallery.JPG|thumb|[[Potteries Museum & Art Gallery]]]]
The city's ceramics collection is housed in the [[Potteries Museum & Art Gallery]] in Hanley.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.stokemuseums.org.uk/collections/ceramics/|title=Ceramics - Stoke Museums|work=Stoke Museums|access-date=6 June 2017|language=en-US|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610082219/http://www.stokemuseums.org.uk/collections/ceramics/|archive-date=10 June 2017}}</ref> [[Etruria, Staffordshire#Etruria Industrial Museum|Etruria Industrial Museum]] on the [[Caldon Canal]], and [[Gladstone Pottery Museum]] in a former potbank in Longton are dedicated to the city's industrial heritage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thepotteries.org/heritage/the_works.htm|title=' The Works' - The industrial heritage of the potworks|website=www.thepotteries.org|access-date=6 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314033219/http://thepotteries.org/heritage/the_works.htm|archive-date=14 March 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> There is [[Stoke Minster]] which is located in the Stoke-upon-Trent area and is the only official church with [[Minster (church)|Minster status]].

Most of the major pottery companies based in Stoke-on-Trent have factory shops and visitor centres. The £10&nbsp;million [[Wedgwood|Wedgwood Museum]] visitor centre opened in the firm's factory in [[Barlaston]] in October 2008. The Dudson Centre in Hanley is a museum of the family ceramics business, which is partly housed in a Grade II listed bottle kiln. It is a volunteer centre. 

[[Burleigh Pottery|Burleigh]] in [[Middleport, Staffordshire|Middleport]] is the world's oldest working [[Victorian era|Victorian]] pottery. There are smaller factory shops, such as Royal Stafford in Burslem, [[Moorcroft]] in Cobridge and [[Emma Bridgewater]] in Hanley. There are ambitious plans to open the huge [[Chatterley Whitfield]] Colliery as a mining museum since it has been given [[scheduled monument]] status.

The [[Elizabethan era|Elizabethan]] [[Ford Green Hall]] is a 17th-century farmhouse which is now a [[historic house museum]] in [[Smallthorne]].

[[File:Miss Elizabeth - geograph.org.uk - 265639.jpg|thumb|right|''Miss Elizabeth'' is a pleasure boat that travels the length of Trentham Lake, within [[Trentham Gardens]]]]
Although [[Trentham Gardens]] is in the [[Borough of Stafford]], it is just south of the city and is considered by many locals to be part of Stoke-on-Trent. Next door is [[Trentham Monkey Forest]], which houses 140 [[Barbary macaque]]s in a {{convert|60|acre|m2|adj=on}} enclosure that visitors can walk through.

The [[Alton Towers|Alton Towers Resort]] is {{convert|10|mi|km}} east of Stoke-on-Trent and is one of the United Kingdom's best-known attractions. The [[Water World, Stoke-on-Trent|Waterworld]] indoor swimming complex on [[Stoke-on-Trent Garden Festival|Festival Park]] near Hanley is also a significant children's attraction.

Each of the six towns in Stoke-on-Trent has at least one park. At nine hectares, [[Burslem Park]] is one of the largest registered Victorian parks in the UK.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/cms-service/download/asset/?asset_id=2167397 |title=Burslem Park factsheet |access-date=28 September 2010 |publisher=[[Stoke-on-Trent City Council]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129055020/http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/cms-service/download/asset/?asset_id=2167397 |archive-date=29 November 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Park Hall Country Park in Weston Coyney is a [[national nature reserve (United Kingdom)|national nature reserve]], and its sandstone canyons are a [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/leisure/parks/park-hall-country-park/ |title=Park Hall Country Park |access-date=18 August 2008 |publisher=[[Stoke-on-Trent City Council]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121110114/http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/leisure/parks/park-hall-country-park/ |archive-date=21 November 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Hartshill Park in Stoke is a nature reserve. Bucknall Park is home to the City Farm. [[Westport Lake, Stoke-on-Trent|Westport Lake]] in Longport is the largest body of water in Stoke-on-Trent<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/content/et/environment-team/westport-lake.en |title=Westport Lake |access-date=18 August 2008 |publisher=[[Stoke-on-Trent City Council]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503105038/http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/content/et/environment-team/westport-lake.en |archive-date=3 May 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and has a nature reserve. Queens Park or Longton Park in Dresden is one of the city's heritage parks and is famous for its horticulture and lakes. It houses several buildings including a clock tower and three bowling pavilions.

==Economy==

[[File:Stoke-on-trent terrace housing.jpg|thumb|Terraced housing is a common feature in the city.]]

Stoke-on-Trent was a world centre for fine ceramics—a skilled design trade has existed in the area since at least the 12th century. In the late 1980s and 1990s Stoke-on-Trent was hit hard by the general decline in the British manufacturing sector. Numerous factories, [[steel mill|steelworks]], [[coal mining|collieries]], and [[pottery|potteries]] were closed, including the renowned [[Shelton Bar]] steelworks. This resulted in a sharp rise in unemployment in the 'high-skilled but low-paid' workforce.

The pottery firm [[Wedgwood]] and its subsidiary [[Royal Doulton]] are based nearby [[Barlaston]], although much production now takes place in the firm's [[Indonesia]]n factory. [[Portmeirion Pottery|Portmeirion]] is based in Stoke town, and now owns the [[Spode]] and [[Royal Worcester]] ceramics brands. Ceramics firm [[Emma Bridgewater]] is based in Hanley. [[Burleigh Pottery]] is in Middleport. [[Wade Ceramics]] is in Etruria. 

[[Moorcroft]] and Royal Stafford are based in Burslem. [[Aynsley China]] is in Longton, and is one of the last remaining manufacturers of [[bone china]] in the city. Fine china manufacturer [[Dudson]] have premises in Hanley and Burslem. [[Churchill China]] have their main factory in Tunstall. Hotelware manufacturer [[Steelite]] is based in Middleport at the former Dunn Bennett site.

About 9,000 firms are based in the city. Amongst the more notable are [[Bet365]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marquest.com/mqweb.dll/casestudies?date=01/11/2005%2010:33:10 |title=MarQuest Ensures Reliability of bet365's Online Gaming Services |access-date=20 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070827160308/http://www.marquest.com/mqweb.dll/casestudies?date=01%2F11%2F2005%2010%3A33%3A10 |archive-date=27 August 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> founded by local businessman and [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] chairman [[Peter Coates]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bookmakersreview.com/c/News/20-07-2006_Peter_Coates_plays_down_the_threat_of_an_American_crackdown_on_internet_gambling/ |title=Peter Coates plays down the threat of an American crackdown on internet gambling |work=Bookmakers Review |publisher=BetReview Ltd |date=20 July 2006 |access-date=20 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071206103639/http://www.bookmakersreview.com/c/News/20-07-2006_Peter_Coates_plays_down_the_threat_of_an_American_crackdown_on_internet_gambling/ |archive-date=6 December 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref> and formerly [[Phones4U]], a large retailer of mobile phones started by [[John Caudwell]],{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} until it ceased trading in September 2014.

Stoke City Football Club has been a major symbol of the city since the early 20th century, having spent most of its history in the highest two divisions of the English league, constantly attracting large crowds and signing or launching the careers of many high-profile players – most notably [[Stanley Matthews]] and [[Gordon Banks]]. The club was based at the [[Victoria Ground]] in [[Stoke-upon-Trent]] from 1878 until 1997 when it moved to the Britannia Stadium (now the [[Bet365 Stadium]]) at Trentham Lakes. This was one of the early stages of regeneration in the Trentham area of the city, which included the regeneration of [[Trentham Estate|Trentham Gardens]] several years later when retail and food outlets were added to the visitor attraction. Trentham Monkey Forest opened nearby in 2005.

The [[Michelin]] tyre company has a complex in the city which houses its commercial head office, training centre and a truck tyre re-treading facility. [[Sainsbury's]] supermarket and [[The Co-operative Pharmacy]] have large warehouses in the city. [[Vodafone]] has a large call centre on Festival Park and the UK subsidiary of the lubricant manufacturer [[Fuchs Petrolub]] has its head office at its factory in Hanley. There is a steel foundry owned by [[Goodwin Steel Castings Ltd]] in Joiner's Square. [[Premier Foods]] make [[Mr Kipling]] slices and [[Bakewell tart|Cherry Bakewells]] in Trent Vale. [[The Co-operative Travel]] had its head office in Burslem, before it merged with [[Thomas Cook Group|Thomas Cook]] in 2010.

[[Stoke-on-Trent City Council]] is the city's largest single employer.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/content/cr/personnel/jobs/job-pages/frequently-asked-questions.en |title=Jobs FAQs – Stoke-on-Trent City Council |access-date=9 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110316222858/http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/content/cr/personnel/jobs/job-pages/frequently-asked-questions.en |archive-date=16 March 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Another major employer is the [[Royal Stoke University Hospital]], with over 7,000 staff.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uhns.nhs.uk/WorkingforUs.aspx |title=Working For Us – The Royal Stoke University Hospital |access-date=9 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125230556/http://www.uhns.nhs.uk/WorkingforUs.aspx |archive-date=25 November 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

KPMG's ''[[Competitive Alternatives]] 2004'' report declared Stoke-on-Trent to be the most cost-effective place to set up a new UK business.<ref>{{cite press release |title=UK has lowest business costs in Europe according to KPMG study |publisher=KPMG UK |date=18 February 2004 |url=http://www.kpmg.co.uk/news/detail.cfm?pr=1874 |access-date=10 September 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060214043603/http://www.kpmg.co.uk/news/detail.cfm?pr=1874 |archive-date=14 February 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The city currently has the advantage of offering affordable business property, while being surrounded by a belt of affluent areas such as the [[Peak District]], [[Stone, Staffordshire|Stone]], south [[Cheshire]], and has excellent road links via the A500 and nearby [[M6 motorway|M6]] and rail links.

Tourism to the city was kick-started by the [[Stoke-on-Trent Garden Festival|National Garden Festival]] in 1986 and is now sustained by the many pottery factory shops and tours and by the improved canal network.

[[File:Hanley stoke on trent city centre.jpg|thumb|[[Hanley, Staffordshire|Hanley]], Stoke-on-Trent City Centre.]]

