View source for Wrexham

{{Short description|City in north-east Wales}}
{{hatnote group|
{{for-multi|the wider principal area|Wrexham County Borough||Wrexham (disambiguation)}}
{{distinguish|Wexham|Wroxham}}
}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country = Wales
| welsh_name = Wrecsam
| constituency_welsh_assembly = [[Wrexham (Senedd constituency)|Wrexham]]
| coordinates = {{Wikidatacoord|Q496368|display=inline,title}}
| official_name = Wrexham
| unitary_wales = [[Wrexham County Borough|Wrexham]]
| population_ref = 44,785 ([[Wrexham Built-up area|Built up area]], 2021)<ref name=bua2021>{{cite web |title=Towns and cities, characteristics of built-up areas, England and Wales: Census 2021 |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/housing/articles/townsandcitiescharacteristicsofbuiltupareasenglandandwales/census2021 |website=Census 2021 |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=8 August 2023}}</ref>
| lieutenancy_wales = [[Clwyd]]
| constituency_westminster = [[Wrexham (UK Parliament constituency)|Wrexham]]
| post_town = WREXHAM
| postcode_district = LL11—14
| postcode_area = LL
| dial_code = 01978
| os_grid_reference = SJ335505
| static_image_name = {{Photomontage
 |photo1a = Wrexham skyline, Wales.jpg{{!}}Skyline of Wrexham
 |photo2a = Wrexham_City_Centre (cropped).jpg{{!}}Hope Street facing the Talbot Hotel
 |photo2b = Erddig Hall (9430252739).jpg{{!}}Erddig Hall
 |photo3a = Stgileswrexham.jpg{{!}}St. Giles Church, Wrexham
 |position = center
 |size = 270
 |color = white
 |spacing = 2
 |color_border = white
 }}
| static_image_caption = From top, left to right: Wrexham skyline, Hope Street, [[Erddig Hall]] and [[St Giles' Church, Wrexham|St Giles' Church]].
| website = {{URL|www.wrexham.gov.uk}}
| cardiff_distance_mi = 108<ref>{{cite web |title=Distance between Postcodes Calculator |url=http://www.postcode.org.uk/country/uk/_postcode-distance-calculator.asp?SPC=LL13+8AD&FPC=CF10+2AF&Submit=Calculate+Distance |access-date=4 May 2022 |website=www.postcode.org.uk |archive-date=11 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811083419/http://www.postcode.org.uk/country/uk/_postcode-distance-calculator.asp?SPC=LL13+8AD&FPC=CF10+2AF&Submit=Calculate+Distance |url-status=live }}</ref>
| cardiff_direction = S
| type = [[City status in the United Kingdom|City]]
}}
'''Wrexham''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|ɛ|k|s|əm}} {{respell|REK|səm}}; {{langx|cy|Wrecsam}} {{IPA|cy|ˈwrɛksam|}}) is a [[city status in the United Kingdom|city]]{{efn|name=City Status|The city status is officially held by [[Wrexham County Borough]].}} in the [[North East Wales|north-east]] of Wales. It lies between the [[Cambrian Mountains|Welsh mountains]] and the lower [[River Dee, Wales|Dee Valley]], near the [[England–Wales border|border]] with [[Cheshire]] in England. Historically in the county of [[Denbighshire (historic)|Denbighshire]], it became part of the new county of [[Clwyd]] in 1974. It has been the principal settlement and administrative centre of [[Wrexham County Borough]] since 1996. At the [[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 census]], the built up area had a population of 44,785, and the wider county borough, which also includes surrounding villages and rural areas, had a population of 135,117. Wrexham was awarded city status in 2022.

Wrexham was likely founded before the 11th century and developed in the Middle Ages as a regional centre for trade and administration. Wrexham has historically been one of the primary settlements of Wales, and was the largest settlement in Wales for a time in the 17th century. In the [[Industrial Revolution]] from the 18th century onwards, Wrexham and surrounding area was a major centre of coal and lead mining. Other significant industries included the production of iron, steel and leather, and brewing.

Wrexham serves north Wales and the [[Wales-England border|Welsh borderlands]] as a centre for manufacturing, retail, education and administration. The city is noted for [[Wrexham A.F.C.]] (one of the oldest professional football teams in the world); the nationally significant industrial heritage of the [[Clywedog Trail|Clywedog Valley]]; the National Trust Property of [[Erddig]]; and the fine Tudor church of [[St Giles' Church, Wrexham|St Giles]], which towers over the historic [[Wrexham city centre]].

==History==
{{Main|History of Wrexham}}
{{wide image|The south view of Wrexham in the county of Denbigh.jpeg|400px|''The south view of Wrexham in the county of Denbigh'', 1748, by [[Samuel and Nathaniel Buck]]}}

=== Early history ===
[[File:Treasure case 04.2, Middle Bronze Age hoard from Burton, Wrexham (FindID 436588-323099).jpg|right|thumb|Middle Bronze Age hoard from [[Burton, Wrexham|Burton]], Wrexham<ref>{{cite web |title=Bronze Age Gold from Wales |url=https://museum.wales/collections/bronze-age-gold-from-wales/hoard/3108/The-Burton-hoard-Wrexham/ |access-date=6 September 2020 |website=National Museum Wales |archive-date=17 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417014213/https://museum.wales/collections/bronze-age-gold-from-wales/hoard/3108/The-Burton-hoard-Wrexham/ |url-status=live }}</ref>|211x211px]]
Human activity in the Wrexham area dates back to the [[Mesolithic]] period (8000 to 4300 BC),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/heritage/footprints/index.htm |title=Footprints – A Journey Through Our Past |publisher=Wrexham Heritage Service |access-date=25 May 2015 |archive-date=16 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216114147/http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/heritage/footprints/index.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> with tools made from flint being found to the east of the city.<ref name="WREXHAM {{!}} Coflein">{{Coflein|num=33102 |desc=Wrexham |access-date=30 September 2021}}</ref> Two [[Bronze Age]] burial mounds are located to the west of the modern city centre<ref name="WREXHAM {{!}} Coflein" /> and there is evidence that the area had developed into a centre for an innovative metalworking industry by the early Middle Bronze Age.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/heritage/footprints/prehistory.htm |title=Footprints – Prehistory |publisher=Wrexham County Borough Council |access-date=25 May 2015 |archive-date=25 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525203810/http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/heritage/footprints/prehistory.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> A series of [[Iron Age]] hill-forts is located to the west of present-day Wrexham along the upland-lowland line<ref>{{Coflein|num=94754 |desc=Bryn Alyn Camp |access-date=30 September 2021|fewer-links=yes}}</ref> suggesting the presence of an ancient tribal boundary.

At the time of the [[Roman conquest of Britain]], the area which Wrexham formed part of was held by a Celtic tribe called the [[Cornovii (Midlands)|Cornovii]]. A Roman civilian settlement was located in the [[Plas Coch]] area of Wrexham and excavations have revealed evidence of agriculture and trade with the wider Roman world.<ref>{{watprn|CPAT|13092|title=Wrexham, Plas Coch Roman settlement|access-date=30 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=contact-us@wrexham.gov.uk |first=Wrexham County Borough Council, Guildhall, Wrexham LL11 1AY, UK |title=Footprints – Imperial Invasion |url=http://old.wrexham.gov.uk/english/heritage/footprints/imperial_invasion.htm |access-date=2 August 2020 |website=old.wrexham.gov.uk |archive-date=24 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124082220/http://old.wrexham.gov.uk/english/heritage/footprints/imperial_invasion.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Following the end of Roman rule in Britain, Wrexham formed part of the [[Romano-British culture|Romano-British]] Kingdom of [[Kingdom of Powys|Powys]].

