# Chichester

> city in West Sussex, England

**Wikidata**: [Q207639](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q207639)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chichester)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/chichester

## Summary

Chichester is a city and county town in West Sussex, England, located at coordinates 50.8365°N, 0.7792°W. It serves as the administrative center of West Sussex and functions as a civil parish with city status, historically also classified as a market town. The city has a population of approximately 29,407 residents as of 2021 and covers an area of 8.61 square kilometers.

## Key Facts

- **Classification**: City, county town, civil parish, civil parish with city status, market town
- **Location**: West Sussex, England; historic county of Sussex
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 50.8365, Longitude -0.7792
- **Area**: 8.61 square kilometers
- **Population**: 29,407 (2021 census), 30,925 (2016), 26,795 (2011), 23,731 (2001)
- **Postal Code**: PO19
- **Local Dialing Code**: 01243
- **Timezone**: UTC±00:00
- **OS Grid Reference**: SU860048
- **UN/LOCODE**: GBCST
- **Website**: http://chichestercity.gov.uk/
- **Wikipedia Languages**: 121 language editions including English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, and many others
- **Sitelink Count**: 77 (Wikipedia connections)
- **Wikidata ID**: Q1551807
- **VIAF ID**: 134834940
- **Freebase ID**: /m/01z8f0
- **Geonames ID**: 2653192 (human settlement), 7296036 (civil parish)
- **OpenStreetMap Relation ID**: 2991708
- **GSS Code (2011)**: E04009888
- **Twinned Cities**: Ravenna (Italy), Forlì (Italy), Chartres (France), Sorocaba (Brazil), Kursk (Russia, since 2006)
- **Significant Event**: Siege of Chichester
- **Cathedral**: Chichester Cathedral (image available on Wikimedia Commons)
- **Image**: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Chichester_Cathedral,_south-west_aspect.jpg
- **Coat of Arms Image**: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/ChichesterCOA.png

## FAQs

**What type of administrative area is Chichester?**

Chichester is classified as a city, county town, civil parish, civil parish with city status, and historically as a market town. It serves as the administrative center of West Sussex.

**What is the population of Chichester?**

According to the 2021 census, Chichester has a population of 29,407 residents. Previous census figures show 30,925 (2016), 26,795 (2011), and 23,731 (2001).

**What is Chichester's area and geographic position?**

Chichester covers 8.61 square kilometers and is located at coordinates 50.8365°N latitude and 0.7792°W longitude in West Sussex, England.

**Which cities is Chichester twinned with?**

Chichester is twinned with five cities: Ravenna (Italy), Forlì (Italy), Chartres (France), Sorocaba (Brazil), and Kursk (Russia (since 2006)).

**What is Chichester's historical significance?**

Chichester is notable for the Siege of Chichester, a significant historical event. It has been a market town since medieval times and serves as the historic county town of Sussex.

**What identifiers and codes are associated with Chichester?**

Chichester has numerous identifiers including UN/LOCODE (GBCST), Geonames IDs (2653192, 7296036), OpenStreetMap relation ID (2991708), VIAF ID (134834940), Freebase ID (/m/01z8f0), and GSS code E04009888.

**What is the dialing code and postal code for Chichester?**

The local dialing code for Chichester is 01243, and the postal code area is PO19.

## Why It Matters

Chichester serves as the administrative and cultural heart of West Sussex, functioning as the county town where regional government operations are centered. Its status as a city with city status, combined with its historic role as a market town, makes it a significant regional center in southeastern England. The city's cathedral, Chichester Cathedral, is a major religious and architectural landmark that draws visitors and contributes to the city's cultural identity.

The city's strategic location at 50.8365°N, 0.7792°W places it in a region of historical importance, and its development through various historical periods—including the notable Siege of Chichester—has shaped its character. As a civil parish with city status, Chichester represents a unique administrative structure that combines ancient parish governance with modern city recognition.

Chichester's twinning relationships with five international cities (Ravenna, Forlì, Chartres, Sorocaba, and Kursk) demonstrate its commitment to international cooperation and cultural exchange. The city's population of nearly 30,000 residents and its role as a service center for the surrounding region make it economically and socially significant within West Sussex.

The extensive Wikipedia presence (121 language editions) and high sitelink count (77) indicate Chichester's global recognition and relevance as a subject of international interest. Its inclusion in numerous encyclopedic sources—from the Encyclopædia Britannica to Granat Encyclopedic Dictionary—underscores its historical and cultural importance.

## Notable For

- **County Town Status**: Serves as the administrative center of West Sussex
- **Cathedral City**: Home to Chichester Cathedral, a major Anglican cathedral
- **City Status**: Holds the rare distinction of being a civil parish with city status
- **Market Town Heritage**: Historically classified as a market town
- **International Twinning**: Partnered with five cities across three continents
- **Historical Siege**: Site of the Siege of Chichester
- **Comprehensive Encyclopedia Coverage**: Featured in 121 Wikipedia language editions and multiple historical encyclopedias including the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica and Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
- **Multiple Identifiers**: Assigned extensive cataloging identifiers across international databases (VIAF, Geonames, Freebase, OpenStreetMap)
- **Postal Infrastructure**: Dedicated postal code area (PO19) and dialing code (01243)

## Body

### Geography and Location

Chichester is situated in West Sussex, England, at coordinates 50.8365°N latitude and 0.7792°W longitude. The city covers an area of 8.61 square kilometers and uses the OS grid reference SU860048. The city lies within the historic county of Sussex and serves as the county town of West Sussex. The timezone is UTC±00:00, consistent with standard UK time.

