Bristol << BRIHS tuhl >> (pop. 472,465) is an industrial city and seaport in southwestern England. It lies along the River Avon about 7 miles (11 kilometers) east of the Bristol Channel, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean. Bristol became a unitary authority (local government area) in 1996.
Once-busy docks line parts of the Bristol waterfront. Nearby towns on the Bristol Channel now handle most of the shipping. The center of the city has old and modern buildings. Landmarks include a cathedral that dates from the 1100’s; St. Mary Redcliffe, a magnificent parish church; and Bristol University. The main industries of Bristol include engineering and the production of aircraft and electronic products. The city is also an important commercial and financial center.
Roman soldiers built a settlement on the site of what is now Bristol about A.D. 100. Bristol became an important seaport in the 1000’s. During the 1600’s and 1700’s, it was a major center for the shipment of African slaves to North America. German bombing raids during World War II (1939-1945) heavily damaged Bristol, but the damaged areas were soon rebuilt.