=== Medieval ===
[[File:wrecsam kingsmill.jpg|right|thumb|The 'King's Mills', believed to have origins in the 14th century<ref>{{Coflein|num=24874 |desc=King's Mill;king's Mills, Wrexham |access-date=30 September 2021|fewer-links=yes}}</ref><ref name="Williams, W. Alister.-2001">{{cite book |last=Williams, W. Alister. |title=The encyclopædia of Wrexham |date=2001 |publisher=Bridge Books |isbn=1-872424-66-X |location=Wrexham |oclc=49330782}}</ref>|213x213px]]

The [[Battle of Chester]] circa 615/616 marked the beginning of a long struggle between the Welsh and English for territory in this part of Wales. During the eighth century, the Anglo-Saxon royal house of [[Mercia]] pushed their frontiers westwards and established the earth boundaries of [[Wat's Dyke]] and [[Offa's Dyke]] to the west of the present city.

It was probably during this first period of Mercian advance in the eighth century that the settlement of Wrexham was founded on the flat ground above the meadows of the [[River Gwenfro]].<ref name="Dodd-1957">{{cite book |last=Dodd |first=Arthur Herbert |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e2k1AQAAIAAJ&q=dodd+wrexham |title=A History of Wrexham, Denbighshire: Published for the Wrexham Borough Council in Commemoration of the Centenary of the Incorporation of the Borough, 1857–1957 |date=1957 |publisher=Hughes}}</ref> The name Wrexham probably comes from the old English for Wryhtel's river meadow.<ref name="WREXHAM {{!}} Coflein" /> Alternatively, the name may have described a settlement of the [[Wreocensæte]] people, who were possibly a continuation of the Cornovii tribe of Roman Britain.<ref>{{cite book |last=Higham |first=N. J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lQDpAAAAIAAJ&q=wrexham |title=The Origins of Cheshire |date=1993 |publisher=Manchester University Press |isbn=978-0-7190-3159-5 |access-date=27 September 2020 |archive-date=27 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327081413/https://books.google.com/books?id=lQDpAAAAIAAJ&q=wrexham |url-status=live }}</ref> The settlement may have originally been named 'Caer Fantell' in Welsh<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N_hJAAAAYAAJ&q=gwrecsam+1291&pg=PA133 |title=Archaeologia Cambrensis |date=1874 |publisher=W. Pickering |access-date=22 November 2020 |archive-date=27 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327081305/https://books.google.com/books?id=N_hJAAAAYAAJ&q=gwrecsam+1291&pg=PA133#v=snippet&q=gwrecsam%201291&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Willis |first=Browne |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U25YAAAAMAAJ&q=%22caer+fantell%22&pg=PA423 |title=Willis' Survey of St. Asaph, Considerably Enlarged and Brought Down to the Present Time |date=1801 |publisher=J. Painter |access-date=15 August 2021 |archive-date=27 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327081237/https://books.google.com/books?id=U25YAAAAMAAJ&q=%22caer+fantell%22&pg=PA423#v=snippet&q=%22caer%20fantell%22&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref> but by the 13th century was recorded in Welsh as 'Gwrexham' or 'Gregsam'.<ref>{{cite book |last=Williams |first=W. Alister |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mGv7tgAACAAJ&q=alistair+williams+encyclopedia+wrexham |title=The Encyclopaedia of Wrexham |date=2010 |publisher=Bridge Books |isbn=978-1-84494-067-7 |access-date=22 November 2020 |archive-date=27 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327081250/https://books.google.com/books?id=mGv7tgAACAAJ&q=alistair+williams+encyclopedia+wrexham |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Mercians fought over north-east Wales during the eighth to tenth centuries but the Welsh Kings of Powys re-conquered the Wrexham area during the 11th century. Following the Welsh reconquest, Wrexham formed an integral part of the Powys lordship of [[Maelor]]<ref name="A History of Wrexham">{{cite book |last1=Dodd |first1=A. H. |title=A History of Wrexham |date=1957 |publisher=Bridge Books}}</ref> and so does not appear in the [[Domesday Book]] of 1086. The first recorded reference to the town in 1161 is to a castle at 'Wristlesham'.<ref>{{cite web |title=Footprints – Middle Ages |url=http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/heritage/footprints/borderlands.htm |website=Wrexham County Borough Council |access-date=25 May 2015 |archive-date=17 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117023317/http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/heritage/footprints/borderlands.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Stability under the princes of [[Powys Fadog]] enabled Wrexham to develop as a trading town and administrative centre of one of the two [[commote]]s making up the Lordship. In 1202, [[Madog ap Gruffydd Maelor|Madoc ap Gruffydd Maelor]], Lord of [[Castell Dinas Brân|Dinas Brân]], granted some of his demesne lands in 'Wrechcessham' to the abbey of [[Valle Crucis Abbey|Valle Crucis]] and in 1220 the earliest reference to a church in Wrexham is made.<ref name="A History of Wrexham" />
[[File:Wrexham town centre overlooked by 16th century grotesques on one of the sixteen pinnacles of St Giles' Church .jpg|thumb|Wrexham city centre overlooked by some of the 16th century 'grotesques' of [[St Giles' Church, Wrexham|St Giles' Church]]|212x212px]]
Following the [[Edwardian conquest of Wales|loss of Welsh independence]] and the death in battle of Prince [[Llywelyn ap Gruffudd]] in 1282, Wrexham became part of the semi-independent [[Welsh Marches|Marcher]] lordship of Bromfield and Yale.<ref name="Dodd-1957"/> Wrexham increased in importance throughout the Middle Ages as the lordship's administrative centre, and the then town's position made it a suitable centre for the exchange of the produce of the Dee valley and Denbighshire uplands, whilst iron and lead were also mined locally.<ref name="Dodd-1957"/>

By 1327, Wrexham had become a [[market town]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Pratt |first1=Derek |title=Wrexham and Vale of Llangollen 1904 |date=2001 |publisher=Alan Godfrey Maps}}</ref> It became one of the largest settlements in Wales,<ref name="Powell-2005">{{cite journal |last=Powell |first=Nia |date=2005 |title=Do numbers count? Towns in early modern Wales |url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/44613526 |journal=Urban History |volume=32 |issue=1 |pages=46–67 |doi=10.1017/S0963926805002695 |jstor=44613526 |s2cid=144824831 |issn=0963-9268 |access-date=2 August 2020 |archive-date=17 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417011008/https://www.jstor.org/stable/44613526 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref> and a celebrated centre for Welsh craftsmen.<ref>{{cite book |last=Davies |first=R. R. |title=The Revolt of Owain Glyn Dwr |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1997 |isbn=9780192853363}}</ref> The town was particularly well known in the 14th and 15th centuries for the manufacture of Welsh [[buckler]]s,<ref>{{cite web |title=Shields Guto'r Glyn's Wales |url=http://www.gutorglyn.net/gutoswales/ygad-arfau-tarian.php |access-date=25 August 2020 |website=www.gutorglyn.net |archive-date=18 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118044229/http://www.gutorglyn.net/gutoswales/ygad-arfau-tarian.php |url-status=live }}</ref> as illustrated by the mention in the 1547 Inventory of King Henry VIII of 'wreckesham Buckelers'.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shield – Buckler |url=https://collections.royalarmouries.org/object/rac-object-2645.html |access-date=25 August 2020 |website=Royal Armouries collections |archive-date=23 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023114434/https://collections.royalarmouries.org/object/rac-object-2645.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1391 Wrexham was wealthy enough for a bard, jester, juggler, dancer and goldsmith to earn their living there.<ref>{{cite web |title=Footprints – Middle Ages |url=http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/heritage/footprints/middle_ages.htm |access-date=25 May 2015 |website=Wrexham County Borough Council |archive-date=25 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525203629/http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/heritage/footprints/middle_ages.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> 
The traditional pattern of Welsh life – [[Cyfraith Hywel|law]], administration, customs and [[Welsh-language|language]] – remained undisturbed through the Middle Ages and the pattern was for local [[English people]] to rapidly [[language shift|adopt]] the Welsh-language and to be [[Cultural assimilation|assimilated]] into [[Welsh culture]], even to point of adopting Welsh [[Patronymic surname]]s.<ref name="A History of Wrexham" />