The main shopping centre is the [[Potteries Shopping Centre]] in Hanley, which has {{convert|561000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} of retail space with 87 units including major stores for [[New Look (store)|New Look]], [[Monsoon Stores Ltd|Monsoon]], [[HMV]], [[River Island]], [[H. Samuel]] and [[Superdrug]]. [[Marks & Spencer]] and [[T.K. Maxx]] also have stores in Hanley. A new shopping centre on the site of Hanley's former bus station was due to open in 2016, but development has been delayed and the project is now in doubt.<ref>{{cite web|title=City Sentral|url=http://www.citysentral.co.uk/|access-date=10 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622050117/http://www.citysentral.co.uk/|archive-date=22 June 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> 

The other five towns of the city all have their own smaller town centres. Festival Park is a large retail and business park located in Etruria, built on the former Garden Festival site. There are retail parks in Tunstall, Fenton and Longton. A new retail park in Longton opened and has Currys, Smyths, Pets at Home and Matalan. A pub, McDonald's and Pizza Hut are on the site.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/8m-Longton-Retail-Park-Moves-Forward/story-13097268-detail/story.html|title=£8m Longton Retail Park Moves Forward|work=Stoke Sentinel|date=12 March 2024 }}</ref>

Other notable business people from the city include [[Reginald H. Jones]] (Chairman of [[General Electric]]), venture capitalist [[Jon Moulton]], and [[John Madejski]] (chairman of [[Reading F.C.]] and former owner of ''[[Auto Trader Group|Auto Trader]]'').<ref>{{cite news |date=9 December 2006 |url=http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/comment/article2060012.ece |title=John Madejski: 'Without deep pockets you are wasting your time' |publisher=Independent News and Media |work=The Independent |location=London |access-date=9 December 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224113915/http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/comment/article2060012.ece |archive-date=24 December 2007  }}</ref>

The Night-time industry has boomed in recent years,{{when|date=June 2023}} with Hanley becoming increasingly popular for its theatres and restaurants.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

In 2016, Stoke-on-Trent was ranked the second-best city to start a business by Quality Formations, based on several factors including commercial property, energy, virtual offices, public transport and financial access.<ref>{{cite news|last1=James|first1=Laura|title=Stoke-on-Trent named second best city in UK for starting a business|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/stoke-on-trent-named-second-best-city-in-uk-for-starting-a-business/story-29541218-detail/story.html|access-date=3 August 2017|publisher=The Sentinel}}</ref>

==Government==
{{See also|Stoke-on-Trent City Council}}
The city is covered by three [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] constituencies: [[Stoke-on-Trent North (UK Parliament constituency)|Stoke-on-Trent North]], [[Stoke-on-Trent Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Stoke-on-Trent Central]] and [[Stoke-on-Trent South (UK Parliament constituency)|Stoke-on-Trent South]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/council-and-democracy/mps-and-meps/ |title=MPs and MEPs |publisher=Stoke-on-Trent City Council |access-date=20 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926224239/http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/council-and-democracy/mps-and-meps/ |archive-date=26 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Until 2019 the northern and central seats had returned Labour MPs since their creation in 1950. However, in the 2019 general election, all 3 Stoke-on-Trent constituencies returned a Conservative MP. The former Labour heartland is highly eurosceptic leading to a 69.4% vote to leave the [[European Union]] in 2016. The city was within the [[West Midlands (European Parliament constituency)|West Midlands]] [[European Parliament]] constituency.

===Mayoral system===
{{main|Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent}}
[[File:Stoke-on-Trent Town Hall (geograph 4569782).jpg|thumb|[[Stoke-upon-Trent Town Hall]]]]
The position of Lord Mayor is largely ceremonial. The title of Lord Mayor was first conferred on the City of Stoke-on-Trent by King [[George V of the United Kingdom|George V]] who visited [[Stoke-upon-Trent Town Hall]] to award the town city status on 5 June 1925.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.macearchive.org/films/king-george-v-and-queen-mary-visit-stoke-trent-5th-june-1925  |title=King George V and Queen Mary visit Stoke-on-Trent |date=5 June 1925|publisher=Mace Archive| access-date=29 January 2021}}</ref> The role of Lord Mayor is decided upon by a vote amongst the elected councillors. The candidates are also selected from the councillors.

Between 1910 and 1928 the Borough, and later, the City of Stoke-on-Trent had a Mayor rather than a Lord Mayor.  The first Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent was [[Cecil Wedgwood]] of the Wedgwood pottery dynasty.<ref>{{cite book|last=Warrillow|first=Ernest J. D.|title=A sociological history of the city of Stoke-on-Trent|publisher=Etruscan Publication|year=1960|page=224}}</ref>

The city was one of a limited number of English districts with an elected mayor and the only council to use the 'mayor and council-manager' [[executive arrangements]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/council-and-democracy/council/ |title=Stoke-on-Trent City Council |work=Stoke-on-line |access-date=10 September 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060913060817/http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/council-and-democracy/council/ |archive-date=13 September 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nlgn.org.uk/public/elected-mayors/mayoral-briefing/ |title=Mayoral briefing |publisher=New Local Government network |access-date=16 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216090808/http://www.nlgn.org.uk/public/elected-mayors/mayoral-briefing/ |archive-date=16 December 2013  }}</ref> It was removed following a local referendum in October 2008.

A local referendum approved a directly elected mayor system in May 2002, by 28,601 votes to 20,578 (turnout of 27.8%).<ref>{{cite news|work=The Guardian |title=Mayoral referendum results |url= https://www.theguardian.com/society/mayorquestion/table/0,,576411,00.html |access-date=22 February 2017 |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060917054043/http://society.guardian.co.uk/mayorquestion/table/0,,576411,00.html |archive-date=17 September 2006 }}</ref>

[[Mike Wolfe (politician)|Mike Wolfe]], an independent candidate, became the first directly elected mayor after an election on 17 October 2002, narrowly beating Labour Party candidate [[George Stevenson (MP)|George Stevenson]] by just 300 votes.<ref name="bbc20021018">{{cite news |work=BBC News |title=Independent elected in Stoke |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2338849.stm |date=18 October 2002 |access-date=13 November 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111121205/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2338849.stm |archive-date=11 January 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> The elected Mayor from 5 May 2005 to 5 June 2009 was [[Mark Meredith]] (Labour Party).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/council-and-democracy/elected-mayor/ |title=Elected Mayor – Mark Meredith |work=Stoke-on-line |access-date=10 September 2006 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060521101306/http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/council-and-democracy/elected-mayor/ |archive-date=21 May 2006}}</ref> The 2005 election was notable because about 10% of the ballot papers were either spoiled or ineligible.<ref name="bbc20050506">{{cite news |date=6 May 2005 |work=BBC News |title=Mayoral battle is won by Labour |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/england/4522993.stm |access-date=13 November 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050517184238/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/england/4522993.stm |archive-date=17 May 2005 |url-status=live }}</ref> Meredith's election platform included a pledge to have another referendum on the post of an elected mayor.<ref>{{cite news |work=BBC News |title=Livingstone urges city mayor vote |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/6072814.stm| access-date=13 November 2006 | date=21 October 2006}}</ref> This was scheduled for May 2007 and resulted in the abolition of the mayoral system.

In October 2008, voters returned to the polls to choose between modifying the system, to Mayor and Cabinet, or abolishing the position of elected Mayor. Votes were 21,231 for abolition and 14,592 for modification on a turnout of 19.23%.<ref>{{cite news |date=24 October 2008 |url=http://www.birminghampost.net/news/2008/10/24/stoke-votes-to-lose-its-elected-mayor-65233-22110351/ |title=Stoke votes to lose its elected mayor |work=Birmingham Post |access-date=24 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081025233453/http://www.birminghampost.net/news/2008/10/24/stoke-votes-to-lose-its-elected-mayor-65233-22110351/ |archive-date=25 October 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Council Leader and Cabinet system===
Following a citywide referendum abolishing the position of elected mayor, a [[cabinet-style council|Leader and Cabinet]] system was adopted in June 2009. The Leader of the council is elected by councillors. Each cabinet member makes the decisions on their portfolio area and explains the decisions at the monthly cabinet meetings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/council-and-democracy/council-leader-and-cabinet/|title=Leader and Cabinet system|work=Stoke-on-Trent Council|access-date=28 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100307134936/http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/council-and-democracy/council-leader-and-cabinet/|archive-date=7 March 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> The current leader of the council is Cllr Jane Ashworth.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stoke.gov.uk/news/article/1297/stoke-on-trent_city_council_leader_unveils_cabinet_of_talent_and_maturity |title=Stoke-on-Trent City Council leader unveils cabinet of talent and maturity  |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=25 May 2023 |website=Stoke-on-Trent City Council |access-date=12 May 2023 |quote=}}</ref>

===Councillor representation===
{{for|historical political control and leadership|Stoke-on-Trent City Council elections}}

Since the [[2023 Stoke-on-Trent City Council election|2023 local elections]] the council has been controlled by the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Meet the nine most powerful Labour politicians now running Stoke-on-Trent City Council |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/gallery/meet-nine-most-powerful-labour-8469580 |work=StokeonTrentLive |date=25 May 2023 |access-date=28 May 2023 }}</ref> Between 2015 and 2023 no party had overall control of the city council.<ref>{{cite news |title=Conservative/Independent coalition to continue at Stoke-on-Trent City Council |url=https://staffslive.co.uk/2019/05/conservatives-and-city-independents-to-continue-coalition-at-stoke-on-trent-city-council/ |access-date=14 December 2019 |work=StaffsLive |date=15 May 2019}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2"|Party
! Councillors<ref>{{cite web|title=City Councillors by Party|url=http://www.moderngov.stoke.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=PARTY&VW=LIST&PIC=0|publisher=[[Stoke-on-Trent City Council]]|access-date=28 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528120642/http://www.moderngov.stoke.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=PARTY&VW=LIST&PIC=0|archive-date=28 May 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}|| style="text-align:center;"| 29
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}|| style="text-align:center;"| 14
|-
| {{Party name with colour|City Independents}} || style="text-align:center;"| 1
|}

===Members of Parliament===
{{See also|List of Parliamentary constituencies in Staffordshire}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! [[List of United Kingdom Parliament constituencies|Constituency]]
! [[List of MPs elected in the 2015 United Kingdom general election|Member of Parliament]]
! colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;" | [[List of political parties in the United Kingdom|Political party]]
! Year first elected
! Notes
|-
| [[Stoke-on-Trent Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Stoke-on-Trent Central]]
| [[Gareth Snell]]
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
|[[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]
|[[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024]]
|Previously held the seat 2017–2019
|-
| [[Stoke-on-Trent North (UK Parliament constituency)|Stoke-on-Trent North]]
| [[David Williams (Stoke-on-Trent North MP)|David Williams]]
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
|[[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]
|[[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024]]
|
|-
| [[Stoke-on-Trent South (UK Parliament constituency)|Stoke-on-Trent South]]
| [[Allison Gardner]]
| style="color:inherit;background:{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]
| [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024]]
|
|}

==Public services==
[[File:Royal Stoke University Hospital (1).jpg|thumb|Royal Stoke University Hospital]]
[[File:Library, Hanley - geograph.org.uk - 345105.jpg|thumb|Former City Central Library & Archives, Bethesda Street, Hanley]]
The city's acute hospital is the [[Royal Stoke University Hospital]] run by the [[University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust]] it is the third biggest hospital in the UK.{{cn|date=May 2024}} It formerly comprised two sites: the Royal Infirmary and the City General. The hospital was rebuilt on the City General site on the A34, London Road.

Community health services are run by [[Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Partnership NHS Trust]] with mental health services provided by [[North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust]].

