City of Colchester

The Essex County Standard of September 4, 2009 said that "Government estimates" made Colchester the most populous district in the county: its officially acknowledged population is second highest among non-London boroughs, behind Northampton.

According to the Office for National Statistics as of 2008, Colchester had a population of approximately 181,000.[3] Average life expectancy was 78.7 for males. and 83.3 for females.[4]

Based on ethnic groups, predominantly of 92% of the population is White (87.5% British, 0.7% Irish and 3.8% Other White), Asians were the second largest making up 3.6% (0.8% Indian, 0.2% Pakistani, 0.2% Bangladeshi and 1% Chinese, other 1.4%), Black people constituted 1.4% (0.3% Caribbean, 1% African, 0.1% other), those of mixed race made up 1.8%, 0.6% were Arab and there were 0.4% from other ethnic groups.[5]

In the 2011 census, 57.7% identified themselves as Christian, while 31.4% had no affiliation to a religion. Of other religions, 1.6% identified as Muslim, 0.7% Hindu, 0.6% Buddhist, 0.2% Jewish, 0.1% Sikh, 0.5% others, and 7.3% did not answer.[6] There are more than 100 churches located in Colchester: other religious places of worship include the Colchester Islamic Cultural Association and the Jewish Community Synagogue.

Colchester is the first founded city in Britain, being founded by the Romans as their capital. Colchester was one of the three Roman cities attacked by Boudica. It is home to many historic buildings, including the Norman castle, built on the remains of a Roman temple; the Tudor town house, now Red Lion Inn, which was owned by the Howard family; a Saxon church and many more.

Colchester was granted city status by Royal Charter in 1189, during the reign of King Richard I, also known as Richard the Lionheart, and has been a city ever since. The charter granted Colchester the status of a "free borough", which gave it a number of rights and privileges, including the right to hold markets and fairs, and to govern its own affairs.

The granting of city status by Royal Charter was a significant milestone in Colchester's history, as it gave the town increased autonomy and recognition as an important center of trade and commerce.

As part of Queen's Platinum Jublilee Celebration in 2022, Colchester was granted City Status again, with it confirmed by Letters Patent dated 5 September 2022.[1]

Elections to Colchester City Council are held in three out of every four years, with one third of the 51 seats on the council being elected at each election. Since the 1998 election no party has held a majority on the council apart from the period between 2007 and the 2008 election when the Conservative party had a majority. Between the 2008 and 2021 elections the council was run by a coalition of Liberal Democrats, Labour and independent groups. From 2021-22 it was run by Conservative and Independent coalition. At the 2022 election it reverted to a Liberal Democrat, Labour and Green coalition. In October 2022 one green councillor left the party and became independent, and both remaining Highwoods Independent councillors resigned their seats. The vacant seats were won by one Liberal Democrat and one Labour councillor in November 2022. In December 2022 the Green Party group leader defected to the Labour Party. The council is composed of the following councillors:

• Abberton
• Aldham
• Birch
• Boxted
• Braiswick
• Chappel
• Colchester
• Copford
• Dedham
• Easthorpe
• Eight Ash Green
• Fingringhoe
• Fordham
• Great Horkesley
• Great Tey
• Great Wigborough
• Inworth
• Langham
• Langham Moor
• Layer Breton
• Layer de la Haye
• Layer Marney
• Little Horkesley
• Little Tey
• Little Wigborough
• Marks Tey
• Mersea Island
• Mount Bures
• Rowhedge
• Salcott
• Smythe's Green
• Stanway
• Tiptree
• Virley
• Wakes Colne
• West Bergholt
• Wivenhoe

• List of Mayors of Colchester