1. Between 1790 and 1830 the population of Leeds grew from 25,000 to 85, 000.
New arrivals came from the countryside, Ireland and Europe looking for work or seeking to escape poverty and persecution. People crowded together in poor living conditions. The Boot and Shoe yard in the East End of Leeds was home to 340 people in 34 houses sharing just three privies (toilets).
One in five babies in Leeds died before their first birthday- Leeds City Museum.
2. Natives of Leeds are known as Loiners- BBC, Leeds features page
3. Kirkgate Market in Leeds is where Michael Marks first opened his Penny Bazaar (1884) which was to lead, ultimately, to the foundation of Marks & Spencer, in 1890- BBC, Leeds features page
4. The extensive retail area of Leeds is identified as the principal regional shopping centre for the whole of the Yorkshire and Humber region and approximately 3.2 million people live within it's catchment area. There are a number of indoor shopping centres in the middle of the city, including the Merrion Centre, Leeds Shopping Plaza, St John's Centre, Headrow Centre, the Victoria Quarter, The Light and the Corn Exchange. In total there are approximately 1,000 retail stores- wikipedia 'Leeds'
5. Leeds has one of the largest student population in the country with over 250,000 students, and was voted the Best UK University Destination by a survery in The Independent newspaper- wikipedia 'Leeds'
6. The City is twinned with several partners including:
Brno, Czech Republic
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Dortmung, Germany
Durban, South Africa
Hangzhou, China
Lille, France
Louisville, United States
Siegen, Germany- wikipedia 'Leeds'
7. Leeds Bradford International Airport serves 70 destinations in 30 countries, including North America and Asia- Leeds: The Facts and Figures
8. Leeds is one of the greenest cities in Europe, with greenbelt land covering over two-thirds of it's total area- Leeds: The Facts and Figures
9. Sons and Daughters of Leeds include:
Alan Bennett (novelist and playwright)
Barbara Taylor Bradford (novelist)
Chris Moyles (Radio DJ and Television Presenter)
Jeremy Paxman (Political Television Presenter and Broadcaster)
Marco Pierre White (Celebrity Chef)
Mel B (Spice Girl Singer and Performer)
Sir Jimmy Saville (TV legend)
Vic Reeves (Comic Personality and Television Presenter)
Malcolm McDowell (Actor, famed for his role as Alexander DeLarge in Burgess/Kubrick's 'A Clockwork Orange')
10. Leeds is one of the dryest places in the UK, where rainfall is around 2" a month- Leeds Travel Guide
11. Leeds is packed with bars, clubs and live music venues. According to one local website, Leeds Music Scene, more than 1,500 local bands are currently active in and around the city. Among Leeds musical success stories, The Kaiser Chiefs, and Corinne Bailey Rae are recent standouts- Leeds Travel Guide
12. The store and designer-department brand, Harvey Nichols first store outside of London was in Leeds, and remains a popular attraction to this day.
13. The major industries in Leeds business include: printing/publishing, engineering, chemicals, and IT electricity.
14. In 1872 the first public library in Leeds opened- A History of Leeds
15. Over 1.1 million shoppers in December visited in 2009- the most people to visit the centre in one month in it's 20 year history, and 2010 is VQ's anniversary year- Festive Leeds booklet.
16. Although Victoria Quarter opened as recently as 1985, the buildings are more than 100 years old and were originally a mass of slaughterhouses and fruit stalls. Over the last 12 years the Victoria Quarter has become synonymus with style and fashion in Leeds, with Harvey Nichols' choice to locate it's first store outside London here in 1996, cementing that reputation, and has since gained the title 'Knightsbridge of the North'- Leeds Loves Shopping Guide, Autumn/Winter 2010.
17. A national survery crowned Leeds the UK's most 'female-friendly' city- Future Laboratory 'Tigra Town' Research 2006.
18. Leeds is the UK's fastest growing city with the second largest employment total outside London, an estimated 460, 000 people work in Leeds- Leeds Community Foundation
19. With 7,645 staff, Leeds University is the third largest employer in the city- Leeds University website
20. Leeds University was ranked 85th in the QS world rankings in Octover 2010- one of only 19 UK Universities in the top 100- Leeds University website
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