Carlisle, city, administrative center of Cumbria, northern England, on the Eden River. The city, formed in 1974, includes the former county borough of Carlisle and a rolling rural area adjacent to the border of Scotland. The town of Carlisle is an important transportation center with manufactures that include textiles and food products. It also serves as a market for the surrounding agricultural region and is the site of important livestock auctions. Places of historical interest include Hadrian's Wall to the north of the town and the remains of the medieval Carlisle Castle. Among the principal buildings are the Carlisle Cathedral and Tullie House (1689), containing a museum and art gallery.
On the site of present-day Carlisle was the ancient Roman defense post of Luguvalium and the later British settlement of Caer Luel. Carlisle Castle, built in 1092, became a strategic English bulwark during the wars with the Scots in the following centuries. During the Middle Ages Carlisle was a thriving commercial and handicraft center. The modern textile industry dates from the late 18th century, and during the 19th century the city became an important railroad center. Until 1974 Carlisle was the county town of the former county of Cumberland. Population (1996 estimate) 103,102.
