A Brief Look At Eastbourne – East Sussex

Easbourne is situated in the borough of East Sussex in England. It is a coastal town with an estimated population of 97 000. People have occupied the region for centuries and records have traced inhabitants all the way back to the Stone Age. The town originally was a collection of four smaller villages, which then merged into one town. In the Victorian age, the introduction of the railway lines made the area very popular as a seaside resort.

The region has great historical importance especially due to the different settlers that have come over the years. Excavation sites in the town and its surrounding land have found Stone Age artifacts and remains of Roman settlements.

The town started to gain in popularity and grew very quickly in population in the mid 19th century with the introduction of the railway. This growth continued for a few decades during which time the royals George V and Queen Mary visited the town.

During the Second World War, Eastbourne took a very big hit due to its coastal position. The fall of France made the seaside town a dangerous area to be in, so restrictions were applied to visitors. This resulted in many hotels being closed down and people moving more inland for safety from the air raids. Historical buildings were damaged or ruined during the war.

Today, tourism provides the town with one its biggest sources of income and employment. The town is very popular for short breaks but hotels in the area can be fully occupied during events such as the International Women’s Open tennis tournament. One of the major annual events that take place here is the 4-day international airshow, ‘Airbourne’ in association with Red Arrows.

With respect to politics, the town is mainly Conservatives or Liberal Democrat supporters and swings between these two parties. The town is made up of nine wards, which are governed by a body of councilors. The party in power traditionally elects the town mayor, who serves a ceremonial role.

In terms of demographics, the Eastbourne population is increasing and is expected to continue to do so. Eastbourne is associated with the elderly generation as it is a very popular retirement home. In the 2001 consensus, it showed that its over 60 population is larger than the average for a region with over a quarter of its population over this age. In comparison, The UK average is roughly 18 per cent. Ethnically, over 90 per cent of the population is white with a handful of minority groups. The largest minority group is made up by the Chinese population that have settled here.

Check here for a wide selection of Eastbourne hotels.

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