The local [[Welsh peers and baronets|Welsh nobility]] and peasantry backed [[Glyndŵr Rising|the uprising led]] by [[Owain Glyndŵr]] against King [[Henry IV of England]] during the early 15th century.<ref>{{cite web |last=contact-us@wrexham.gov.uk |first=Wrexham County Borough Council, Guildhall, Wrexham LL11 1AY, UK |title=Footprints – Middle Ages – WCBC |url=http://old.wrexham.gov.uk/english/heritage/footprints/middle_ages.htm |access-date=25 August 2020 |website=old.wrexham.gov.uk |archive-date=24 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124082838/http://old.wrexham.gov.uk/english/heritage/footprints/middle_ages.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Local poet [[Guto'r Glyn]] (c. 1412 – c. 1493) heralded Siôn ap Madog, the great-nephew of Owain Glyndŵr, as '<nowiki/>''Alecsander i Wrecsam''<nowiki/>' ("an [[Alexander the Great|Alexander]] for Wrexham")<ref>{{cite book |last=Rees |first=E. A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RyO8wAEACAAJ&q=guto%27r+glyn |title=A Life of Guto'r Glyn |date=2008 |publisher=Y Lolfa |isbn=978-0-86243-971-2 |access-date=22 November 2020 |archive-date=27 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327081239/https://books.google.com/books?id=RyO8wAEACAAJ&q=guto%27r+glyn |url-status=live }}</ref> and the poet [[Hywel Dafi]] addresses Siôn's heir as '<nowiki/>''Gwregys am ais Gwregsam wyt''' ('a girdle around the heart of Wrexham.’).<ref>{{cite web |title=72 – Marwnad Siôn ap Madog Pilstwn o Hafod-y-wern |url=http://www.gutorglyn.net/gutorglyn/poem/?poem-selection=072 |access-date=25 August 2020 |website=www.gutorglyn.net |archive-date=16 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516183527/http://www.gutorglyn.net/gutorglyn/poem/?poem-selection=072 |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Turner, JMW, 'Wrexham, Denbighshire', watercolour.jpg|thumb|[[J. M. W. Turner|JMW Turner]], 'Wrexham, Denbighshire', late 18th century, watercolour. V&A Museum, London]]

=== Early Modern ===
The [[Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542|Acts of Union]] passed during the reign of Henry VIII brought the lordship into the full system of English administration and law. It became part of the new shire of [[Denbighshire (historic)|Denbighshire]] in 1536.

In 1584 [[St Richard Gwyn]], a local [[Recusant]], schoolteacher, and poet in the Welsh-language, was convicted of [[high treason]] based on his Catholic beliefs by a panel of judges headed by the [[Chief Justice]] of [[Chester]], [[George Bromley (politician)|Sir George Bromley]]. On 15 October 1584, Gwyn was taken to the Beast Market and [[hung, drawn and quartered]] for his faith. He was [[canonised]] by [[Pope Paul VI]] in 1970 as one of the [[Forty Martyrs of England and Wales]]. His Feast Day is 17 October.<ref>{{cite web |title=St. Richard Gwyn – Saints & Angels |url=https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=4599 |access-date=25 August 2020 |website=Catholic Online |archive-date=8 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808205534/https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=4599 |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Richard Gwyn.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|A painting of St Richard Gwyn in [[Wrexham Cathedral]]]]

The main body of the church of St Giles was rebuilt in the late 15th and early 16th centuries<ref name="Williams-2000">{{cite book |last=Williams |first=W. Alistair |title=The Parish Church of St Giles, Wrexham |publisher=Bridge Books |year=2000 |isbn=1-872424-87-2 |location=Wrexham}}</ref> to become one of the finest examples of ecclesiastical architecture in Wales.<ref name="Williams-2000" />

The economic character remained predominantly as an agricultural market town into the 17th century but there were workshops of weavers, smiths, nailers as well as dye houses. The 1620 Norden's jury of survey{{clarify|date=July 2015}} of Wrexham Regis stated that four-fifths of the land-holding classes of Wrexham bore Welsh names and every field except one within the manor bore a Welsh or semi-Welsh name. A grammar school was established in 1603 by Alderman Valentine Broughton of Chester.<ref name="Dodd-1957" />

During the [[English Civil War]], most of the local Welsh gentry supported [[Charles I of England|King Charles I]] and in 1642 the King addressed enthusiastic crowds in the town.<ref name="contact-us@wrexham.gov.uk">{{cite web |last=contact-us@wrexham.gov.uk |first=Wrexham County Borough Council, Guildhall, Wrexham LL11 1AY, UK |title=Footprints – Civil Wars – WCBC |url=http://old.wrexham.gov.uk/english/heritage/footprints/civil_wars.htm |access-date=25 August 2020 |website=old.wrexham.gov.uk |archive-date=24 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124094546/http://old.wrexham.gov.uk/english/heritage/footprints/civil_wars.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, local landlord Sir Thomas Myddelton declared for the [[Rump Parliament]]<ref name="contact-us@wrexham.gov.uk"/> and Parliamentarians occupied the town in 1643 and 1645. Wrexham served as military headquarters for both forces <ref name="Dodd-1957" /> and a quarter of houses were burned down in 1643 during the quartering of troops in the town.<ref name="Dodd-1957" /><ref>{{cite book |last=Dodd, A. H. (Arthur Herbert) |title=Studies in Stuart Wales |date=1971 |publisher=University of Wales Press |isbn=0-900768-85-1 |oclc=281503 }}</ref>

In the 17th century, Wrexham served as an educational and cultural focal point for local society and became a 'Puritan Metropolis'.<ref name="Dodd-1957" /> [[Morgan Llwyd]], the radical [[Nonconformity in Wales|nonconformist]] preacher and writer, was educated at the Wrexham Grammar School and became Vicar of Wrexham in 1645.<ref name="Williams, W. Alister.-2001" /><ref name="contact-us@wrexham.gov.uk"/> For a time in the 17th century, Wrexham was the largest settlement in Wales.<ref>{{cite book |last=Davies, John, 1938– |title=Rhanbarth ymylol? y gogledd-ddwyrain yn hanes Cymru = a marginalised region? the north-east in the history of Wales |date=2007 |publisher=Institute of Welsh Affairs |others=Institute of Welsh Affairs. |isbn=978-1-904773-25-2 |location=Cardiff |oclc=228805592}}</ref>

=== Late Modern ===
{{wide image|File:Wrexham, Denbighshire.jpeg|300px|An 1831 view of Wrexham High Street with the [[Town Hall, Wrexham (1713–1940)|old Town Hall]] in the background}}
Wrexham was known for its leather industry and by the 18th century there were a number of skinners and tanners in the town.<ref name="Williams, W. Alister.-2001" />

[[File:WXM-SDSC0053.jpg|right|thumb|Bersham Ironworks, established in 1715]]
The Industrial Revolution began in Wrexham in 1762 when the entrepreneur [[John Wilkinson (industrialist)|John Wilkinson]] (1728–1808), known as "Iron Mad Wilkinson", opened [[Bersham Ironworks]]. Wilkinson's steam engines enabled a peak of production{{clarify|date=July 2015}} at [[Minera Leadmines|Minera Lead Mines]] on the outskirts of Wrexham.

