Wolverhampton ( WUUL-vər-HAMP-tən) is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. Located around 12 miles (20 km) north of Birmingham, it forms the northwestern part of the West Midlands conurbation, with the towns of Walsall to the east and Dudley to the south. The population in 2021 was 263,700, making it the third largest city in the West Midlands after Birmingham and Coventry.
Historically in Staffordshire, Wolverhampton grew as a market town specialising in the wool trade. During the Industrial Revolution, it became a major centre for coal mining, steel production, lock making, and automotive manufacturing; the economy of the city is still based on engineering, including a large aerospace industry, as well as the service sector. The city is also home to the University of Wolverhampton. A town for most of its history, it gained city status in 2000. The M6 motorway runs just outside Wolverhampton's east and northeast borders, while the M54 motorway starts to the north and links the city with Telford. For railway travel, the city is served by Wolverhampton station, while the western terminus of the West Midlands Metro network is also located in the city.
