Southampton << sowth AMP tuhn >> is a major seaport in the southern part of England, one of the political divisions of the United Kingdom. The city lies on the River Test, near where the river flows into the English Channel. It is the largest city in the unitary authority (local government area) of Southampton, which has a population of 248,922.
Docks stand along Southampton’s waterfront. The city is a center of cargo shipping and also of passenger traffic by sea between the United Kingdom and continental Europe. Its other industries include the construction and repair of ships, electrical engineering, oil refining, the production of vehicle parts, and tobacco processing. The city is the home of the University of Southampton. Landmarks of Southampton include a number of medieval buildings and the Bargate—part of a wall that encircled the city during the Middle Ages.
The Romans founded a settlement at what is now Southampton shortly after they invaded the island of Great Britain in the A.D. 40’s. It became a major seaport in the Middle Ages.