From the late 18th century numerous large-scale industrialised{{clarify|date=July 2015}} collieries operated in the southern section of the [[Denbighshire Coalfield|North East Wales coalfield]], alongside hundreds of more traditional small-scale pits belonging to a mining tradition dating back to the Middle Ages.{{Citation needed|date=May 2016}}
18th century literary visitors included [[Samuel Johnson]], who described Wrexham as "a busy, extensive and well-built town",<ref>{{cite book |last=Boswell |first=James |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qe9EAQAAMAAJ&q=busy,+extensive+and+well-built+town+wrexham&pg=PA65 |title=The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL. D.: Including a Journal of His Tour to the Hebrides |date=1868 |publisher=Claxton, Remsen, & Haffelfinger |access-date=15 August 2021 |archive-date=27 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327081403/https://books.google.com/books?id=qe9EAQAAMAAJ&q=busy,+extensive+and+well-built+town+wrexham&pg=PA65#v=snippet&q=busy%2C%20extensive%20and%20well-built%20town%20wrexham&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Daniel Defoe]] who noted the role of Wrexham as a "great market for Welch flannel".<ref>{{cite book |last=Defoe |first=Daniel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HlUbAgAAQBAJ&q=daniel+defoe+wrexham+welch&pg=PT3158 |title=Delphi Complete Works of Daniel Defoe (Illustrated) |date=17 November 2013 |publisher=Delphi Classics |isbn=978-1-908909-42-8}}</ref> The artist [[J. M. W. Turner]] also visited the town in 1792-93 and 1794 which resulted in his drawings of St Giles Parish Church and surrounding buildings<ref>{{cite book |last=Wilton |first=Andrew |url=https://www.tate.org.uk/art/research-publications/jmw-turner/joseph-mallord-william-turner-wrexham-church-from-the-east-r1141043 |title=Wrexham Church from the East 1794 by Joseph Mallord William Turner |date=5 December 2012 |publisher=Tate |isbn=978-1-84976-386-8 |access-date=19 August 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122143026/https://www.tate.org.uk/art/research-publications/jmw-turner/joseph-mallord-william-turner-wrexham-church-from-the-east-r1141043 |url-status=live }}</ref> and a watercolour painting of a street scene.<ref>{{cite web |date=19 August 2020 |title=Watercolour {{!}} {{!}} V&A Search the Collections |url=http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1029038 |access-date=19 August 2020 |website=V and A Collections |archive-date=17 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417011817/http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1029038 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Rev. [[William Bingley]] described Wrexham in 1839 as "of such size and consequence as to have occasionally obtained the appellation of the metropolis of North Wales". Wrexham gained its first newspaper in 1848. The Market Hall was built in 1848, and in 1863 a volunteer fire brigade was founded. {{Citation needed|date=May 2016}} In addition to brewing, tanning became one of Wrexham's main industries.

[[File:Wrexham Butchers Market 2017.jpg|thumb|The Butchers' Market, built in 1848]]
By 1851, the population of Wrexham was 6,714; within thirty years this had increased to 10,978<ref>{{cite book |last1=O Leary |first1=Paul |title=Irish Migrants in Modern Wales |date=2004 |publisher=Liverpool University Press |pages=83–101}}</ref> as the town became increasingly industrialised.

Wrexham benefited from good underground water supplies which were essential to the brewing of beer: by the mid-19th century, there were 19 breweries in and around the town. [[Wrexham Lager]] brewery was established in 1882 in Central Road and became the first brewery in the United Kingdom to produce lager beer. A permanent military presence was established in the town with the completion of [[Hightown Barracks]] in 1877.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chris-myers.co.uk/buildings-and-places-of-wrexham-past-and-present.html |title=Buildings and places of Wrexham past and present |access-date=14 November 2014 |archive-date=26 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141126103001/http://www.chris-myers.co.uk/buildings-and-places-of-wrexham-past-and-present.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Poyser Street drill hall, Wrexham|Poyser Street drill hall]] was completed in 1902.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.drillhalls.org/TownWrexham.htm |title=Wrexham |publisher=The Drill Hall Project |access-date=19 August 2017 |archive-date=21 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821044455/http://www.drillhalls.org/TownWrexham.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

When the 1912 [[National Eisteddfod of Wales]] was held at Wrexham, [[T. H. Parry-Williams]] achieved for the first time the feat, almost unheard of since, of winning both [[Chairing of the Bard|the Chair]] and [[Crowning of the Bard|the Crown]]. Parry-Williams later recalled returning home to [[Rhyd-ddu]], where he had been working as a hired hand upon the farm of a relative. Upon telling his employer of his double-victory, Parry-Williams was advised to, "seek grace." When Parry-Williams then explained that both victories had gained him £40, the relative shouted in angry disbelief, ''"Ac mi gwnest nhw i gyd ar dy din!!!"'' ("And you earned them all sitting on your arse!!!!")<ref>Edwards (2016), ''The Eisteddfod'', pages 76-77.</ref>

By 1913, the North East Wales coal field was producing up to 3 million tonnes a year and employed over 10,000 people, dominating the economic and cultural life of the area. {{Citation needed|date=April 2016}} One of the worst mining disasters in British history occurred at [[Gresford Colliery]] in 1934 when underground explosions and a subsequent fire cost the lives of 266 men. However the industry went into decline after the [[First World War]], and of the seven large-scale collieries operating in the Wrexham area in 1946, only two functional collieries remained by 1968. {{Citation needed|date=April 2016}} The last pit to close in the Borough was Bersham Colliery in 1986. The leatherworks in Pentrefelin and Tuttle Street, the many coal mines in the area, the brickworks in Abenbury, [[Brymbo Steelworks]] and the breweries all closed in the latter half of the 20th century. Wrexham suffered from the same problems as much of industrialised Britain and saw little investment in the 1970s.
[[File:Bersham Colliery 2015.jpg|thumb|[[Bersham Colliery]], the last working colliery in the Denbighshire Coalfield]]
In the 1980s and 1990s, the [[Welsh Development Agency]] (WDA) funded a major dual carriageway {{Citation needed|date=April 2016}} (the A483) bypassing Wrexham town centre and connecting it with nearby Chester and with England's trunk road network. New shopping areas have been created within the town at [[Henblas Square, Wrexham|Henblas Square]], [[Island Green]] and [[Eagles Meadow]] and the [[Wrexham Industrial Estate]], previously used in the [[Second World War]], has become home to many manufacturing businesses.

[[Town Hall, Wrexham (1713–1940)|Wrexham Town Hall]], an early 18th century arcaded structure with an assembly hall on the first floor, which had been built at the top of Town Hall, was demolished to improve traffic flows in the area in February 1940.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wrexham-history.com/the-old-town-hall-town-hill-wrexham/ |title=The Old Town Hall, Town Hill, Wrexham |publisher=Wrexham History |access-date=22 February 2021 |archive-date=3 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203110055/https://www.wrexham-history.com/the-old-town-hall-town-hill-wrexham/ |url-status=usurped }}</ref>

