West Bromwich

West Bromwich (/ˈbrɒmɪtʃ/ ⓘ BROM-itch), commonly known as West Brom, is a market town in the borough of Sandwell, West Midlands, England. Historically part of Staffordshire, it is 7 miles (11 kilometres) northwest of Birmingham. West Bromwich is part of the area known as the Black Country, in terms of geography, culture and dialect.[3] West Bromwich had a population of 103,112 in the 2021 Census.[4] Initially a rural village, West Bromwich's growth corresponded with that of the Industrial Revolution, owing to the area's natural richness in ironstone and coal, as well as its proximity to canals and railway branches.[5] It led to the town becoming a centre for coal mining, brick making, the iron industry and metal trades such as nails, springs and guns. The town's primary economy developed into engineering, manufacturing and the automotive industry through the early 20th century.[6] During the Second World War, West Bromwich experienced bombing from the German Luftwaffe.[7][8] It also suffered heavily during recessions in the mid 1970s, early 1980s and late 2000s.[9]