This article is about the city of Salford in England. See also Salford, Ontario and Salford, Bedfordshire .

Salford (population: 220,000) is a city in Greater Manchester, in North West England, traditionally part of south east Lancashire. This city, which is close to the north side of Manchester, is well known for artist L.S. Lowry. It is the main settlement in the City of Salford, and gave its name to the ancient hundred of Salford, or Salfordshire.

Salford was one of the UK's first industrial cities and gained status at the start of the industrial revolution.

Albert Finney, Tim Burgess, Alistair Cooke, Walter Greenwood, James Prescott Joule, Mike Leigh were born in Salford. Other famous residents included Sir Ben Kingsley, Sir Jimmy Savile, Christopher Eccleston and L.S. Lowry.

The fictional setting of Weatherfield in Coronation Street is based on Salford.

Salford University is one of 4 universities in Greater Manchester and has approximately 19,000 students.

The closest football league team to Salford is Manchester United F.C and most Salfordians are avid supporters. Salford also has a strong Rugby League history and has a Super League side, Salford City Reds. Other lesser-known teams include the Swinton Lions , Langworthy Reds and Folly Lane .

Salford's first annual film festival held at the Red Cinema in the Lowry Outlet at Salford Quays in 2003 was a huge success. The second, in November 2004 achieved similar results, showcasing some new local talent.

Salford is the subject of the folk song Dirty Old Town written by Ewan MacColl. Local band The Doves also released a song called Streets of Salford in honour of the city.

In early 2005, Riga appealed to the EU to advise people against travelling to Salford after a Latvian man was stabbed in the head in Broughton. However, local government insist that Salford is a safe place to visit.

The name of Salford came from Anglo-Saxon Sealhford = "sallow-tree ford", in reference to the willow trees that grow alongside the banks of the river Irwell that runs through the city.

External links

• Salford City Council
• Visit Salford