# Wakefield

> city in West Yorkshire, England

**Wikidata**: [Q216638](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q216638)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wakefield)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/wakefield

## Summary

Wakefield is a city in West Yorkshire, England, located at coordinates 53.6825°N, 1.4975°W, with a population of 99,251 as of 2011. It serves as the administrative center of the Wakefield local government district and is notable for its cultural institutions, manufacturing heritage, and as a birthplace of prominent bands including The Cribs and Be-Bop Deluxe.

## Key Facts

- **Location**: West Yorkshire, England; historic county of Yorkshire (West Riding of Yorkshire)
- **Coordinates**: 53.6825°N, 1.4975°W
- **Population**: 99,251 (2011)
- **Postal codes**: WF1-WF90
- **Local dialing code**: 01924
- **OS grid reference**: SE335205
- **Website**: wakefield.gov.uk
- **Founded as local government district**: April 1, 1974
- **Twin towns**: Alfeld (Leine), Belgorod, Castres, Castrop-Rauxel, Girona, Hénin-Beaumont, Konin, Herne, Xiangyang (twinning started July 18, 2016)
- **Classification**: City, unparished area

## FAQs

**What major organizations are based in Wakefield?**

Wakefield is home to several notable organizations including Team17 (video game developer founded in 1990), Bonmarché (clothing retailer founded in 1982), Card Factory (greeting card and gift store chain founded in 1997 with headquarters in Wakefield), Hepworth Wakefield (art gallery founded in 2011), HB Clark (drinks distributor founded in 1906), and SingleMuslim.com (matrimonial website for Muslims founded in 2000). West Yorkshire Police, the territorial police force for the area, is also headquartered in Wakefield and employs approximately 9,853 people.

**What notable bands originated from Wakefield?**

The city has produced two notable rock bands: The Cribs, an English indie rock band formed in 2002, and Be-Bop Deluxe, an English progressive rock band formed in 1972.

**What transportation options serve Wakefield?**

Wakefield is served by Wakefield Westgate railway station, a major railway station in West Yorkshire, England, providing connections across the region and beyond.

**What is the historical significance of Wakefield's administrative structure?**

Wakefield became a local government district on April 1, 1974, as part of nationwide local government reorganization in England. The city has historic county ties to the West Riding of Yorkshire.

**What cultural institutions exist in Wakefield?**

The Hepworth Wakefield is a prominent art gallery in the city, employing between 73 and 102 people across various years of operation since its founding in 2011. The Wakefield Observer newspaper serves as a local publication for the area.

## Why It Matters

Wakefield matters as a regional administrative and cultural center in West Yorkshire, serving as the headquarters for West Yorkshire Police and the Wakefield local government district. The city's diverse economy spans retail (Card Factory, Bonmarché), video game development (Team17), beverages (HB Clark), and online services (SingleMuslim.com), demonstrating economic resilience and adaptability. Its cultural significance is underscored by the Hepworth Wakefield art gallery, which contributes to the region's artistic landscape, while its musical heritage—producing both The Cribs and Be-Bop Deluxe—has contributed to England's indie and progressive rock scenes. The city's twinning relationships with nine international cities, including Xiangyang since 2016, reflect its commitment to global cooperation and cultural exchange.

## Notable For

- Birthplace of The Cribs (indie rock band, 2002) and Be-Bop Deluxe (progressive rock band, 1972)
- Headquarters of Team17, a renowned video game developer founded in 1990
- Location of Hepworth Wakefield, a major art gallery opened in 2011
- Home to Card Factory, one of the UK's largest greeting card retailers (founded 1997)
- Administrative center for West Yorkshire Police (9,853 employees)
- Twin town relationships with nine cities across Europe and Asia
- Historic significance as part of the West Riding of Yorkshire

## Body

### Geography and Administration

Wakefield is situated in West Yorkshire, England, at coordinates 53.6825°N latitude and 1.4975°W longitude. The city falls within the historic county of Yorkshire, specifically the West Riding of Yorkshire. As an unparished area, Wakefield operates under the Wakefield local government district, which was established on April 1, 1974. The city's postal code range is WF1-WF90, and the local dialing code is 01924. Its precise location is identified by OS grid reference SE335205.

### Demographics

According to data from citypopulation.de, Wakefield had a population of 99,251 as of 2011. The city serves as a significant population center within West Yorkshire, contributing to the region's demographic profile.

### Economy and Industry

Wakefield hosts a diverse range of businesses and organizations across multiple sectors:

**Retail**: Bonmarché, a clothing retailer, was founded in 1982 and is headquartered in Wakefield. Card Factory, a chain of greeting card and gift stores, was established in 1997 and maintains its headquarters in Wakefield, operating within the retail industry.

**Video Game Development**: Team17, a prominent video game developer, is based in Wakefield at 3 Red Hall Avenue (postal code WF1 2UL). Founded in December 1990, the company employs approximately 75 people and operates in the video game industry. Its headquarters feature coordinates of 53.70058777777778°N, 1.5073333333333334°W.

**Beverages**: HB Clark, a drinks distributor, was founded in 1906 and operates in the beverage and alcohol industries, headquartered in the United Kingdom.

**Online Services**: SingleMuslim.com, a matrimonial website designed for Muslims, was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Wakefield.

**Public Services**: West Yorkshire Police, the territorial police force for the region, was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Wakefield, employing 9,853 people.

**Arts and Culture**: Hepworth Wakefield is an art gallery founded in 2011, employing between 73 and 102 staff members across various years.

**Media**: The Wakefield Observer is a newspaper published in Wakefield.

### Music and Cultural Heritage

Wakefield has produced several notable musical acts. The Cribs, an English indie rock band, was founded in 2002 and has achieved significant recognition in the music industry. Be-Bop Deluxe, an English progressive rock band, was founded in 1972, representing the city's contribution to the progressive rock movement of the 1970s.

### Transportation

Wakefield Westgate railway station serves the city, providing rail connectivity to various destinations across West Yorkshire and the broader UK rail network. The station is a key transportation hub for the area.

### International Relations

Wakefield maintains twin town relationships with nine cities internationally: Alfeld (Leine) in Germany, Belgorod in Russia, Castres in France, Castrop-Rauxel in Germany, Girona in Spain, Hénin-Beaumont in France, Konin in Poland, Herne in Germany, and Xiangyang in China. The Xiangyang twinning began on July 18, 2016, demonstrating Wakefield's ongoing commitment to international friendship and cooperation.

### Identifiers and References

Wakefield is identified across numerous databases and reference systems: the Ordnance Survey TOID is 4000000074573196; the Yahoo! WOEID is 38952; the GND ID is 4225093-6; FAST ID is 1229325; VIAF ID is 158322077; Geonames ID is 2634910; the OpenStreetMap node ID is 21027566; the UN/LOCODE is GBWFD; Babelnet ID is 00738670n; Freebase ID is /m/013t2y; the Library of Congress authority ID is n84028306; and the WorldCat Entities ID is E39PBJpJj4xtQQY8g9cmRh34v3.

### Additional Properties

The city is referenced in multiple encyclopedic sources including the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, Otto's encyclopedia, the Granat Encyclopedic Dictionary, The Nuttall Encyclopædia, the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911), and the Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1926–1947). Wakefield has a Wikipedia presence in numerous languages including English, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, and many others, reflecting its international recognition. The city shares a border with Morley and is part of the regional classification under Dewey Decimal Classification 2--42815.

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