Leeds, city, in the metropolitan county of West Yorkshire, northern England, on the Aire River. Leeds is located between an agricultural region to the north and east and a manufacturing region to the south and west and serves as the area's commercial and industrial hub. Excellent rail, road, and canal facilities make it an important distribution point. The city is also a major center for the manufacture and wholesale trade of clothing. Other manufactures include electric equipment, paper products, and metal goods. Located here are a civic theater, the City Art Gallery (1888), and the City Museums (1820). Historic sites include the Tudor-Stuart Temple Newsom House, now a museum, and the ruins of the 12th-century Kirkstall Abbey. Leeds is the seat of the University of Leeds (1904), Leeds Metropolitan University (1992, formerly a polytechnic college), and a grammar school (1552). During the Middle Ages Leeds was an agricultural market town. It received its first charter in 1207. In the 14th century wool manufacturing was introduced here by Flemish immigrants. The city's modern industrial growth was aided by the opening of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in 1816 and by the arrival of the first railroad in 1848. Population (1996 estimate) 726,939.