Policing in Stoke-on-Trent is provided by [[Staffordshire Police]], which has police stations in Hanley, Bucknall, Burslem, Longton, Stoke and Tunstall. [[Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court]] and Stoke-on-Trent [[County Court (England and Wales)|County Court]] share [[Stoke-on-Trent Combined Court Centre]] in Hanley. There is no [[magistrates' court (England and Wales)|magistrates' court]]. Hearings were held in [[Fenton Town Hall]] until it closed in 2012. All magistrates proceedings now take place in Newcastle.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Fenton-Magistrates-Court-closes-170-years/story-17523490-detail/story.html#axzz2ajkfVggQ |title=Fenton Magistrates' Court closes after 170 years |newspaper=The Sentinel |date=7 December 2012 |access-date=1 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218023550/http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Fenton-Magistrates-Court-closes-170-years/story-17523490-detail/story.html#axzz2ajkfVggQ |archive-date=18 February 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[Fire service in the United Kingdom|Statutory emergency fire and rescue service]] is provided by the [[Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service]], which has fire stations in Hanley, Longton, Burslem and Sandyford.

[[Severn Trent]] manages Stoke-on-Trent's drinking and waste water.

Since the 1970s, the city's main library had been the former Hanley Library, later known as the City Central Library & Archives in Bethesda Street, which was home to the city's archives. During this period, the City Council operated eight smaller libraries throughout the city. In July 2022, it was announced that the Hanley Library building, along with others in the city, would be closed to be sold. The city archives would be moved to the [[Potteries Museum & Art Gallery|Potteries Museum and Art Gallery]], an adjacent building with frontages to Bethesda Street and Broad Street.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Corrigan |first1=Phil |title=Thousands of historic Stoke-on-Trent documents to move in £1.3m scheme |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/thousands-historic-stoke-trent-documents-7328053 |access-date=19 April 2023 |date=18 July 2022}}</ref>

==Religion==

[[File:Bourneh.jpg|left|thumb|Hugh Bourne, founder of Primitive Methodism]]

Stoke-on-Trent does not have a cathedral. The city's main, [[Church of England]], civic church, is [[Stoke Minster]]. The city is within the [[Church of England|Anglican]] [[Diocese of Lichfield]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lichfield.anglican.org/ourpeople/ |title=Our people |publisher=Diocese of Lichfield |access-date=2 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205191157/http://www.lichfield.anglican.org/ourpeople/ |archive-date=5 December 2013  }}</ref> The city is part of the [[Roman Catholic]] [[Archdiocese of Birmingham]] and the immediate area has six [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] parishes. They are dedicated to: the [[Sacred Heart|Sacred Heart of Jesus]], [[Our Lady of the Angels and St Peter in Chains Church, Stoke-on-Trent|Our Lady of the Angels]], [[Saint George]], [[Pope Gregory I|Saint Gregory the Great]], [[Maria Goretti|Saint Maria Goretti]] and [[Thérèse of Lisieux|Saint Teresa]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk/parish-directory/?wpv_view_count=1&wpv_post_search=stoke+on+trent&wpv_filter_submit=Apply |title=Parish Directory |publisher=Archdiocese of Birmingham |access-date=2 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923190817/http://www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk/parish-directory/?wpv_view_count=1&wpv_post_search=stoke+on+trent&wpv_filter_submit=Apply |archive-date=23 September 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[Primitive Methodism]] was founded by [[Hugh Bourne]], a native of Stoke-on-Trent, at a public gathering in the nearby village of [[Mow Cop]]. He originally followed the [[John Wesley|Wesleyan]] form of [[Methodism]], but in 1801 he reformed the Methodist service by conducting it outside. He founded the first chapel in Tunstall with his brother in 1811.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/local_heroes/a_f/bourne.shtml |title=Bringing in the sheep – Hugh Bourne, the religious reformer from Stoke |year=2002 |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |work=BBC Stoke & Staffordshire |first=Zoe |last=Sailsman |access-date=20 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106114801/http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/local_heroes/a_f/bourne.shtml |archive-date=6 January 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> He promoted [[Sunday school]]s as a method of improving children's education, advocated the equal treatment of women and men, and was involved in the [[temperance movement in England|temperance movement]]. It was from the Primitive Methodists that many early trade unions found their early leaders.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/local_heroes/a_f/bourne2.shtml |title=Hugh Bourne, the religious reformer who also promoted social change |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |work=BBC Stoke & Staffordshire |first=Robert |last=Higginson |access-date=20 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106114806/http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/local_heroes/a_f/bourne2.shtml |archive-date=6 January 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> Also of note is [[John Lightfoot]], a 17th-century churchman and [[rabbi]]nical scholar.

The city's first purpose-built mosque was completed in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://islamiccentre-sot.com/ |title=The Islamic Centre, Stoke-on-Trent |access-date=23 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110202105532/http://islamiccentre-sot.com/ |archive-date=2 February 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The city's only synagogue closed in 2006 and was replaced with a smaller one in nearby [[Newcastle-under-Lyme]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/content/articles/2006/04/19/local_tv_archive_faith_hanley_synagogue_move_0406_feature.shtml |title=BBC – Stoke & Staffordshire – Faith – Birch Terrace synagogue deconsecration ceremony |access-date=23 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226042334/http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/content/articles/2006/04/19/local_tv_archive_faith_hanley_synagogue_move_0406_feature.shtml |archive-date=26 February 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Transport ==
=== Major roads ===
[[File:A50, Longton - geograph.org.uk - 122110.jpg|thumb|A50 close to Longton.]]
Stoke-on-Trent is linked to the nearby [[M6 motorway]] at junctions 15 and 16 by the A500. Locally the [[A500 road|A500]] is known as the ''D road'',<ref name="hanews">{{cite web |url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/7474.aspx |publisher=Highways Agency |date=June 2001 |title=Good news for Stoke |access-date=13 May 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927223117/http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/7474.aspx |archive-date=27 September 2007  }}</ref> as its loop between the two motorway junctions, along with the straight section of the M6 between the junctions, resembles the shape of a capital letter D. Coincidentally, the number 500 expressed in [[Roman numerals]] is ''D''.

The [[A50 road|A50]] provides an east–west link between the [[M6 motorway|M6]] and the [[M1 motorway]]; it joins up with the [[A500 road|A500]] close to the [[bet365 Stadium]]. Improvements to the road network have led to the construction of product distribution centres in the area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/business/economic-development/ |title=Doing Business in Stoke-on-Trent |work=Stoke-on-line |publisher=Stoke-on-Trent City Council |access-date=13 November 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060925204503/http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/business/economic-development/ |archive-date=25 September 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Rail ===
[[File:Stoke-PB160864.JPG|thumb|left|[[Stoke-on-Trent railway station]], built 1848.]]
[[Stoke-on-Trent railway station]] is located on the [[Stafford–Manchester line]]. The other railway stations in the city are [[Longport railway station|Longport]] and [[Longton railway station|Longton]] both on the [[Crewe–Derby line]]. [[Etruria railway station|Etruria station]] was closed in September 2005. [[Avanti West Coast]] [[British Rail Class 390|''Pendolino'']] 390029 is named after Stoke-on-Trent.
[[File:Potteries Rail Map.png|thumb|A diagram of local rail services in Stoke-on-Trent.]]

=== Bus ===
Local public transport is provided almost exclusively by bus. Bus services are mainly operated by [[First Potteries]]. There are also several smaller companies operating bus services in the city, like [[D&G Bus]]. There are central bus stations in Hanley and [[Longton Interchange|Longton]]. [[National Express Coaches|National Express]] operate long-distance coach services from [[Hanley bus station]]. As part of the city's regeneration, a new bus station has been constructed in Hanley, allowing the old one to be demolished, making room for further redevelopment.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/transport-and-streets/public-transport/new-bus-station---city-centre/ |title=New City Centre Bus Station |publisher=Stoke-on-Trent City Council |date=March 2013 |access-date=16 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216181801/http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/transport-and-streets/public-transport/new-bus-station---city-centre/ |archive-date=16 December 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> As of January 2015 there are no local authority supported bus services in the city.<ref>{{cite web |last=Smithers |first=Rebecca |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jan/12/bus-crisis-councils-cut-services-alarming-rate-campaign-better-transport |title=Bus crisis looms as councils cut services 'at an alarming rate', campaigners say |work=The Guardian, 12 Jan 2015 |date=12 January 2015 |access-date=16 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110020809/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jan/12/bus-crisis-councils-cut-services-alarming-rate-campaign-better-transport |archive-date=10 January 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>  Between 2013/14 and 2023, bus service provision shrank by 50%.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-02-20 |title=Bus cuts: How a city's bus service was quietly cut in half |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-64651414 |access-date=2023-02-20}}</ref>

=== Canals ===
[[File:Stoke on trent canals.jpg|thumb|Canal on New Leek Road.]]
The city is served by the [[Trent and Mersey Canal]], which sees traffic of some 10,000 boats a year. The [[Caldon Canal]] branches off from the Trent and Mersey Canal at Etruria, within the city boundaries, going to [[Froghall]] with one branch going to [[Leek, Staffordshire|Leek]].

=== Cycling ===
As of November 2009, there are {{convert|77|mi|km|0}} of new [[National Cycle Network]] off-road bicycle paths through the city, connecting to the national long-distance paths which were completed in 2005. Together with those in [[Newcastle-under-Lyme]], there are now over {{convert|100|mi|km|-1}} of cycle paths in the urban conurbation.<ref>[http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/leisure/cycle-stoke/ Stoke City Council website, Cycling] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128134228/http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/leisure/cycle-stoke/ |date=28 January 2017 }} Retrieved January 2017</ref> A further £10&nbsp; million of funding has now been secured for the city's cycling network, to be spent in 2009–2011 through [[Cycling England]]'s support for Stoke as a Cycling City.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/cyclingengland/cycling-cities-towns/|title=Cycling England|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090519000604/http://www.dft.gov.uk/cyclingengland/cycling-cities-towns/|archive-date=19 May 2009}}</ref>

==Education==

===Higher education===
[[File:Staffordshire university stoke campus frontage.jpg|thumb|Staffordshire University Stoke campus]]

There are four further and higher education institutions in the local area, the two further education colleges being [[City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College]] and [[Stoke-on-Trent College]]. Formerly of Fenton, now located in a newly built structure on Leek Road, the Sixth Form College provides [[GCE Advanced Level|A Level]] teaching for around 1,800 students. Stoke-on-Trent College is much larger and less specialised, offering apprenticeships and adult education, and has a main campus (Cauldon Campus) in Shelton, and a secondary campus in Burslem.

The city is home to [[Staffordshire University]], formerly North Staffordshire Polytechnic, with its main site in Shelton, near Stoke-on-Trent railway station. It gained its university status in 1992 as one of the [[New Universities|post-1992 universities]]. [[Keele University Medical School|Keele University School of Medicine]] uses facilities at the [[Royal Stoke University Hospital]] in [[Hartshill]]. [[Keele University]] was founded as the University College of North Staffordshire in 1949 with major involvement by Stoke-on-Trent City Council. It is located in the nearby village of [[Keele]].

===Secondary education===
{{See also|List of schools in Stoke-on-Trent}}
The city currently has 15 secondary schools: Sir Thomas Boughey Academy, [[Birches Head Academy]], [[Co-op Academy Stoke-on-Trent]], [[Discovery Academy, Stoke-on-Trent|Discovery Academy]], [[Excel Academy, Stoke-on-Trent|Excel Academy]], [[Haywood Academy]], [[Ormiston Horizon Academy]], [[Ormiston Sir Stanley Matthews Academy]], [[St Joseph's College, Stoke-on-Trent|St Joseph's College]], [[St Margaret Ward Catholic Academy]], [[Ormiston Meridian Academy]], [[St Peter's Academy]], [[St Thomas More Catholic Academy]], Stoke Studio College (with sites in Longton and Burslem), [[Thistley Hough Academy]] and [[Trentham High School]].