Wrexham's [[County Buildings, Wrexham|former police station]] on Regent Street, originally the barracks for the Royal Denbighshire Militia, is now home to [[Wrexham County Borough Museum]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 July 2020 |title=About Us - Wrexham Heritage |url=https://www.wrexhamheritage.wales/about-us-2/,%20https://www.wrexhamheritage.wales/about-us-2/ |access-date=28 October 2023 |language=en-US }}{{Dead link|date=May 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The museum has two galleries devoted to the history of the city and its surrounding communities. The museum also holds the archive of the [[Royal Welch Fusiliers]]; battalions were stationed in Wrexham during the First World War.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}} The collection is notable for containing original documents in the handwriting of [[Siegfried Sassoon]], [[Robert Graves]], [[J. C. Dunn]] and other notable members of the RWF, as well as official records.<ref>[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/military-artefacts-stay-wrexham-1800698 "Military artefacts will stay in Wrexham", Wales Online, 21 March 2013] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415081947/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/military-artefacts-stay-wrexham-1800698 |date=15 April 2016 }}. Accessed 3 April 2016</ref> The local police was housed in the high-rise [[Wrexham Police Station (1973–2020)|Wrexham Police Station]] from 1973 to 2019, with the building demolished the following year. The police moved to a smaller facility next to [[Wrexham Library]].<ref name="Old police building">{{Cite news |date=1 November 2020 |title=Wrexham's high-rise police station demolished |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-54760040 |access-date=28 October 2023 |archive-date=28 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028152849/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-54760040 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Governance==
[[File:Wrexham Guildhall.jpg|thumb|[[Guildhall, Wrexham|Guildhall]]: Headquarters of [[Wrexham County Borough Council]]]]
There are two tiers of local government covering Wrexham, at [[Principal areas of Wales|county borough]] and [[Community (Wales)|community]] level. [[Wrexham County Borough Council]] is the upper tier authority, providing most local government functions across the county borough, which extends to surrounding villages and rural areas as well as the main built up area of Wrexham itself. The county borough council is based at the [[Guildhall, Wrexham|Guildhall]] in the centre of Wrexham.<ref>{{cite web |title=Council Chamber, Guildhall |url=https://moderngov.wrexham.gov.uk/mgLocationDetails.aspx?RID=3&LLL=0 |website=Wrexham County Borough Council |access-date=6 March 2025}}</ref> The built up area of Wrexham as defined by the [[Office for National Statistics]] covers the [[community (Wales)|communities]] of [[Acton, Wrexham|Acton]], [[Caia Park]], [[Offa, Wrexham|Offa]], and [[Rhosddu]], and also partially extends into the communities of [[Abenbury]] and [[Gwersyllt]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Towns and cities, characteristics of built-up areas, England and Wales |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/housing/articles/townsandcitiescharacteristicsofbuiltupareasenglandandwales/census2021 |website=Census 2021 |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=6 March 2025}}</ref><ref name=electionmaps>{{cite web |title=Election Maps |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=6 March 2025}}</ref>

Wrexham gives its name to both the [[Wrexham (UK Parliament constituency)|Wrexham UK Parliament constituency]] and the [[Wrexham (Senedd constituency)|Wrexham Senedd constituency]]. The two constituencies have different boundaries; both include the built up area of Wrexham and adjoining rural areas, but more extensive rural areas are included in the UK Parliament constituency.<ref name=electionmaps/>

===Administrative history===
Wrexham was an [[ancient parish]]. It was subdivided into 15 [[Township (England)|townships]]:<ref>{{cite book |title=Book of Reference to the Plan of the Parish of Wrexham |date=1874 |publisher=Ordnance Survey |location=London |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1AIIAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA6-PP13 |access-date=6 March 2025}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
*[[Abenbury]] Fawr
*Abenbury Fechan
*[[Acton, Wrexham|Acton]]
*[[Bersham]]
*Bieston
*[[Borras]] Hwfa{{efn|Also spelled 'Borras Hovah'<ref>{{cite book |title=History and Law Series |date=1981 |publisher=Board of Celtic Studies, University of Wales |page=434 |isbn=978-0-7083-0779-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=COcnAQAAMAAJ&q=Hwfa%20hovah%20riffre%20riffri |access-date=6 March 2025}}</ref>}}
*[[Broughton, Wrexham|Broughton]]
*[[Brymbo]]
*[[Esclusham]] Above
*Esclusham Below
*Gourton
*[[Minera]]
*[[Stansty]]
*Wrexham Abbot
*Wrexham Regis
{{div col end}}
The Abenbury Fechan township was an [[exclave]] of [[Flintshire (historic)|Flintshire]], and the rest of the parish was in Denbighshire. Abenbury Fechan was merged into Abenbury Fawr and transferred to Denbighshire in 1885.<ref>{{cite web |title=Denbighshire Sheet XXIX |url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/102341207 |website=National Library of Scotland |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=6 March 2025 |date=1898}}</ref> From the 17th century onwards, parishes were gradually given various civil functions under the [[poor laws]], in addition to their original ecclesiastical functions. In some cases, including Wrexham, the civil functions were exercised by each township separately rather than the parish as a whole. In 1866, the legal definition of 'parish' was changed to be the areas used for administering the poor laws, and so the townships also became [[civil parish]]es.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Youngs |first1=Frederic |title=Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England: Volume II, Northern England |date=1991 |publisher=Royal Historical Society |location=London |isbn=0861931270 |page=xv}}</ref>

A [[parliamentary borough]] of Wrexham was created in 1832 as part of the [[Denbigh Boroughs (UK Parliament constituency)|Denbigh Boroughs constituency]]. The parliamentary borough covered the Wrexham Abbot and Wrexham Regis townships plus two small detached parts of the Esclusham Below township, which together covered the built up area as it then was.<ref>{{cite book |title=Parliamentary Boundaries Act |date=1832 |page=373 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Uq0uAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA373 |access-date=6 March 2025}}</ref> The parliamentary borough was incorporated in 1857 to also become a [[municipal borough]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Jones |first1=John |title=Wrexham and its neighbourhood |date=1868 |publisher=Railton Potter |location=Wrexham |page=2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=maieHAaW0qEC&pg=PA2 |access-date=6 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Vine |first1=J. R. S. |title=The Municipal Corporations Companion |date=1886 |page=380 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ieUNAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA380 |access-date=6 March 2025}}</ref> The townships within the borough of Wrexham were united into a single civil parish called Wrexham Regis in 1885.<ref>{{cite web |title=Denbighshire Sheet XXVIII |url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/102341204 |website=National Library of Scotland |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=6 March 2025 |date=1891}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Langston |first1=Brett |title=Wrexham Registration District |url=https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/wrexham.html |website=UK BMD |access-date=6 March 2025}}</ref> The borough was enlarged in 1935 to take in parts of several neighbouring parishes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wrexham Municipal Borough |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10323654 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=6 March 2025}}</ref>

The borough of Wrexham was abolished in 1974, becoming part of the larger [[Wrexham Maelor]] district of the new county of Clwyd.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1972|year=1972|chapter=70|accessdate=1 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Districts in Wales (Names) Order 1973|year=1973|number=34|accessdate=30 October 2022}}</ref> The area of the pre-1974 borough became a [[Community (Wales)|community]], but was subdivided into smaller communities in 1985.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Wrexham Maelor (Communities) Order 1985|year=1985|number=89}}</ref> Local government was reorganised again in 1996 when the modern county borough of Wrexham was created.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government (Wales) Act 1994|year=1994|chapter=19|accessdate=30 October 2022}}</ref>

===City status===
Wrexham was granted city status in 2022 as part of the [[Platinum Jubilee Civic Honours|civic honours]] to mark the [[Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Powell |first=David |date=19 May 2022 |title=City of Wrexham! Wrexham wins City Status bid |url=https://www.wrexham.com/news/city-of-wrexham-wrexham-wins-city-status-bid-219172.html |access-date=20 May 2022 |website=Wrexham.com |archive-date=19 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519230035/https://www.wrexham.com/news/city-of-wrexham-wrexham-wins-city-status-bid-219172.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=19 May 2022 |title=Platinum Jubilee: Eight new cities created in Queen's honour |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61505857 |access-date=19 May 2022 |archive-date=30 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530052143/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61505857 |url-status=live }}</ref> The city status was confirmed by [[Letters patent (United Kingdom)|letters patent]] dated 1 September 2022. It is formally held by Wrexham County Borough rather than any smaller definition of the settlement of Wrexham itself,<ref>{{cite web |title=Crown Office |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/4154400 |website=London Gazette |access-date=8 March 2025 |date=5 September 2022}}</ref> although the settlement is now generally described as a city rather than a town. Wrexham had bid for city status unsuccessfully on three previous occasions in 2000, 2002 and 2012.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wrexham officially becomes Wales' seventh city |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-62750941 |access-date=8 March 2025 |work=BBC News |date=1 September 2022}}</ref>

===Public services===
[[Wrexham Maelor Hospital]] ({{langx|cy|Ysbyty Maelor Wrecsam|links=no}}) is the region's major acute district hospital, with over 900 beds, and is the largest of the three core hospitals in [[Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board|North Wales]]. The [[Wrexham County Borough#Hospitals|other NHS hospital within the county borough]] is [[Chirk Community Hospital]] and a former [[Penley Polish Hospital]].

