Lancaster

Lancaster is a city in Lancashire, England and the main cultural hub, economic and commercial centre of City of Lancaster district. The city is on the River Lune and directly inland from Morecambe Bay. Lancaster was the county town of Lancashire until the county council's administrative headquarters moved to Preston in 1974. The city's long history is marked by Lancaster Roman Fort, Lancaster Castle, Lancaster Priory Church, Lancaster Cathedral and the Ashton Memorial. It is the seat of Lancaster University and has a campus of the University of Cumbria. It had a population of 52,234 in the 2011 census compared to the district which had a population of 138,375. The city is an economic hub for the surrounding districts of Ribble Valley and Wyre as well as the Westmorland and Furness unitary area of Cumbria.The House of Lancaster was a branch of the English royal family. The Duchy of Lancaster still holds large estates on behalf of Charles III, who is the Duke of Lancaster.