A major re-structure of Stoke-on-Trent's high school system was proposed in 2007.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/content/articles/2007/11/15/education_proposals_sot_feature.shtml |title=All change for education in Stoke-on-Trent |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=19 December 2007 |access-date=21 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208150932/http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/content/articles/2007/11/15/education_proposals_sot_feature.shtml |archive-date=8 February 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> As part of these plans several established secondary schools closed or merged including [[Longton High School]] (closed 2010),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.moderngov.stoke.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=8278 |title=Proposals for secondary school reorganisation: Longton and Sandon High Schools: Appendix 2 – Proposal to Discontinue (Close) Longton High School and Arts College |date=10 June 2008 |access-date=21 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111222935/http://www.moderngov.stoke.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=8278 |archive-date=11 November 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Mitchell High School (Stoke-on-Trent)|Mitchell High]] and Edensor High (merged to form The Discovery Academy),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/content/education/building-schools-for-the-future/discovery-academy.en |title=The Discovery Academy |date=October 2011 |access-date=21 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927203147/http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/content/education/building-schools-for-the-future/discovery-academy.en |archive-date=27 September 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> St Peter's CE High School and Berry Hill High (merged to form [[St Peter's Academy]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/content/education/building-schools-for-the-future/st-peters-academy.en |title=St Peter's Academy |date=October 2011 |access-date=21 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607025351/http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/content/education/building-schools-for-the-future/st-peters-academy.en |archive-date=7 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Potters' Holidays===
One of the legacies of the pottery industry was Stoke's version of the [[wakes week]]. Although better known in industrial Lancashire, the Stoke week is known locally as the Potters' Holidays<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pitsnpots.co.uk/2009/06/potters-holidays-the-sad-demise |title=Potters Holidays – The Sad Demise! |date=25 June 2009 |access-date=21 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722141725/http://pitsnpots.co.uk/2009/06/potters-holidays-the-sad-demise |archive-date=22 July 2011 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> or Potters' Fortnight and occurred the last week in June, the first week in July and another week in August. This gave what appeared to be strange school holidays—with the summer term having a two-week break at the end of June, then children returning to school for three weeks before taking a five-week summer holiday. This observance has disappeared from the local schools, due to decreased emphasis on traditional industries.

== Sport ==
=== Football ===
[[File:Britannia Stadium 1.JPG|thumb|right|Stoke City's [[bet365 Stadium]], opened in 1997, has a 30,089 capacity.<ref>{{cite web | title = The Bbet365 Stadium | url = http://www.stokecityfc.com/page/BritanniaStadium/0,,10310~71103,00.html | work = stokecityfc.com | access-date = 12 December 2010 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120229154748/http://www.stokecityfc.com/page/BritanniaStadium/0%2C%2C10310~71103%2C00.html | archive-date = 29 February 2012 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>]]
Stoke-on-Trent is the smallest city to boast two professional clubs in the [[English Football League]] (EFL). The club bearing the area's name is [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]], formed in 1863 and is the second-oldest professional football club in England.<ref>{{cite book |title=World Soccer Yearbook: The Complete Guide to the Game |first=David |last=Goldblatt |publisher=Dorling Kindersley |date=2002}}</ref> They currently play at the [[bet365 Stadium]] at Stanley Matthews Way, Stoke-on-Trent, which has been their home since 1997 when they relocated from the [[Victoria Ground]] in Stoke after 119 years.<ref>{{cite web|title=Premier League Club Directory |url=http://efl.com/staticFiles/2e/3/0,,12306~131886,00.pdf |access-date=15 January 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122150437/http://www.premierleague.com/staticFiles/2e/3/0%2C%2C12306~131886%2C00.pdf |archive-date=22 January 2009 }}</ref> They were among the twelve founding members of the Football League in 1888. They won their first and, to date, only major trophy [[1972 Football League Cup final|in 1972]], when they lifted the [[EFL Cup|League Cup]].<ref name="The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City">{{cite book|last=Matthews|first=Tony|title=The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City|year=1994|publisher=Lion Press|isbn=0-9524151-0-0}}</ref>

In 1985, Stoke City were relegated from the [[Football League First Division|First Division]] and began a 23-year exile from the top flight of English football which did not end until they won promotion in [[2007–08 Stoke City F.C. season|2008]], by which time the First Division had become the [[Premier League]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Coates 'relieved' as Stoke go up|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stoke_city/7384046.stm|work=BBC Sport|date=5 May 2008 |access-date=21 September 2012}}</ref> Stoke City reached the final of the [[FA Cup]] for the first time in 2011, but [[2011 FA Cup Final|were defeated]] by [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Nield |title=FA Cup parade: Your photos |url=http://www.mcfc.co.uk/news/club-news/2011/may/fa-cup-homecoming-fan-photos |work=mcfc.co.uk |publisher=Manchester City FC |date=24 May 2011 |access-date=23 December 2011}}</ref> Stoke City were relegated from the Premier League in 2018.<ref>{{cite news|title=Swansea 1-2 Stoke|work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44020155|access-date=13 May 2018}}</ref> 

The club and the city's most famous player is the late Sir [[Stanley Matthews]], who began and ended his playing career with Stoke City, sandwiching 14 years at [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]] where he played in what became known as the [[1953 FA Cup Final|Matthews Final]].<ref name="mathe"/> He also managed Port Vale from 1965 to 1968.<ref name="mathe"/> He was the first active footballer to receive a [[Knighthood]].<ref name="mathe"/> Matthews made 54 appearances for his [[England national football team|country]], scoring 11 times.<ref name="mathe"/> There are two statues of Matthews in the city: one in Hanley and one at the Bet365 Stadium.<ref name="mathe">{{cite news |title=The story of Sir Stanley Matthews |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/stoke/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8517000/8517497.stm |access-date=12 June 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=18 February 2010}}</ref>

[[File:Vale Park - 4.jpg|thumb|[[Vale Park]], home of Port Vale. Completed in 1950, at the time of its construction it was nicknamed 'The Wembley of the North'.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.port-vale.co.uk/club/history/| title=A Brief Club History| work=port-vale.co.uk| access-date=19 June 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604063508/http://www.port-vale.co.uk/club/history/| archive-date=4 June 2013| url-status=live}}</ref>]]
The city's other professional football club is [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]], who were formed in 1876 and play at [[Vale Park]] in the [[Burslem]] area.<ref>{{cite web |title='Wembley of the North' - Vale Park, Burslem |url=http://www.thepotteries.org/another/009.htm |website=www.thepotteries.org |access-date=12 June 2020}}</ref> Previous stadiums include the [[Athletic Ground (Cobridge)|Athletic Ground]] in Cobridge (1886–1913) and The [[Old Recreation Ground]] in Hanley (1913–1950).<ref name="Kent1">{{cite book|last=Kent|first=Jeff|title=The Valiants' Years: The Story Of Port Vale|publisher=Witan Books|year=1990|pages=4–25|chapter=In the Beginning (1777–1888)|isbn=0-9508981-4-7}}</ref><ref name="if">''What If There Had Been No Port In The Vale?: Startling Port Vale Stories!'' (Witan Books, 2011, {{ISBN|978-0-9529152-8-7}})</ref> They joined the Football League in 1892 but were forced to resign in [[1906–07 Burslem Port Vale F.C. season|1907]] due to financial problems, only to return in [[1919–20 Port Vale F.C. season|1919]].<ref name="kentre">{{cite book|last=Kent|first=Jeff|title=The Port Vale Record 1879-1993|publisher=Witan Books|year=1993|isbn=0-9508981-9-8}}</ref> Their highest league position came in [[1930–31 Port Vale F.C. season|1931]] when they finished fifth in the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]].<ref name="kentre"/>

In 1954, while in the [[Football League Third Division North|Third Division North]], Port Vale progressed to the FA Cup semi-final when they were knocked out by First Division [[West Bromwich Albion]] at [[Villa Park]].<ref name="kentre"/> This remains the furthest they have progressed in the competition.<ref name="kentre"/> Unlike Stoke City, their local rivals in the [[Potteries derby]], they have never played top division football and hold the record for most years spent in the second tier without ever playing in the first.<ref>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=Jeff|title=The Potteries Derbies|publisher=Witan Books|page=118|date=November 1998|isbn=0-9529152-3-5}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=All-time Second Division - Clubs with most seasons in the 2nd Level of English Football|last=Turianski|first=Bill |url=http://billsportsmaps.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/england-2nd-level_all-time-40-clubs_w-league-history_f.gif |website=billsportsmaps.com |access-date=3 November 2018}}</ref> Individuals of note include [[John Rudge]] (who managed the club for 16 years from 1983 to 1999) and [[Roy Sproson]] (who made a [[List of Port Vale F.C. records and statistics|club record]] 842 appearances for the club from 1950 until 1972 and was later their manager).<ref name="qm">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/content/articles/2006/04/05/local_heroes_john_rudge_feature.shtml|title=John Rudge – the "quiet man" |work=BBC Stoke & Staffordshire|access-date=16 August 2009}}</ref><ref name="enfa">{{ENFA}}</ref>

Previous clubs from the city include [[Dresden United F.C.|Dresden United]], a club which was disestablished before the city was federated;<ref>{{cite web |title=Football Club History Database - Dresden United |url=https://www.fchd.info/DRESDENU.HTM |website=www.fchd.info |access-date=12 June 2020}}</ref> as well as amateur clubs [[Meir KA F.C.|Meir KA]] (1972–2010) and [[Norton United F.C.|Norton United]] (1989–2015).<ref>{{cite web |title=Football Club History Database - Norton United |url=https://www.fchd.info/NORTONU.HTM |website=www.fchd.info |access-date=12 June 2020}}</ref> Currently, the city is represented at amateur level by [[Eastwood Hanley F.C.|Eastwood Hanley]] (1946–1997; re-established in 2014) and [[Hanley Town F.C.|Hanley Town]] (established 1966).<ref>{{cite web |title=Football Club History Database - Eastwood Hanley |url=https://www.fchd.info/EASTWOOH.HTM |website=www.fchd.info|access-date=12 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Football Club History Database - Hanley Town |url=https://www.fchd.info/HANLEYT.HTM |website=www.fchd.info |access-date=12 June 2020}}</ref>

===Other sports teams===
The city has several amateur sports clubs, including [[rugby union]], with clubs such as [[Stoke-on-Trent RUFC]], and [[cricket]] with cricket clubs in Stoke competing in the North Staffs and South Cheshire Cricket League. The cricket ground in [[Longton Cricket Club Ground|Longton]] is one of the venues used by [[Staffordshire County Cricket Club]]. As well as the Longton club, [[Meir Heath Cricket Club]] are also active, though the [[County Ground, Stoke-on-Trent|County Ground]] and the [[Michelin Ground]] are no longer used for cricket.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stokerufc.co.uk/|title=Stoke-on-Trent RUFC|access-date=9 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://staffordshireccc.co.uk/|title=Staffordshire County Cricket Club|access-date=9 October 2024}}</ref>