Yale Hospital ({{langx|cy|Ysbyty Iâl|links=no}}), situated close to the Maelor Hospital on the Wrexham Technology Park, is Wrexham's largest private hospital with over 25 beds. Formerly ''BUPA Yale Hospital'', it is now owned and operated by Spire Healthcare.

Wrexham is served by [[North Wales Police]]; their Eastern Division HQ has a large HQ building in Llay and a police station in the city centre. The police were formerly based at the [[Wrexham Police Station (1973–2020)|Wrexham Police Station]] from 1973 to 2019, with the building being demolished in 2020.<ref name="Old police building" />

The region's main [[fire station]] is situated on Croesnewydd Road and is part of the newly combined Ambulance Service station. Other local fire stations are located in the nearby towns of [[Chirk]] and [[Llangollen]].

==Geography==
Wrexham is not built on a major river, but on a relatively flat plateau between the lower [[River Dee, Wales|Dee Valley]] and [[Clwydian Range|easternmost mountains]] of [[North East Wales|north-east Wales]]. This position enabled it to grow as a market town, as a crossroads between England and Wales, and later as an industrial hub – due to its rich natural reserves of iron ore and coal. But three small rivers flow through parts of the city: the [[River Clywedog|Clywedog]], Gwenfro and [[River Alyn|Alyn]]. Wrexham is also famed for the quality of its underground water reserves,<ref name="WREXHAM {{!}} Coflein"/> which gave rise to its previous dominance as a major brewing centre.

Originally a market town with surrounding urban villages, Wrexham has now coalesced with a number of urban villages and forms North Wales' largest city<!-- "and conurbation" removed as the Wrexham BUA was reduced and the ONS has not revealed conurbation figures as of August 2023. -->. Including adjacent urban areas to Wrexham, such as that of the [[Gwersyllt]], [[Rhosllanerchrugog]], [[Coedpoeth]] and Llay totals to a population of over 100,000 residents.{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}}

Wrexham is approximately {{convert|13|mi|km}} south of Chester, {{convert|30|mi|km|sigfig=1}} north-west of [[Shrewsbury]], {{convert|43|mi|km}} south-west of [[Manchester]], and {{convert|140|mi|km}} north of [[Cardiff]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}}

{{Geographic Location
| Centre = Wrexham
| North = [[Acton, Wrexham|Acton]], [[Rhosddu]], [[Garden Village, Wrexham|Garden Village]], [[Bradley, Wrexham|Bradley]], [[Rhosrobin]], [[Llay]]
| Northeast = [[Gresford]], [[Marford]], [[Rossett]], [[Pulford]], '''[[Chester]]''', [[Birkenhead]], '''[[Liverpool]]''', [[Warrington]], '''[[Manchester]]'''
| East = [[Caia Park]], [[Abenbury]], [[Wrexham Industrial Estate]], [[Holt, Wales|Holt]], [[Nantwich]], '''[[Crewe]]''', '''[[Stoke-on-Trent]]'''
| Southeast = [[Marchwiel]], [[Erbistock]], [[Overton-on-Dee|Overton]], [[Bangor-on-Dee]], [[Ellesmere, Shropshire|Ellesmere]], '''[[Whitchurch, Shropshire|Whitchurch]]''', [[Market Drayton]], [[Stafford]], [[Telford]], '''[[Birmingham]]'''
| South = [[Rhostyllen]], [[Erddig]], [[Johnstown, Wrexham|Johnstown]], [[Ruabon]], [[Cefn Mawr]], [[Chirk]], [[Oswestry]], '''[[Shrewsbury]]''', [[Ludlow]], '''[[Hereford]]''', '''[[Cardiff]]'''
| Southwest = [[Rhosllannerchrugog]], [[Acrefair]], [[Trevor, Wrexham|Trevor]], [[Froncysyllte]], [[Llangollen]], [[Corwen]], [[Bala, Gwynedd|Bala]], '''[[Dolgellau]]''', '''[[Barmouth]]'''
| West = [[Wrexham Maelor Hospital]], [[Coedpoeth]], [[Minera]], [[Bwlchgwyn]], [[Llandegla]], [[Ruthin]], [[Denbigh]], [[Bodelwyddan]], '''[[Rhyl]]'''
| Northwest = [[New Broughton, Wrexham|New Broughton]], [[Brynteg, Wrexham|Brynteg]], [[Brymbo]], [[Gwersyllt]], [[Cefn-y-bedd]], [[Hope, Flintshire|Hope]], [[Penyffordd]], [[Buckley, Flintshire|Buckley]], [[Mold, Flintshire|Mold]], [[Hawarden]], [[Connah's Quay]], [[Flint, Flintshire|Flint]]
}}

== Landmarks and attractions ==

=== City centre ===
[[File:Wrexhamtown.jpg|thumb|Hope Street, Wrexham city centre|alt=]]{{Main|Wrexham city centre}}
The historic city centre contains a large number of listed buildings set on a medieval street pattern radiating out from the Parish Church of St Giles which was the focal point around which the city developed. The church precinct, and the surrounding narrow enclosed streets and alleyways retain a medieval character. Several complete medieval buildings survive on [[Town Hill, Wrexham|Town Hill]] and [[Church Street, Wrexham|Church Street]].<ref name="CouncilWrexhamCA2">{{cite web |last=contact-us@wrexham.gov.uk |first=Wrexham County Borough Council, Guildhall, Wrexham LL11 1AY, UK |title=Wrexham Town Centre Conservation Area – WCBC |url=http://old.wrexham.gov.uk/english/planning_portal/historic_environment/wrexham_town_centre.htm |access-date=2 September 2020 |website=old.wrexham.gov.uk |archive-date=24 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124082001/http://old.wrexham.gov.uk/english/planning_portal/historic_environment/wrexham_town_centre.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Hope Street, Regent Street and Queen Street form the traditional main shopping streets and are wider in some parts than others, resulting from the location of the street markets, which occurred from medieval times through to the 19th century.<ref name="CouncilWrexhamCA2" /> The shopping streets and indoor markets are interconnected by historic narrow alleyways and arcades, such as Bank Street and [[Central Arcade, Wrexham|Central Arcade]], which host small independent businesses. The half-timbered [[Talbot Hotel, Wrexham|Talbot Hotel building]], built in 1904, stands in a prominent position at the junction of Hope Street and Queen Street. The [[Horse and Jockey, Wrexham|Horse and Jockey]] Public House, was probably originally built in the 16th century as a hall-house and retains its thatched roof.<ref name="Jones, John Idris, 2018">{{cite book |last=Jones, John Idris, 1938– |title=Secret Wrexham |date=15 March 2018 |isbn=978-1-4456-7701-9 |location=Stroud |oclc=1064671245 }}</ref>

