# Colchester

> city in Essex, England, UK

**Wikidata**: [Q184163](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q184163)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colchester)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/colchester

## Summary
Colchester is a city located in Essex, England, UK. It transitioned from a town to a city on November 23, 2022. Historically, it has served as a market town and is situated on the River Colne.

## Key Facts
- **Location**: Colchester is situated in Essex, England, United Kingdom. Its coordinates are 51.888611° N, 0.903611° E.
- **City Status**: It was officially designated a city on November 23, 2022. Prior to this, it was classified as a town and market town.
- **Population**: The population was recorded as 121,859 in 2011. An earlier record from 1891 lists the population as 34,559.
- **Historical Names/Entities**: It follows the ancient settlement of Camulodunum.
- **Administrative Role**: Since April 1, 1974, Colchester has served as the capital of the district of Colchester.
- **Geography**: The city is located on the River Colne. Its Ordnance Survey grid reference is TL997254.
- **Postal Codes**: The postal codes for the area range from CO1 to CO7.
- **Timezone**: Colchester operates in the UTC±00:00 timezone.
- **Dialing Code**: The local dialing code is 01206.
- **Identifiers**: The city has a UN/LOCODE of GBCOL. Its Wikidata TOID is 4000000074559170.

## FAQs
**What are the twin towns of Colchester?**
Colchester is twinned with Wetzlar (since June 28, 1969), Avignon (since February 1972), Imola (since 1997), and Yangzhou (since September 2015).

**What are the key historical references to Colchester?**
Colchester is historically significant as it follows the Roman settlement of Camulodunum. It was the site of the Siege of Colchester and is recorded as a market town. The city is also documented in the Domesday Book.

**Where can official information about Colchester be found?**
The official website for the city is https://www.colchester.gov.uk/. It also maintains an online presence through its BBC News topic ID and various social media and knowledge base identifiers like its Quora topic.

## Why It Matters
Colchester represents a significant urban center in Essex, England, UK. Its recent transition to city status in 2022 marks a milestone in its modern history, reinforcing its importance as a regional hub. As a historic market town with roots tracing back to Camulodunum, it serves as a point of cultural and historical interest. The city's administrative role as the capital of its district since 1974 highlights its ongoing governance importance.

## Notable For
- Transitioning from a town to a city on November 23, 2022.
- Being the capital of the Colchester district since 1974.
- Its historical connection to the ancient settlement of Camulodunum.
- Being the site of the significant historical event, the Siege of Colchester.
- Its international partnerships with four twin cities: Wetzlar, Avignon, Imola, and Yangzhou.

## Body

### Geography and Administration
Colchester is a city located within the county of Essex, England, in the United Kingdom. It lies next to the River Colne. The city's precise coordinates are 51.888611 latitude and 0.903611 longitude, falling within the OS grid reference TL997254. The timezone for the city is UTC±00:00. Since April 1, 1974, Colchester has held the status of capital for the district of Colchester. The city is also recognized as a civil parish and an unparished area.

### Demographics and Population
The population of Colchester has shown significant growth over time. According to records, the population in 1891 was 34,559. By the 2011 census, this number had increased to 121,859.

### History
The city has a rich historical background. It is identified as a successor to Camulodunum. Colchester was historically a market town. A notable event in its history is the Siege of Colchester. The city is also listed in the Open Domesday survey (TL9925/colchester). It achieved city status on November 23, 2022, ending its classification as a town on November 22, 2022.

### International Relations
Colchester maintains formal twinning agreements with four international cities:
- **Wetzlar**: Twinning established on June 28, 1969.
- **Avignon**: Twinning established in February 1972.
- **Imola**: Twinning established in 1997.
- **Yangzhou**: Twinning established in September 2015.

### Identifiers and References
Colchester is cataloged in numerous databases and registries:
- **UN/LOCODE**: GBCOL
- **Wikidata TOID**: 4000000074559170
- **WOEID**: 16545
- **GND ID**: 4085297-0
- **FAST ID**: 1209318
- **VIAF ID**: 146579883
- **GeoNames ID**: 2652618
- **Freebase ID**: /m/01n4nd
- **OpenStreetMap Node ID**: 21503243

### Media and Resources
The city has an official website: https://www.colchester.gov.uk/. Visual documentation of the city includes an image of the town center and a coat of arms. The main category for Colchester on Wikimedia Commons is "Colchester," with a specific category for maps and plans. The city is covered by a wide range of Wikipedia languages.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-essex-63738123)
2. [Source](https://www.colchester.gov.uk/mayor-townhallheritage/)
3. [Source](https://www.essexlive.news/news/essex-news/essex-twin-towns-europe-world-4440396)
4. [Source](https://www.wetzlar.de/kultur/partnerstaedte/partnerstaedte/colchester.php)
5. [Source](http://www.avignon.fr/fr/ma-ville/culture-et-tourisme/jumelages/)
6. [Source](http://wb.yangzhou.gov.cn/yzwb/yhjw/2018-01/29/content_948a2076cc7d4d919f3f13bbcdbad525.shtml)
7. [Source](https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/13638695.colchester-set-to-twin-with-yangzhou/)
8. [Source](http://wb.yangzhou.gov.cn/yzwb/yhjw/202011/79417e37bc84421b8bc11e50535856c1.shtml)
9. Virtual International Authority File
10. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
11. MusicBrainz
12. Source
13. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0
14. GeoNames
15. BBC Things
16. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/gb.htm)
17. Quora
18. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
19. museum-digital