There are a number of [[field hockey]] clubs based in the area that compete in the [[Midland Regional Hockey Association|Midlands Hockey League]] and the [[British Universities and Colleges Sport|BUCS leagues]]. These are North Stafford Hockey Club, [[University of Staffordshire]] hockey club and [[Keele University]] hockey club.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.northstaffordhc.co.uk/|title = North Stafford Hockey Club|access-date = 9 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.englandhockey.co.uk/clubs/north-stafford-hc/teams|title=England Hockey - North Stafford Hockey Club |access-date=9 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.staffs.ac.uk/student-life/sport/sports-teams/hockey-mens|title = Hockey - Men's - University of Staffordshire|access-date = 9 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.staffs.ac.uk/student-life/sport/sports-teams/womens-hockey|title = Hockey - Women's - University of Staffordshire|access-date = 9 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.englandhockey.co.uk/clubs/staffordshire-university-hc/teams|title=England Hockey - University of Staffordshire Hockey Club |access-date=9 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = https://keelesu.com/organisation/menshockey/|title = Keele University SU - Men's Hockey|access-date = 9 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = https://keelesu.com/activities/society/womenshockey/|title = Keele University SU - Women's Hockey|access-date = 9 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.englandhockey.co.uk/clubs/keele-university-hc/teams|title=England Hockey - University of Staffordshire Hockey Club |access-date=9 October 2024}}</ref>

The city [[motorcycle speedway|speedway]] team is the [[Stoke Potters]]. Speedway was staged at the Greyhound Stadium in Sun Street, Hanley intermittently between 1929 and 1939. In 1947, the Potters were part of the post-war boom rising from Division Three of the National League to Division Two before closing in the early 1950s. The Potters were revived in 1960 and they raced in the Provincial League until the end of 1963, when the stadium was closed and the site redeveloped. Speedway was revived at [[Loomer Road Stadium]] in Newcastle-under-Lyme, initially as Chesterton, before it reverted to the Stoke name. The stadium is also used for [[BriSCA Formula 1 Stock Cars]] and [[BriSCA Formula 2 Stock Cars]] during the summer.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

Cycle Speedway was popular in the city from the 1940s. Boys would travel all over the city to race against rival teams. The most famous team in the 1960s was the Shelton Tigers; they travelled across England and Wales to race against other teams. The Tigers won the Midland League and the British "Champion of Champions" Trophy, against Southampton. {{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

The [[ski]] race team based at the artificial ski slope in Festival Park competes in national Snowsport England and international FIS [[Fédération Internationale de Ski]] events.


Stoke Spitfires was the name of the city's [[American football]] team. The team eventually folded in 1992 after a record of 35–34–1. In 1994, the Staffordshire Surge was formed and played their matches in and around Stoke-on-Trent. Currently, the team play at Longton Rugby Club in Division One North of the [[British American Football League]].{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

===Individual sports persons===
<!--Do not add all sportspeople into this section only those who are well known outside their sport.  Other should, if not already, be included in [[List of people from Stoke-on-Trent]]-->
The city has a sporting Hall of Fame, opened in 2011 to honour sporting legends from the city. Former Stoke City and England footballer [[Stanley Matthews]] and former darts world champion [[Phil Taylor (darts player)|Phil Taylor]] were the first names to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/darts/8448265.stm|title=Darts champion Phil Taylor honoured by Stoke |date=8 January 2010|work=BBC Sport |access-date=2 March 2011}}</ref> They were followed by former Port Vale footballer [[Roy Sproson]] and England's World Cup winning goalkeeper [[Gordon Banks]] (who spent five years with Stoke City).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stoke_city/9411597.stm|title=Gordon Banks inducted into Stoke-on-Trent Hall of Fame |date=2 March 2011|work=BBC Sport |access-date=2 March 2011}}</ref>

The [[World Professional Darts Championship]] was hosted in the [[Jollees]] venue in the south of the city from 1979 to 1985. Phil Taylor has won the World Championship a record 16 times, winning the championship in both the [[Professional Darts Corporation]] (PDC) and [[British Darts Organisation]] (BDO). Two-time PDC World Champion [[Adrian Lewis]] and two-time BDO World Champion [[Ted Hankey]] are also from the Stoke area. Other well-known players from or based in Stoke include [[Chris Mason (darts player)|Chris Mason]], [[Andy Hamilton (darts player)|Andy Hamilton]] and [[Ian White (darts player)|Ian White]].{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

World champion [[squash (sport)|squash]] player, Great Britain and England international [[Angela Smith (squash)|Angela Smith]], was born in the city and was largely responsible for the ladies' game going open. She is regarded as one of the most famous players of British squash.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/content/articles/2008/10/07/angela_smith_feature.shtml|title=Squash champ Angela Smith|date=9 October 2008|work=BBC Stoke & Staffordshire|access-date=14 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016235809/http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/content/articles/2008/10/07/angela_smith_feature.shtml|archive-date=16 October 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Wicket-keeper]] [[Bob Taylor (cricketer)|Bob Taylor]], who played for [[Derbyshire County Cricket Club|Derbyshire]] and [[England cricket team|England]] was born and still lives in the area. He represented England 58 times and still holds the world record for the most dismissals in the first-class game (1649). In golf, Trenthams' [[David Lynn (golfer)|David Lynn]], the golfer, (born 1973) was the KLM Open Champion of 2004.<ref>[http://www.europeantour.com/publish.sps?pageid=127&pagegid=%7BAB0336D2%2DD3C9%2D469B%2DBCB6%2DBFD443B52A34%7D&playerId=7593 David LYNN] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090102160654/http://www.europeantour.com/publish.sps?pageid=127&pagegid=%7BAB0336D2%2DD3C9%2D469B%2DBCB6%2DBFD443B52A34%7D&playerId=7593 |date=2 January 2009 }} europeantour.com</ref>

Other notable sports people from the area include footballer [[Aaron Ramsdale]] and former players turned pundits [[Mark Bright]], [[Garth Crooks]] and [[Robbie Earle]]; tennis player [[Andrew Foster (tennis)|Andrew Foster]]; [[snooker]] players [[Ray Reardon]], [[Dave Harold]] and [[Jamie Cope]]; [[field hockey]] player [[Imran Sherwani]]; cycling world-record holder [[Tommy Godwin (cyclist born 1912)|Tommy Godwin]], wrestler [[Peter Thornley]] (better known as [[Kendo Nagasaki]]), professional strongman [[Eddie Hall]] and European [[taekwondo]] champion [[Charlie Maddock]].{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

==Culture, art, science and architecture==
[[File:Burslem school of art.JPG|thumb|right|[[Burslem School of Art]]]]

===Architecture===

From the [[Half timbered|half-timbered]] [[Vernacular architecture|farmhouse vernacular]] of [[Ford Green Hall]], through the 18th-century canal-side [[Wedgwood]] estate of [[Etruria Works|Etruria]] one of the hubs of the [[Industrial Revolution]], to 19th-century country house estates e.g. [[Trentham Estate|Trentham Hall]] and railway buildings such as [[Stoke-on-Trent railway station|Stoke Station]] and more lately in the 20th century, the expansion and renewal of industrial, civic and amenity buildings including [[Potteries Museum and Art Gallery]], the architecture of North Staffordshire has a history expressive of locally acquired or manufactured building materials: quarried stone, coal and clay for brick and tile-making, ash, sand gravel and cement for concrete, and also cast iron steel and timber.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

Stoke-on-Trent's architecture is tied closely to the [[industrial heritage]] of the city. [[Bottle oven]]s (used for early pottery manufacture), canal-side and railway-related mill, factory, or warehouse buildings evolved – within the tightly knit street pattern of each of the six townships – from transport links and adjacency to local generationally skilled labour. Post-WWII pottery factories developed a style typified by [[Open plan|open-plan]] manufacturing areas, surrounded by wide expanses of window-walling from floor to ceiling, allowing good daylighting for intricate tasks such as [[lithography]], fettling and decoration.
[[File:ASREGENT WORKS 1.jpg|thumb|Colclough China Longton, a factory typical of the mid 20th century]]

In 1966, [[Stone, Staffordshire|Stone (Staffordshire)]] born [[Cedric Price]] had proposed a Potteries Thinkbelt design which sought to make use of decommissioned railway routes following the [[Beeching cuts|Beeching Cuts]] and the scarred landscape of coal mining to provide linked learning centres for a technical industry-based curriculum. The [[Staffordshire University]] Architecture course has introduced an annual Cedric Price Day celebrating this and other projects of his.<ref>{{cite web |title=Work of Staffordshire-born architect celebrated on Cedric Price Day 2 September 2021 |url=https://www.staffs.ac.uk/news/2021/09/work-of-staffordshire-born-architect-celebrated-on-cedric-price-day |website=Staffordshire University |date=2 September 2021 |access-date=2 September 2022}}</ref>

===Science===

[[Oliver Lodge]] (1851–1940) was a British physicist and writer involved in the development of, and holder of key patents for, radio. He was born in [[Penkhull]].
[[William Astbury]] (1898–1962) was an English physicist and molecular biologist who made pioneering X-ray diffraction studies of biological molecules. He was born in Longton. [[Jessie MacWilliams]] (1917–1990) was a mathematician who worked on [[coding theory]] and is known for the [[MacWilliams identities]]. [[John L. Jinks]] (1929–1987) was a geneticist who worked on cytoplasmic inheritance and [[quantitative genetics]]. [[David J. C. MacKay]] (1967–2016) was a physicist and mathematician known for his work on [[Bayesian inference]] and popular writings on [[climate change]].{{cn|date=August 2024}}

===Visual art===
The major art gallery is The [[Potteries Museum & Art Gallery]], located in Hanley. It contains a collection of fine ceramics, a rotating programme of exhibitions and a permanent collection. In 2010, it became one of the permanent homes of the [[Staffordshire Hoard]], the most important collection of [[Anglo-Saxon]] gold yet found.

The city's Cultural Quarter in Hanley contains the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, the [[Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent|Regent Theatre]] and the [[Victoria Hall (Hanley)|Victoria Hall]]. There are also smaller elements, including the independent Dazed Gallery<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.creativestoke.org.uk/03-interview.html |title=Setting up & running an art gallery :: interview |publisher=Creative Stoke |date=26 September 2004 |access-date=2 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503093633/http://www.creativestoke.org.uk/03-interview.html |archive-date=3 May 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and AirSpace, the city's only contemporary art gallery, artist-led and artist run.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airspacegallery.org/2007/|title=airspace|access-date=7 August 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612114621/http://www.airspacegallery.org/2007/|archive-date=12 June 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Artbay Gallery in Fenton<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theartbay.co.uk/ |title=Theartbay Gallery & Fine Art Publishers - Home of The UK Children's Fine Art Exhibition |publisher=Theartbay.co.uk |access-date=2 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502201526/http://www.theartbay.co.uk/ |archive-date=2 May 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> has a contemporary range of original works as well as limited editions.