High Street is notable for its grand 18th and 19th century properties of varying scale, colour and detail which were built on long, narrow [[burgage plot]]s probably of medieval origin.<ref name="CouncilWrexhamCA">{{cite web |last=contact-us@wrexham.gov.uk |first=Wrexham County Borough Council, Guildhall, Wrexham LL11 1AY, UK |title=Wrexham Town Centre Conservation Area – WCBC |url=http://old.wrexham.gov.uk/english/planning_portal/historic_environment/wrexham_town_centre.htm#:~:text=The_Wrexham_Town_Centre_Conservation,June_1985_and_April_2007. |access-date=27 August 2020 |website=old.wrexham.gov.uk |archive-date=24 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124082001/http://old.wrexham.gov.uk/english/planning_portal/historic_environment/wrexham_town_centre.htm#:~:text=The_Wrexham_Town_Centre_Conservation,June_1985_and_April_2007. |url-status=dead }}</ref> The 18th century façade of the [[Wynnstay Arms Hotel, Wrexham|Wynnstay Hotel]] on Yorke Street closes the vista down the High Street. The hotel is notable as the birthplace of the Football Association of Wales, which was formed at a meeting in the hotel in 1876.<ref>{{cite web |title=FAW / The Football Association of Wales – 140 Years |url=http://www.faw.cymru/en/news/football-association-wales-8211-140-years/ |access-date=2 September 2020 |website=www.faw.cymru |archive-date=7 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207151631/https://www.faw.cymru/en/news/football-association-wales-8211-140-years/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Golden Lion Pub on the High Street is of 16th century origin<ref name="CouncilWrexhamCA2" /> and became an inn c.1700.<ref name="Williams, W. Alister.-2001" /> The listed [[Soames Brewery Chimney|Border Brewery chimney]] towers over Tuttle Street and forms a local landmark in the city centre.

<gallery heights="160">
  Wrexham High Street, Wales (2).jpg|Wrexham High Street
  Wrexham Overton Arcade.jpg|[[Overton Arcade]]
  Wrexham General Market.jpg|[[General Market, Wrexham|General Market]]
  Wrexham Central Arcade.jpg|[[Central Arcade, Wrexham|Central Arcade]]
  Wrexham Butchers Market.jpg|[[Butcher's Market, Wrexham|Butchers' Market]]
  Wrexham High Street, Wales.jpg|Wrexham High Street
</gallery>

=== Attractions ===
Wrexham held the National Eisteddfod of Wales for the sixth time in 2011.

A number of visitor attractions can be found in the area.

* [[Focus Wales]] – An annual multi-venue festival that takes place in the Wrexham city centre with a focus on emerging talent and the Welsh language.
* [[St Giles' Church, Wrexham|St. Giles Church]] – One of the [[Seven Wonders of Wales]] and burial place of [[Elihu Yale]]
* [[Racecourse Ground]] – Home of [[Wrexham F.C.]] The world's oldest international stadium that still continues to host international games.<ref>{{cite web |date=18 June 2008 |title=Guinness cheers Racecourse with official record |url=http://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport-news/wrexham-fc/2008/06/18/guinness-cheers-racecourse-with-official-record-55578-21092141/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720014121/http://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport-news/wrexham-fc/2008/06/18/guinness-cheers-racecourse-with-official-record-55578-21092141/ |archive-date=20 July 2011 |access-date=22 September 2010 |publisher=[[Liverpool Daily Post|Daily Post North Wales]]}}</ref>
* [[Erddig Hall]] – A [[National Trust]] property.
* [[Xplore!]] – Science discovery centre.
* [[Wrexham County Borough Museum]] – A museum showcasing local history.
* Indoor Markets – Wrexham has always been historically known as a market town and continues this tradition with two architecturally significant Victorian indoor markets ([[Butcher's Market, Wrexham|Butchers]] and [[General Market, Wrexham|General]]).
* [[Wales Comic Con]] – Founded and first held in Wrexham on a university campus in 2008, the event moved to Telford in 2019, but returned for a one-day event in 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 May 2019 |title=Wales Comic Con event moves from Wrexham to Telford |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-48280096 |access-date=20 August 2022 |archive-date=13 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813012433/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-48280096 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=What to expect when Wales Comic Con returns to Wrexham on Sunday |url=https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/20672204.wrexham-wales-comic-con-returns/ |access-date=20 August 2022 |website=The Leader |date=18 August 2022 |language=en |archive-date=19 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819072131/https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/20672204.wrexham-wales-comic-con-returns/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Venues and centres===
[[File:The Horse & Jockey, Wrexham.JPG|right|thumb|Horse and Jockey public house, possibly built in the 16th century<ref name="Jones, John Idris, 2018" />]]

Wrexham has a number of historic city centre buildings, many of which are pubs but others have been converted into arts or community centres.

* The [[Horse & Jockey, Wrexham|Horse & Jockey]] pub on Hope Street
* The Golden Lion on High Street
* The Old Swan on Abbott Street.
* The [[Wynnstay Arms Hotel, Wrexham|Wynnstay Arms Hotel]] on High Street – [[Football Association of Wales|FAW]] was formed at the hotel on 2 February 1876. 
* [[Tŷ Pawb]] – A cultural community resource that brings together markets, arts and a food court.
* Saith Seren ("Seven Stars") – A former public house, which is now the Wrexham Welsh Centre. The venue is a bilingual community centre but retains its facilities as a pub with local food, a bar, live entertainment, community meeting facilities.
* Wrexham Miners Rescue Station - Community, Heritage and Cafe
*XS Wrexham Live Music Venue - Home of M2tm North Wales.

==Economy==
Wrexham's economy has moved away from heavy industry to high tech manufacturing, bio-technology, finance and professional services. The city also has the largest retail sector in [[North Wales]].
In 2007, the then town was ranked fifth in the UK for business start-up success,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrexhamtoday.com/news2.asp?newsid=275 |title=Latest Wrexham News – Wrexham entrepreneurs lead the way |publisher=Wrexhamtoday.com |date=27 January 2012 |access-date=9 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221040208/http://www.wrexhamtoday.com/news2.asp?newsid=275 |archive-date=21 February 2009}}</ref> higher than most larger UK towns and cities.

===Shopping===
[[File:Eagles Meadow - geograph.org.uk - 2078180.jpg|thumb|Eagles Meadow shopping centre]]
There are several shopping streets including Hope Street with major retailers such as [[New Look (company)|New Look]], [[WHSmith]] and [[Claire's]] and Bank street with independent businesses. [[Plas Coch]] and Berse retail parks are on the outskirts close to the A483. Central and [[Island Green]] retail parks are in the city centre. [[Eagles Meadow]] is a shopping and leisure development in the city, and contains branches of major chain stores and an [[Odeon Cinemas|Odeon Cinema]], the development is connected to Yorke Street and High Street by a bridge. There are two traditional covered markets (General and Butchers) plus an open-air market on Mondays.

Wrexham has a Shopmobility service which is free. Much of the Wrexham city centre is pedestrianised.

===Finance and professional services===
Wrexham is home to [[Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation|DTCC]], which collates and analyses company information for investment banks and financial organisations.