### Population and Demographics

The population of Chichester has been recorded across multiple census years:
- **2021**: 29,407 residents (determined by census, with 13,263 males and 15,701 females)
- **2016**: 30,925 residents
- **2011**: 26,795 residents (12,316 males, 14,184 females)
- **2001**: 23,731 residents (10,807 males, 12,905 females)

The population figures demonstrate steady growth from 2001 to 2016, with a slight decrease noted in the 2021 census.

### Administrative Structure

Chichester holds multiple administrative classifications:
- City
- County town of West Sussex
- Civil parish
- Civil parish with city status
- Market town (historical classification)

The GSS code for Chichester is E04009888 (2011). The city has a vision of Britain unit ID (10285010) dating to 1896 for the civil parish, and a vision of Britain place ID (271) for Chichester, Sussex.

### Identifiers and Cataloging

Chichester is catalogued across numerous international databases and authority files:

**Geographic Identifiers**:
- Geonames ID: 2653192 (human settlement), 7296036 (civil parish)
- OpenStreetMap Relation ID: 2991708
- UN/LOCODE: GBCST
- GNS Unique Feature ID: -2592414 (human settlement)
- Survey of English Place Names ID: 532871b0b47fc40c36000007

**Bibliographic and Authority Identifiers**:
- VIAF ID: 134834940
- Freebase ID: /m/01z8f0
- Library of Congress Authority ID: n50045892
- National Library of Wales Authority ID: chichester-3, chichester-england
- Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names ID: 7011407
- National Library of Israel J9U ID: 987007554820605171

**Wikimedia and Encyclopedia Identifiers**:
- Wikidata ID: Q1551807
- Wikipedia title: Chichester
- Commons category: Chichester
- Commons gallery: Chichester
- Encyclopædia Britannica Online ID: place/Chichester-England
- Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana ID: chichester

### International Connections

Chichester maintains twinning relationships with five cities internationally:
- **Ravenna**, Italy
- **Forlì**, Italy
- **Chartres**, France
- **Sorocaba**, Brazil
- **Kursk**, Russia (twinning began in 2006)

### Transportation and Infrastructure

The city's postal code is PO19 and local dialing code is 01243. The city is served by Chichester railway station and lies on major road corridors connecting to Portsmouth and Brighton.

### Cultural and Historical Significance

Chichester's history includes the Siege of Chichester as a significant historical event. The city is home to Chichester Cathedral, a prominent Anglican cathedral with origins dating to the 11th century. The city has been documented in numerous historical encyclopedias including:
- Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition)
- Encyclopædia Britannica First Edition
- The New International Encyclopædia
- Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
- The Nuttall Encyclopædia
- Granat Encyclopedic Dictionary

### Media and Online Presence

Chichester has an official website at http://chichestercity.gov.uk/ and maintains a presence on Reddit (subreddit: chichester). The city has a BBC Things ID (b116ca43-aaca-42eb-9351-85e77750654d) and BBC News topic ID (cjkm52r62ypt).

### Wikipedia and Global Recognition

Chichester has articles in 121 Wikipedia language editions, indicating substantial international recognition. The sitelink count is 77, meaning the Chichester article is linked from 77 other Wikipedia articles. The topic's main category is Category:Chichester on Wikimedia Commons.

### Additional Notable Properties

- **Musicbrainz Area ID**: bd30395d-5f7d-48bc-bfcf-625c43c7c299
- **OpenWeatherMap City ID**: 2653192
- **BBC Things ID**: b116ca43-aaca-42eb-9351-85e77750654d
- **Vision of Britain Place ID**: 271
- **Topic's Main Category**: Category:Chichester
- **Category for People Born Here**: Q8079096
- **Category for People Buried Here**: Q113129657
- **Category for Deaths in Chichester**: Category:Deaths in Chichester
- **UK Parliament Thesaurus ID**: 9114

### Related Entities

Chichester is related to several administrative and geographic entities:
- **Capital of**: West Sussex, Chichester (district)
- **Located in**: Chichester (district)
- **Different from**: Chichester (other places with similar names, criterion used: toponym is not unique)

The city has been the subject of extensive documentation across academic, governmental, and encyclopedic sources, reflecting its importance as a historical, administrative, and cultural center in southern England.

## References

1. archINFORM
2. [Source](http://www.kurskadmin.ru/node/911)
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. OpenStreetMap
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. Czech National Authority Database
7. MusicBrainz
8. [Source](http://www.citypopulation.de/php/uk-england-southeastengland.php?cityid=E35000700)
9. [Parish Profiles. Office for National Statistics](https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/sources/census_2021_pp)
10. [Key Statistics. Office for National Statistics](https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/sources/census_2001_ks)
11. [Key Statistics. Office for National Statistics](https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/sources/census_2011_ks)
12. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0
13. GeoNames
14. BBC Things
15. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/gb.htm)
16. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)