Edwardian [[Burslem School of Art|School of Art]] in Burslem has been refurbished with £1.2&nbsp;million, and is now run without a public subsidy. The Hothouse Centre for Ceramic Design and the Roslyn Works complex of craft studios operate in Longton. Also based in Burslem is the Barewall Gallery,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.barewall.co.uk/ |title=Original Art Work from Unique Talent &#124; Artists Work for Sale |publisher=Barewall |date=25 November 2011 |access-date=2 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502201336/http://www.barewall.co.uk/ |archive-date=2 May 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> which has a large collection of work by local artists including original art by [[Arthur Berry (playwright)|Arthur Berry]] (The Lowry of The Potteries), Jack Simcock, and by new emerging Potteries artists.

Stoke-on-Trent is the birthplace of several artists including [[Arthur Berry (playwright)|Arthur Berry]] (also a novelist, playwright & poet), [[Glenys Barton]] (sculptor), [[Arnold Machin]] (sculptor, coin & stamp designer) and [[Sidney Tushingham]], A.R.E.

===Public art===
[[File:Careful with the knife Perseus (geograph 2017699).jpg|thumb|left|Perseus with the Head of Medusa sculpture by Benvenuto Cellini at Trentham Gardens]]
The Grade II* listed statue of ''Perseus with the Head of Medusa'', which stands adjacent to the lake at Trentham Gardens, a part of [[Trentham Estate]], is a copy of an original work by [[Benvenuto Cellini]], which was sculpted for [[Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany|Cosimo I Duke of Tuscany]] from 1545 to 1554. In the early 19th century, the then Duke of Tuscany, allowed a cast of Cellini's statue to be taken for his friend, the 2nd Duke of Sutherland; it is the only bronze cast of the statue<ref>{{cite web |title=Perseus with the Head of Medusa |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1374226?section=official-list-entry |website=Historic England |access-date=2 September 2022}}</ref> The bronze sculpture was installed at Trentham in 1840 during Charles Barry's remodelling of the estate and the statue forms a focal point for his Italianate gardens located by the lake at the south end of the central axis of the parterre. Barry designed the circular platform on which the statue is set.

[[File:Josiah Wedgwood - geograph.org.uk - 1134140.jpg|thumb|Statue of Josiah Wedgwood by Edward Davis unveiled at its present location in 1863]]
Welcoming visitors to the city as they alight from their train at [[Stoke-on-Trent railway station|Stoke-on-Trent station]] is a statue of [[Josiah Wedgwood]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1975) |url=https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/josiah-wedgwood-17301795-313532 |website=Art UK |access-date=30 August 2022}}</ref> the centrepiece to the Grade II listed Winton Square area. The statue by [[Edward Davis (sculptor)|Edward Davis]] was cast in bronze in 1860 and first displayed at the 1862 London Exhibition (also known as the [[1862 International Exhibition|International Exhibition]] of 1862)<ref>{{cite web |title=1862 London Exhibition |url=https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/1862_London_Exhibition |website=Grace's Guide |access-date=30 August 2022}}</ref> which was the successor to the 1851 [[Great Exhibition]]. Funded by public subscription, the Stoke-on-Trent unveiling took place on 24 February 1863. A replica of the statue was cast in the 1950s for the Wedgwood Barlaston factory site, where it now stands – outside the [[Wedgwood Museum]]. In Josiah's hand is an example of his pre-eminent work, the [[Portland Vase]].

[[File:Man of Fire Geograph-342265-by-Steven-Birks.jpg|thumb|left|Man of Fire, a 1964 sculpture installed on Lewis's Store (later Debenhams), Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent]]
''The Spirit of Fire''<ref>{{cite web |title=The Spirit of Fire |url=https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/the-spirit-of-fire-303228 |website=Art UK |access-date=5 September 2022}}</ref> also known as ''The Man of Fire'' or sometimes locally as ''Jack Frost'' or even ''The Spiky Man'', a 1964 sculpture by [[David Wynne (sculptor)|David Wynne]], is mounted upon the façade of what was the [[Lewis's]] Department Sore (designed by [[Percy Thomas Partnership|the Percy Thomas Partnership]]). The inscription below the sculpture reads: "Fire is at the root of all things visible and invisible" – a reference to the industrial heart of The Potteries: ceramics, railways, steelmaking and mining.

[[File:"CAPO" by Vincent Woropay.jpg|thumb|"CAPO" Modernist Sculpture depicting the head of Josiah Wedgwood by Vincent Woropay © Eirian Evans via Geograph.]]
''CAPO'', a modern interpretation depicting the head of Josiah Wedgwood by [[Vincent Woropay]] was originally commissioned by Stoke-on-Trent City Council for the 1986 [[National garden festival|National Garden Festival]]. It was moved in 2009 to an appropriate site in Festival Way close to Wedgwood's [[Etruria Hall]] home. In February 2023, the statue was demolished by council contractors during works to widen the road.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Corrigan |first1=Phil |title='It's a disgrace - Anger at council error |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/its-disgrace--anger-council-8105090 |access-date=17 April 2023 |date=2 Feb 2023}}</ref>  A subsequent investigation led to the resignation of the deputy council leader as the work had not been correctly planned or authorised by the council. The leader of the council has pledged to have the statue restored<ref>{{cite news |last1=Corrigan |first1=Phil |title=Council officers could be disciplined in wake of Wedgwood sculpture fiasco |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/wedgwood-sculpture-fiasco-report-raises-8213022 |access-date=17 April 2023 |work=StokeonTrentLive |date=3 March 2023 }}</ref>

''A Man Can't Fly'', commissioned by Stoke-on-Trent City Council in 1989, is a statue of "a figure of a man balancing horizontally upon one leg ([[Arabesque (ballet position)|arabesque]], a [[Dance positions|ballet pose]]), by Cheshire sculptor Ondre Nowakowski (b.1954). The pose appears as a reference to [[Superman]] in flight. It stands atop a column with the words 'A MAN CAN'T FLY' repeated vertically around its circumference".<ref>{{cite web |title=A Man Can't Fly |url=https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/a-man-cant-fly-313530 |website=Art UK |access-date=21 September 2022}}</ref> The location is at the Leek Road/ Glebe Street junction close to Stoke Station.
[[File:A Man Can't Fly, Stoke-on-Trent (2).jpg|thumb|A Man Can't Fly sculpture, Stoke-on-Trent, England.]]

[[File:Golden Sculpture Stoke on Trent.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Golden (sculpture)|''Golden'']] sculpture, March 2017.]]
The outskirts of [[Tunstall, Staffordshire|Tunstall]] became home to a new public art statue called [[Golden (sculpture)|'' Golden'']] in 2015. The 69&nbsp;ft (21m) steel work of art by [[Wolfgang Buttress]] was privately funded with £180,000 [[Section 106 agreement|Section 106]] monies and is made from [[corten steel|COR-TEN Steel]], the same material as the ''[[Angel of the North]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Tunstall-prepares-Britain-s-tallest-artworks/story-19283086-detail/story.html|title=Tunstall prepares for one of Britain's tallest artworks|work=Stoke Sentinel|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029213426/http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Tunstall-prepares-Britain-s-tallest-artworks/story-19283086-detail/story.html|archive-date=29 October 2013}}</ref> The tapered lozenge design features powerful LED lights that will illuminate 1,500 glass prisms containing the written wishes or memories of local residents.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tunstallmarkettraders.co.uk/events%20page%202.html |title=Tunstall Market Traders - Golden |access-date=29 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029204300/http://www.tunstallmarkettraders.co.uk/events%20page%202.html |archive-date=29 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Each prism will be suspended from the main body of the sculpture by a short arm, giving the artwork a bristly appearance. It is located on the former site of the Potteries Pyramid,<ref>{{cite web |title=What we know about the Potteries Pyramid |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/what-know-potteries-pyramid-100k-7509782 |website=Stoke Sentinel |date=29 August 2022 |access-date=20 September 2022}}</ref> which was to have been moved to a nearby roundabout.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Pyramid-moves-mystery-remains/story-13520342-detail/story.html|title=Pyramid moves but mystery still remains|work=Stoke Sentinel|date=10 October 2011 |access-date=29 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113115720/http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Pyramid-moves-mystery-remains/story-13520342-detail/story.html|archive-date=13 November 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2013 a sculpture, ''Unearthed (Lidice)'' designed by Sarah Nadin (b.1983) and Nicola Winstanley (b.1984) also known as Dashyline studios,<ref>{{cite web |title=Unearthed (Lidice) |url=https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/unearthed-lidice-303234 |website=Art UK |access-date=22 September 2022}}</ref> commemorating the efforts of miners to rebuild the Czech village of [[Lidice]] devastated during the [[Second World War]] was unveiled. The {{convert|6.8|m|ftin|adj=mid|-high}} steel sculpture cost £100,000 to build and features 3,000 tags bearing the initials of people who promise to share the story of the 1942 [[Barnett Stross#Lidice Shall Live|Lidice Shall Live]] movement.  North Staffordshire-based Dashyline was commissioned by Stoke-on-Trent City Council to create the artwork, which has been installed near Hanley bus station. The sculpture was manufactured and installed by local Company, Patera Engineering Ltd based in Fenton.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/pound-100k-sculpture-unveiled-tribute-miners/story-19996180-detail/story.html|title=£100k sculpture unveiled as tribute to miners who helped rebuild a devastated Czech community|work=Stoke Sentinel|date=28 October 2013 |access-date=29 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031181319/http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/pound-100k-sculpture-unveiled-tribute-miners/story-19996180-detail/story.html|archive-date=31 October 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018 a pear tree, grafted from the protected pear tree which survived the destruction of Lidice, was planted in Stoke-on-Trent to commemorate the ''Lidice Shall Live'' campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mzv.gov.cz/london/en/what_s_new/planting_a_pear_tree_in_stoke_on_trent.html|title=Planting a Pear Tree from Lidice in Stoke-on-Trent|access-date=12 October 2024|date=26 February 2018|publisher=Embassy of the Czech Republic in London}}</ref>

''Arnold Bennett Statue''
This statue celebrates the city's most famous literary son, [[Arnold Bennett]]. It was unveiled on 27 May 2017, on what would have been his 150th birthday. Located on Bethesda Street on the approach to the [[Potteries Museum & Art Gallery|Potteries Museum and Art Gallery]] in Hanley, the work was commissioned by the Arnold Bennett Society, and funded by the [[Denise Coates|Denise Coates Foundation]] – then, gifted to the city. The seated figure was created by local sculptors Michael Talbot and Carl Payne.{{cn|date=August 2024}}
[[File:Arnold Bennett Sculpture Hanley 2.jpg|thumb|Arnold Bennett Statue Hanley, located on the approach to Potteries Museum and Art Gallery]]

===Theatre and Performing Arts===
The city's main theatre is the 1,603-person capacity [[Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent|Regent Theatre]], which is in Hanley. Nearby is the main concert hall, the [[Victoria Hall (Hanley)|Victoria Hall]]. The purpose-built [[theatre in the round]] [[New Vic Theatre]] is just outside the city's boundary in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The Victorian Kings Hall in Stoke-on-Trent Town Hall is used for smaller events. In Burslem, the [[Queen's Theatre, Burslem|Queen's Theatre]] has been refurbished and restored at private expense.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

The [[Stoke-on-Trent Repertory Theatre]] is based in Stoke and puts on amateur productions. The previously city council-run Mitchell Memorial Youth Theatre, based in Hanley, completed its £4.3m refurbishment in 2011 and is now known as the [[Mitchell Arts Centre]]. It is named in honour of one of the city's most famous sons, [[Reginald Mitchell]], designer of the World War II fighter plane, the [[Spitfire]].

