# Hereford

> cathedral city and county town of Herefordshire, England

**Wikidata**: [Q204720](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q204720)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hereford)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/hereford

## Summary
Hereford is a cathedral city and the county town of Herefordshire, England, located within the United Kingdom. It serves as a civil parish with city status and functions as the administrative capital of Herefordshire. The city is situated on the River Wye and had a population of 53,113 according to the 2021 census.

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: Hereford is classified as a city, a county town, a civil parish, and a civil parish with city status.
- **Location**: It is located in Herefordshire, England, within the United Kingdom. Its historic county is Herefordshire.
- **Geography**: The city covers an area of 17.1 square kilometres. It is situated next to the River Wye.
- **Coordinates**: Latitude 52.056388888889, Longitude -2.7161111111111.
- **Population**:
    - **2021 (Census)**: 53,113 (26,164 males; 26,949 females; 23,727 households).
    - **2016**: 63,024.
    - **2011 (Census)**: 53,516 (26,368 males; 27,148 females; 23,081 households).
    - **2001 (Census)**: 50,154 (24,169 males; 25,985 females; 21,886 households).
- **Identifiers**:
    - **UN/LOCODE**: GBHAF.
    - **Postal Code**: HR1.
    - **Local Dialing Code**: 01432.
    - **OS Grid Reference**: SO515405.
- **Twin Town**: Dillenburg.
- **Website**: http://www.herefordcitycouncil.gov.uk/

## FAQs
**What is the geographical size and location of Hereford?**
Hereford covers a total area of 17.1 square kilometres. It is geographically situated in the county of Herefordshire, England, with specific coordinates of 52.056 latitude and -2.716 longitude, lying adjacent to the River Wye.

**How has the population of Hereford changed over time?**
According to census data, the population was 50,154 in 2001, rose to 53,516 in 2011, and settled at 53,113 in the 2021 census. A data point from 2016 suggests a population of 63,024.

**What administrative functions does Hereford serve?**
Hereford serves as the county town and capital of Herefordshire. It holds the status of a civil parish with city status.

**What are the key technical and transport identifiers for Hereford?**
The city uses the UN/LOCODE "GBHAF," the postal code "HR1," and the local dialing code "01432." Its Ordnance Survey grid reference is SO515405.

## Why It Matters
As the county town of Herefordshire, Hereford acts as the primary administrative and civic hub for the region. Its status as a cathedral city underscores its historical and religious significance within England. The city's extensive documentation across major encyclopedias (such as Britannica and Meyers Konversations-Lexikon) and its extensive network of international identifiers (VIAF, GND, Library of Congress) highlight its established role as a recognized cultural and geographical entity.

## Notable For
- Being the **cathedral city** and administrative center (county town) of Herefordshire.
- Holding the status of a **civil parish with city status**.
- Its location on the **River Wye**.
- Maintaining a stable population of over 50,000 residents across the 2001, 2011, and 2021 censuses.
- Being twinned with **Dillenburg**.

## Body

### Geography and Location
Hereford is situated in the western part of England, specifically within the county of Herefordshire. It serves as the county town and is recognized historically as part of Herefordshire. The city spans an area of 17.1 square kilometres. Its precise geographical coordinates are 52.056388888889 latitude and -2.7161111111111 longitude. A defining geographical feature is its location on the River Wye, with the Wye Bridge being a notable landmark depicted in media associated with the city. The Ordnance Survey grid reference for the city is SO515405.

### Demographics and Census History
The population of Hereford has been tracked extensively through census data and estimates:
- **2001 Census**: Recorded a population of 50,154. The demographic breakdown included 24,169 males and 25,985 females, residing in 21,886 households.
- **2011 Census**: The population increased to 53,516, comprising 26,368 males, 27,148 females, and 23,081 households.
- **2016 Estimate**: A record indicates a population of 63,024.
- **2021 Census**: The population was recorded at 53,113, with 26,164 males, 26,949 females, and 23,727 households.

### Governance and Civic Status
Hereford is officially classified as a city, a county town, and a civil parish with city status. It functions as the capital of Herefordshire. The local administrative body is the Hereford City Council, which operates the website `herefordcitycouncil.gov.uk`. The city maintains a twinning relationship with Dillenburg.

### Infrastructure and Communications
The city is serviced by specific postal and telecommunication infrastructure. The primary postal code is **HR1**. The local dialing code for telephone services is **01432**. For logistics and trade, Hereford is assigned the UN/LOCODE **GBHAF**.

### Digital and Academic Identifiers
Hereford is cataloged under a vast array of international and digital systems, reflecting its global recognition:
- **Library and Authority Files**: It holds the Library of Congress Authority ID `n81018235`, the GND ID `4241910-4`, and the VIAF ID `133696747`. It is also listed in the National Library of Wales and the National Library of Israel databases.
- **Geospatial Databases**: The city has a GeoNames ID `2647074`, an OpenStreetMap relation ID `6137325` (and node ID `21280555`), and a Who's on First ID `101750451`.
- **Encyclopedic References**: The entity is described by sources including *The Nuttall Encyclopædia*, the *Encyclopædia Britannica 11th edition* (as "place/Hereford-England"), and *Meyers Konversations-Lexikon*.
- **Digital Media**: It has a Wikipedia title "Hereford" with sitelinks in over 70 languages, a Commons gallery, and a designated subreddit (`r/hereford`). The city is also represented in music databases (MusicBrainz Area ID `46a9a7f3-d78b-4e9e-8d59-f389a9805743`) and knowledge graphs like Quora and BBC News topics.

### Heraldry and Imagery
The city utilizes a specific coat of arms, visually documented at `Coat_of_Arms_of_Hereford_City_Council.svg`. Photographic documentation of the city includes a page banner featuring the Cathedral Lady Chapel and images of the Wye Bridge.

## References

1. archINFORM
2. [Source](http://www.civicheraldry.co.uk/west_midlands.html)
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. MusicBrainz
6. [Source](http://www.citypopulation.de/php/uk-england-westmidlands.php?cityid=E34004334)
7. [Parish Profiles. Office for National Statistics](https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/sources/census_2021_pp)
8. [Key Statistics. Office for National Statistics](https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/sources/census_2001_ks)
9. [Key Statistics. Office for National Statistics](https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/sources/census_2011_ks)
10. GeoNames
11. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/gb.htm)
12. YSO-Wikidata mapping project
13. Quora
14. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)