Blackburn

At the 2021 census, Blackburn had a population of 124,983, whilst the wider borough of Blackburn with Darwen had a population of 154,922; 30.8% of the population of town were people of ethnic backgrounds other than White British.

A former mill town, Blackburn has been the site of textile production since the mid-13th century, when wool was woven in people's houses in the domestic system. Flemish weavers who settled in the area in the 14th century helped to develop the woollen cottage industry. The most rapid period of growth and development in Blackburn's history coincided with the industrialisation and expansion of textile manufacturing.

Blackburn's textile sector fell into decline from the mid-20th century and subsequently faced similar challenges to other post-industrial northern towns, including deindustrialisation, economic deprivation and housing problems.