The city also has been the home to some long-running cultural organisations, including [[B arts]], founded in the 80s as an all-female-led, participatory arts organisation. The founders were street theatre directors [[Hilary Hughes]], Gill Gill and Yvonne Male.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

===Cinema===
In December 2015 a new nine-screen Cineworld Cinema opened in Hanley. It is situated at The Hive which is an extension to the Intu Potteries shopping centre.
There is an [[Odeon Cinemas|Odeon]] multiplex cinema located in Festival Park. The independent volunteer-run art-house cinema, The Stoke-on-Trent Film Theatre, is located very near the railway station and shows art-house and subtitled films, as well as films that have finished their run in larger cinemas.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stokefilmtheatre.fsnet.co.uk/volunteer.htm |title=Stoke-on-Trent Film Theatre |access-date=18 August 2008| publisher=Stoke-on-Trent Film Theatre |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080513175759/http://www.stokefilmtheatre.fsnet.co.uk/volunteer.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 13 May 2008}}</ref>

===Literature===
[[File:Arnold Bennett - Project Gutenberg etext 13635.jpg|thumbnail|right|Arnold Bennett, raised in Hanley.]]

Through the works of [[Arnold Bennett]], described by some as the greatest [[Realism (theatre)|realist]] writer of the 20th century,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/content/articles/2006/04/04/local_heroes_arnold_bennett_feature.shtml |title=Arnold Bennett – Potteries author |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |work=BBC Stoke & Staffordshire |access-date=20 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106101802/http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/content/articles/2006/04/04/local_heroes_arnold_bennett_feature.shtml |archive-date=6 January 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> the "Six Towns" were sometimes known as the "Five Towns".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www3.shropshire-cc.gov.uk/bennett.htm |title=Arnold Bennett Profile |work=Literary Heritage |publisher=Shropshire County Council |access-date=6 May 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070503012007/http://www3.shropshire-cc.gov.uk/bennett.htm |archive-date=3 May 2007  }}</ref> In his novels, Bennett wrote about local events in the 19th century<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/li/specarc/archives/bennett.htm |title=Arnold Bennett Papers |publisher=Keele University |access-date=20 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929115435/http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/li/specarc/archives/bennett.htm |archive-date=29 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and consistently changed all proper names and associations, thus Hanley became Hanbridge and Burslem became Bursley.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thepotteries.org/people_famous/bennett/locations.htm |title=Arnold Bennett and The Potteries |publisher=Steve Birks |access-date=20 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070513042111/http://www.thepotteries.org/people_famous/bennett/locations.htm |archive-date=13 May 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Studies in the sources of Arnold Bennett's novels |last=Tillier |first=Louis |year=1969 |publisher=Didier |asin=B0006CRU2S}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Arnold Bennett and Stoke-on-Trent |last=Warrilow |first=E. J. D. |year=1966 |publisher=Etruscan Publications |asin=B000GWKVMO}}</ref> The "Six Towns" were not federated until 1910 when Fenton was still relatively new. It was the smallest in terms of population and area. Bennett also changed the name of the local newspaper from ''The Sentinel'' to ''The Signal'', an identity that was subsequently adopted by the city's commercial radio station.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.signalradio.com/about.php |title=About Us |publisher=Signal Radio |access-date=20 May 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927070425/http://www.signalradio.com/about.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 27 September 2007}}</ref>

Other notable contributors to literature include [[Elijah Fenton]] (poet), [[Peter Whelan (playwright)|Peter Whelan]] (playwright), [[John Wain]] (poet, critic and scholar), [[Pauline Stainer]] (poet) and [[Charles Tomlinson]] (poet, graphic artist, translator, editor and critic).

In [[Jorge Luis Borges]]' novel "[[The Garden of Forking Paths]]", Dr. Yu Tsun goes to a suburb of Fenton to meet Stephen Albert.{{importance-inline|date=August 2024}}

===Young Poet Laureate===
Since 2010, the council's library service has run a competition to appoint a Young Poet Laureate for the city. This is a competition for local poets aged between 11 and 19. The first winner was Daniel Tatton, and he was succeeded in 2011 by Bethanie Hardie.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Beth-16-young-poet-laureate-star/story-13646683-detail/story.html |title=Beth, 16, is chosen as Stoke-on-Trent's Young Poet Laureate |work=The Sentinel |date=24 October 2011 |access-date=14 August 2012}}</ref>

===Media===
====Newspaper====
* [[The Sentinel (Staffordshire)|The Sentinel]] daily local newspaper
====Radio====
* [[BBC Radio Stoke]]/94.6: the third BBC local radio station to begin broadcasting
* [[Hits Radio Staffordshire & Cheshire]]/102.6: local commercial radio 
* [[Greatest Hits Radio Staffordshire & Cheshire]]: local commercial radio 
* [[6 Towns Radio]]: local community radio 
* [[Cross Rhythms City Radio]]/101.8: religious hit music

====Television====
Local news and television programmes are provided by [[BBC West Midlands]] and [[ITV Central]]. Television signals are received from the [[Sutton Coldfield transmitting station|Sutton Coldfield]] TV transmitter and the Fenton relay transmitter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Fenton|title= Full Freeview on the Fenton (Stoke-on-Trent, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=10 December 2023}}</ref> 

The city is to be part of the second wave of UK cities to get its local TV station.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.northstaffordshire.co.uk/?p=7567|title=Your connection with North Staffordshire - North Staffordshire Social|access-date=21 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426064031/http://www.northstaffordshire.co.uk/?p=7567|archive-date=26 April 2012|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-16157352|title=Ofcom earmarks 20 local TV locations|work=BBC News|date=13 December 2011 |access-date=21 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221054920/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-16157352|archive-date=21 February 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Entertainers===
Stoke has been the birthplace of many actors and entertainers, including:
{{div col |colwidth=15em}}
* [[Adrian Rawlins]] (born 1958), actor
* [[Bruno Brookes]] (born 1959), radio presenter
* [[Anthea Turner]] (born 1960), TV presenter
* [[Neil Morrissey]] (born 1962). actor
* [[Nick Hancock]] (born 1962). TV presenter
* [[Hugh Dancy]] (born 1975), actor
* [[Dominic Burgess]] (born 1982), actor
* [[Rachel Shenton]] (born 1987), actress
{{div col end}}

===Music===
Stoke has a vibrant music scene. The [[Golden Torch]], a local nightclub, became the centre of the [[Northern soul]] scene in the early 1970s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/music/northernsoul/features/weblinks.shtml |title=A Soul Capital – the story, the links, the contacts |last=Fox |first=Mary |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |work=BBC Stoke & Staffordshire |access-date=20 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313160212/http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/music/northernsoul/features/weblinks.shtml |archive-date=13 March 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Shelley's Laserdome]] nightclub in Longton played a pivotal role in the house and rave scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s, helping launch the career of [[Sasha (DJ)|Sasha]] and featuring regular appearances from [[Carl Cox]], until it was eventually shut down by [[Staffordshire Police]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fantazia.org.uk/Scene/orgs/shelleys.htm |title=Shelleys Laserdome – History |access-date=20 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081229171916/http://www.fantazia.org.uk/Scene/orgs/shelleys.htm |archive-date=29 December 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Void, a Hanley nightclub, developed a sister relationship with Sankey's Soap in Manchester, helping the latter to revive its fortunes during the late 1990s via the promotion of a club night called ''Golden''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fantazia.org.uk/orgs/golden.htm |title=Golden – Stoke on Trent – Profile |access-date=20 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070404154929/http://www.fantazia.org.uk/orgs/golden.htm |archive-date=4 April 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Lemmy-02.jpg|left|thumb|Lemmy, born in Burslem]]
[[Robbie Williams]] is the most famous pop star to hail from the city.{{cn|date=August 2024}} Many of his songs refer to Stoke-on-Trent, either directly or indirectly. These include "It's Only Us", "Burslem Normals", "The 80's" and the spoken introduction to his duet with [[Jonathan Wilkes]] of the song "Me and My Shadow". The song "Angels" was partly inspired by the golden angel at [[Old Town Hall, Burslem|Burslem Town Hall]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/robbie.s%20mum%20reveals%20angels%20secret |title=Robbie's Mum Reveals Angels Secret |date=11 February 2005 |access-date=20 May 2007}}</ref> In 2015, three streets in a new housing estate in Middleport were named after Williams' hit songs: [[Supreme (song)|Supreme]] Street, [[Candy (Robbie Williams song)|Candy]] Lane and [[Angels (Robbie Williams song)|Angels]] Way.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-31689554|title=Robbie Williams street signs unveiled in Stoke-on-Trent|work=BBC News |date=2 March 2015|access-date=3 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125135900/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-31689554|archive-date=25 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

Saul Hudson, the lead guitarist for [[Guns N' Roses]] better known by his stage name "[[Slash (musician)|Slash]]", was raised in Stoke-on-Trent. His father, Anthony Hudson, was from the area, and he spent a few of his early childhood years living in the city before moving to his mother's native United States in 1970. He did not meet many of the British side of his family until 1992 when Guns N' Roses played [[Wembley Stadium]] as part of the [[Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert]]. Slash has recalled in interviews and his autobiography that his Stoke relatives drank all of the band's considerable rider:
"I witnessed one of my uncles, my cousin, and my grandfather, on his very first trip to London from Stoke, down every drop of liquor in our dressing room. Consumed in full, our booze rider in those days would have killed anyone but us."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.snakepit.org/bio.html |title=Slash – Biography |work=Official Fan Site |date=June 2006 |access-date=20 May 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070518132252/http://www.snakepit.org/bio.html |archive-date=18 May 2007  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.belowempty.com/vr/articles/2004/040701_Q.php |title=Interview (Contains some mature content) |work=Q Magazine |date=11 October 2004 |access-date=20 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070618013312/http://www.belowempty.com/vr/articles/2004/040701_Q.php |archive-date=18 June 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Lonnie Cook is a rock 'n' roll guitarist and local celebrity who played with Screaming Lord Sutch in the 1970s. He is remembered in the area for his Radio Stoke show ''Sunday Best'', and for standing as a Monster Raving Loony Party candidate. In 2010 he started getting airplay on a New York radio station for his 1994 song "Knock Me Down, Pick Me Up". This led to the song being released for mp3 download in the US and the UK.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Legend-hopes-crack-America/article-2291262-detail/article.html |title=Legend hopes to crack America |newspaper=Staffordshire Sentinel |date=11 June 2010}}</ref>

Other notable individuals and groups from the area include [[Andy Moor (DJ)|Andy Moor]] who is a DJ and producer,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/DJ-Andy-s-journey-global-success/story-12576041-detail/story.html |title=City dance DJ worked with Paul Oakenfold and Britney Spears |newspaper=Stoke Sentinel |date=5 January 2011 |access-date=16 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131218152644/http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/DJ-Andy-s-journey-global-success/story-12576041-detail/story.html |archive-date=18 December 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Gertie Gitana]] (music hall star and singer),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/content/articles/2009/05/18/gertie_gitana_feature.shtml |title=Gertie Gitana |work=BBC |date=November 2009 |access-date=16 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016235810/http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/content/articles/2009/05/18/gertie_gitana_feature.shtml |archive-date=16 October 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Lemmy]], the founder of the rock band [[Motörhead]],<ref>{{cite book |first1=Ian Fraiser |last1=Kilmister |last2=Fraser |first2=Ian |last3=Garza |first3=Janiss |title=White Line Fever |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |year=2002 |isbn=0-684-85868-1 |page=5}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/music/2002/10/lemmy.shtml |title=Lemmy: White Line Fever – from, er, Stoke |work=BBC Stoke and Staffordshire |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=11 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070206155315/http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/music/2002/10/lemmy.shtml |archive-date=6 February 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imotorhead.com/index2.htm|title=Motörhead Chronology|access-date=9 February 2007|publisher=Official Motörhead site|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070209163647/http://www.imotorhead.com/index2.htm|archive-date=9 February 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Patricia Leonard]] (singer/[[contralto]]),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gsarchive.net/whowaswho/L/LeonardPatricia.htm |title=Patricia Leonard |first=David |last=Stone |work=Who Was Who in the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company (1875–1982) |date=27 August 2001 |access-date=20 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403174721/http://www.gsarchive.net/whowaswho/L/LeonardPatricia.htm |archive-date=3 April 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Jem Finer]] (banjoist, The Pogues),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pogues.com/PastPogues/JFiner/JFiner.html |title=Jem Finer (Jeremy Max Finer) |access-date=20 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070306104835/http://www.pogues.com/PastPogues/JFiner/JFiner.html |archive-date=6 March 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Broken Bones (band)|Broken Bones]] and [[Discharge (band)|Discharge]] (punk band), who invented the [[D-beat]] style.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.discharge.co.uk/history.html |title=History |access-date=20 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070601025748/http://www.discharge.co.uk/history.html |archive-date=1 June 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref> Experimental musician Phil Todd, best known for his [[Ashtray Navigations]] project, grew up in Madeley. Other bands to hail from the city include: ''[[This Is Seb Clarke]]'' (soul-punk), ''[[Agent Blue (band)|Agent Blue]]'' (alternative rock), ''[[All the Young]]'' and ''[[The Title]]'' (indie).{{cn|date=August 2024}}

In October 2007, Stoke-on-Trent City Council introduced a new theme tune – "Moving Forwards Together". It was described by the council as "part of our drive to help us move the city forward and create a better Stoke-on-Trent for people to live, learn, work and enjoy".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/content/cc/stoke-on-trent-city-council-theme-tune.en |title=Stoke-on-Trent City Council theme tune |access-date=26 October 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071028032359/http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/content/cc/stoke-on-trent-city-council-theme-tune.en <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 28 October 2007}}</ref>

[[Murdoc Niccals]], a fictional member of the group [[Gorillaz]] with the role of bass guitarist is (in his constructed biography) said to have been born in Stoke-on-Trent.<ref>{{cite web |date= |title=Murdoc |url=https://lobotomypop.weebly.com/murdoc.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930063352/https://lobotomypop.weebly.com/murdoc.html |archive-date=30 September 2022 |access-date=30 September 2022 |work=Lobotomy Pop}}</ref>

[[Havergal Brian]] (1876–1972), the classical composer and music writer, who [[Composer|composed]] 32 [[Symphony|symphonies]] and five operas,<ref>[http://www.havergalbrian.org/ Havergal Brian Society website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161208080917/http://www.havergalbrian.org/ |date=8 December 2016 }} retrieved Jan 2015</ref> was born in Stoke (in Dresden). The large scale and unfashionable style of his compositions led to them being neglected for most of his lifetime and not a note of his music was commercially issued on record during his lifetime. He died without having heard many of his finest works.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

===Food===
[[File:Oatcakes.jpg|thumb|right|Potteries Oatcake.]]
[[Staffordshire oatcake]]s (very different from the Scottish version and traditionally made in corner-shop style oatcake bakeries) is a much-loved local culinary speciality. They remain popular although are no longer the cheap alternative to bread. Oatcakes can be eaten cold or hot with any sweet or savoury fillings. [[Lobby (food)|Lobby]], a stew not unlike [[Lancashire hotpot]], is still made by local people.

===Stoke Pride===
Stoke Pride is the city's annual pride march that has been running since 2005, although it was not officially called Stoke Pride until 2008. It is a celebration of the city's [[LGBT]] community and attracts visitors from many different areas across the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hopenothate.org.uk/news/article/978/Gays-to-show-their-Pride-in-a-city-with-nine-BNP-councillors|title=Gays to show their Pride in a city with nine BNP councillors|access-date=4 January 2009|publisher=Hope Not Hate|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125013155/http://hopenothate.org.uk/news/article/978/Gays-to-show-their-Pride-in-a-city-with-nine-BNP-councillors|archive-date=25 November 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> Originally held in Hanley, the event was held at Northwood Park until 2016 and has since moved to Hanley Park in 2017 attracting over 7,000 attendants, six times the amount of the previous year. It continued in 2018 with increased attendance,<ref>{{cite web |title=Record-breaking crowds enjoy Stoke-on-Trent Pride |url=https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/whats-on/record-breaking-crowd-enjoy-carnival-1684321 |website=Stoke Sentinel, StokeonTrentLive |date=16 June 2018 |access-date=5 August 2020}}</ref> and in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stoke-on-Trent Pride 2019 |url=https://www.visitstoke.co.uk/whats-on/stoke-on-trent-pride-2019-p1105841 |website=Visit Stoke |access-date=5 August 2020}}</ref> It was due to continue in 2020, on 20 June, but was postponed because of COVID-19.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stoke on Trent Pride 2020 |url=https://pinkuk.com/events/stoke-on-trent-pride-2020 |website=Pink UK |access-date=5 August 2020}}</ref>

== Dialect ==
{{main|Potteries dialect}}
The Potteries has a distinctive [[Potteries dialect|local dialect]]. It contains many non-standard words, e.g. ''nesh'' meaning "soft, tender, or to easily get cold",<ref name=dialect /> and ''slat'' meaning "to throw".<ref name=dialect /> The best-known word is ''duck'', which is used as a greeting to either men or women. It is believed to be derived from the [[Old English|Saxon]] word ''ducas'', used to indicate respect. In [[Middle English]] this became ''duc'' or ''duk'', which denotes a leader. It became the title ''[[Duke]]'' and the [[Old French]] word ''duché'', which indicates the territory ruled by a Duke.<ref name=dialect>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/voices2005/features/steve_birks.shtml |title=Voices – The history of the Potteries dialect |access-date=14 May 2007 |work=BBC Stoke & Staffordshire |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080128130736/http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/voices2005/features/steve_birks.shtml |archive-date=28 January 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Another common variation on the standard English dialect is the use of the word ''shug'' for sugar. This is usually used as a term of endearment when closing a sentence, as in "Ta Shug" (thank you, sugar).{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

A local [[Comic strip|cartoon strip]] called ''[[May un Mar Lady]] (Me and my Wife)'', published in the newspaper ''[[The Sentinel (Staffordshire)|The Sentinel]]'' and written in [[Potteries dialect]], first appeared on 8 July 1986 and ran for over 20 years.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thisisthesentinel.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=158338&command=displayContent&sourceNode=158321&contentPK=17135845&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch |title=Follows at the Festival |access-date=14 May 2007 |date=19 April 2007 |work=The Sentinel |publisher=Staffordshire Sentinel Newspapers Ltd }}{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Since the death of cartoonist [[Dave Follows]] in 2003, the full twenty-year run (7,000) of ''May un Mar Lady'' strips are being republished in ''The Sentinel'' as ''May un Mar Lady Revisited'', keeping the dialect alive for another twenty years.

Alan Povey's ''[[Owd Grandad Piggott]]'' stories, which have aired on [[BBC Radio Stoke]] for several years, are recited in the Potteries dialect by the author.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/news/2003/10/dave_follows.shtml |date=October 2003 |title=Dave Follows – tributes to the cartoonists' cartoonist |access-date=14 May 2007 |work=BBC Stoke & Staffordshire |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060314171036/http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/news/2003/10/dave_follows.shtml |archive-date=14 March 2006 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== International relations ==

Stoke is [[sister city|twinned]] with:
* [[East Liverpool, Ohio|East Liverpool]], [[Columbiana County, Ohio|Columbiana County]], [[Ohio]], United States
* [[Erlangen]], [[Bavaria]], Germany, since 1989<ref>{{cite web |title=Twinned |url=https://www.oktoberfeststoke.co.uk/twinned |website=Oktoberfest Stoke-On-Trent |access-date=1 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901113552/https://www.oktoberfeststoke.co.uk/twinned |archive-date=1 September 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.erlangen.de/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-1511/3684_read-148/|title=Stoke-on-Trent|last=Erlangen|first=Stadt|date=19 June 2018|website=www.erlangen.de|language=de|access-date=18 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901113836/https://www.erlangen.de/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-1511/3684_read-148/|archive-date=1 September 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Freedom of the City==
* [[List of Freemen of the City of Stoke-on-Trent]].

==See also==
* [[List of people from Stoke-on-Trent]]
* [[Listed buildings in Stoke-on-Trent]]
* [[Stoke-on-Trent power station]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Stoke-on-Trent}}
{{Wikivoyage|Stoke-on-Trent}}
*{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Stoke-on-Trent |volume=25 |short=x}}
*[http://www.thepotteries.org/ The Potteries] The history of the North Staffordshire Potteries
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20170803034827/http://www.creativestoke.org.uk/ Creative Stoke] creativestoke.org.uk
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070922025439/http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/leisure/archives/ Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Archive Service] staffordshire.gov.uk
*[http://www.thepeoplesarchive.co.uk/home The People's Archive] Chronicling the changing face of North Staffordshire

===Local media===
*[http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/ Local Information] from ''[[The Sentinel (Staffordshire)|The Sentinel]]'' newspaper
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/ Local Information] from the ''[[BBC]]''

{{Stoke-on-Trent}}
{{Staffordshire}}
{{West Midlands}}
{{UK cities}}
{{Unitary authorities of England}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stoke-On-Trent}}
[[Category:Stoke-on-Trent| ]]
[[Category:Cities in the West Midlands (region)]]
[[Category:Local government in Staffordshire]]
[[Category:Towns in Staffordshire]]
[[Category:Unitary authority districts of England]]
[[Category:Local government districts of the West Midlands (region)]]
[[Category:NUTS 3 statistical regions of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1910]]
[[Category:1910 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Unparished areas in Staffordshire]]
[[Category:Former civil parishes in Staffordshire]]
[[Category:Boroughs in England]]
[[Category:River Trent]]