[[Moneypenny (company)|Moneypenny]] is an outsourced communications service, serving clients throughout the United Kingdom, and in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wrexham's "Moneypenny" brand to be known worldwide after amalgamation of subsidiaries |url=https://wrexham.com/news/wrexham-moneypenny-brand-to-be-known-worldwide-after-amalgamation-of-subsidiaries-267851.html |access-date=2025-07-15 |website=Wrexham.com |language=en}}</ref> Their headquarters are based at the Western Gateway site in Wrexham.<ref>{{Cite news |date=5 September 2016 |title="£15m Moneypenny Wrexham office with treehouse and pub opens" |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-37275303 |work=BBC News}}</ref>

The [[Development Bank of Wales]] signed a lease for its new headquarters in Wrexham based on the Wrexham Technology Park, which is expected to accommodate 50 jobs.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.wrexham.com/news/new-development-bank-of-wales-wrexham-hq-unveiled-to-accommodate-50-quality-jobs-144736.html |title=New Development Bank of Wales' Wrexham HQ unveiled to accommodate 50 'quality jobs' |work=Wrexham.com |date=15 February 2018 |access-date=10 March 2018 |archive-date=11 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311140956/http://www.wrexham.com/news/new-development-bank-of-wales-wrexham-hq-unveiled-to-accommodate-50-quality-jobs-144736.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Chetwood Financial is a fintech lender that acquired a full banking licence in 2018, the only new retail bank to secure a licence in 2018.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/ee15c082-1009-11e9-acdc-4d9976f1533b |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/ee15c082-1009-11e9-acdc-4d9976f1533b |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=New Development Bank of Wales' Wrexham HQ unveiled to accommodate 50 'quality jobs' |work=ft.com |date=6 January 2019 |access-date=16 November 2019}}</ref>

===Industries===
{{See also|Wrexham Industrial Estate|Wrexham County Borough#Economy and industry}}
Wrexham Industrial Estate is one of the largest industrial areas in Europe<ref>{{cite web |title=Wrexham Industrial Estate – One of the largest industrial areas in Europe. |url=https://www.wrexhamindustrialestate.co.uk/ |access-date=4 September 2020 |website=www.wrexhamindustrialestate.co.uk |archive-date=17 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017000720/https://www.wrexhamindustrialestate.co.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and is home to over 340 businesses creating employment for over 10,000 people. The estate currently extends to over 550 hectares and is home to major manufacturing businesses in a range of sectors including automotive, aerospace, food, pharmaceutical and engineering.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wrexham Industrial Estate |url=https://wrexham-industrial.com/ |access-date=4 September 2020 |website=Wrexham Industrial Estate |archive-date=26 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926024523/https://wrexham-industrial.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Wrexham Industrial Estate is home to a number of biopharmaceutical companies such as [[Wockhardt]] and [[Ipsen]] which have major sites which provide research and development and manufacturing capabilities. The Industrial estate also hosts a 2,100 capacity Category C male prison, costing £212 million, which was built on the former Firestone Site. The prison opened in March 2017, and was named in February 2016 as [[HM Prison Berwyn]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.wrexham.com/news/new-prison-will-be-called-hmp-berwyn-107871.html |title=New Prison Will Be Called HMP Berwyn |website=Wrexham.com |access-date=24 July 2022 |archive-date=24 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220724215041/https://www.wrexham.com/news/new-prison-will-be-called-hmp-berwyn-107871.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Wrexham's close location to both aerospace (Airbus are located in nearby [[Broughton, Wrexham|Broughton]]) and automotive manufacturers have led to a number of organisations being in the city. [[JCB (heavy equipment manufacturer)|JCB]] on the Wrexham Industrial Estate, ACT and Magellan Aerospace are all major employers in the area.{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}}

Large food manufacturing sites include [[Kelloggs]], [[Cadbury]], [[Oscar Mayer|Rowan Foods]] and [[Jones' Village Bakery|Village Bakery]]. Electronics companies [[Sharp Corporation|Sharp]] and [[Brother Industries|Brother]] have manufacturing facilities located along the [[A483]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}}

One of Wrexham's traditional industries is [[brewing]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/northeastwales/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8519000/8519912.stm |title=When Wrexham was a 'lager town' |work=BBC News |date=5 March 2010 |access-date=10 March 2018 |archive-date=11 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311082536/http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/northeastwales/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8519000/8519912.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Wrexham was once home to [[Marstons]], [[Border Breweries (Wrexham)|Border Breweries]] and Wrexham Lager. Wrexham is still a brewing town, however, on a smaller scale, many are either located on Wrexham Industrial Estate and in the city centre, this includes Big Hand, Magic Dragon, Erddig, Sandstone, Beech Avenue, Axiom and the revival of [[Wrexham Lager Beer]].{{citation needed|date=March 2023}}

===Residential development===
The central area of Wrexham has also seen a number of purpose-built residential developments as well as conversions of older buildings to residential use. Outside the city centre new estates are being developed in several areas, including over 500 homes at the former Brymbo Steelworks site, a ribbon of development on Mold Road leading out of the city (which includes four development companies) and Ruthin Road (Wrexham Western Gateway). There are further plans. These include the development of [[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust]] (NT) land at [[Erddig]] for over 250 homes.<ref>{{Cite web | website=National Trust | url=http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-erddig/w-erddig_development-special/w-erddig_development-faq.htm#whyerddig | title=Why develop at Erddig? | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629105639/http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-erddig/w-erddig_development-special/w-erddig_development-faq.htm#whyerddig | archive-date=29 June 2011 }}</ref> This latter proposal generated many protests, particularly from residents of nearby Rhostyllen. A motion at the NT's 2008 AGM to block the development gained much support but was overturned by proxy votes cast by the chairman.<ref>Rhostyllen.com {{Cite web| url=http://www.rhostyllen.com/home/ | title=Not on Erddig | access-date=28 October 2010 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327183138/http://www.rhostyllen.com/home/ | archive-date=27 March 2010}}</ref>

==Demography==
[[File:Wrexham built-up area map 2021.png|right|thumb|Wrexham's built up area (2021 definition) in red]]
The [[Wrexham Built-up area|Wrexham built up area]] as defined by the [[Office for National Statistics]] (ONS) for the 2021 census had a population of 44,785.<ref name=bua2021/>

For the previous [[2011 United Kingdom census|2011 census]], the ONS identified a wider Wrexham built-up area with a population of 65,692, which comprised three built up area subdivisions called Wrexham (population 61,603), [[Rhostyllen]] (2,766) and [[Bradley, Wrexham|Bradley]] (1,323).<ref>{{cite web |title=Census 2011: Usual resident population |url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/ks101ew |website=NOMIS |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=25 February 2025}} (Use the download facility to obtain the data for built up areas and built up areas including subdivisions.)</ref> The Wrexham subdivision based on the 2011 census was larger than the Wrexham built up area based on the 2021 census; notable differences between those two definitions are that [[Brynteg, Wrexham|Brynteg]] and [[Gwersyllt]] have been classed as separate built up areas in 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=2011 Census Report: Wrexham Built-up area sub division |url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/sources/census_2011_ks/report?compare=W38000001 |website=NOMIS |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=8 March 2025}}</ref><ref name=bua2021/>

According to the 2011 census, the average percentage of Welsh speakers (aged 3+) in Wrexham County Borough was 12.9%, compared to the Wales average of 19.0%. The highest proportion was in the rural Dyffryn Ceiriog division (31.2%) and the lowest in the urban Wynnstay division (7.7%).<ref>{{cite web |title=Stats Wales |url=https://statswales.wales.gov.uk/Catalogue/Welsh-Language |website=Statswales.wales.gov.uk |access-date=26 May 2015 |archive-date=6 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106012756/https://statswales.wales.gov.uk/Catalogue/Welsh-Language |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In January 2015, it was estimated more than 2,000 Portuguese migrants live and work in the city, mainly centred in the district of [[Hightown, Wrexham|Hightown]]. The community holds an annual carnival through the city centre.<ref name="dailypost.co.uk">{{cite web |url=http://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/wrexhams-new-portuguese-carnival-light-8533589 |title=Wrexham Portuguese carnival |first=Steve |last=Bagnall |date=28 January 2015 |access-date=3 July 2015 |archive-date=4 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704094344/http://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/wrexhams-new-portuguese-carnival-light-8533589 |url-status=live }}</ref>

A [[Polish people|Polish]] community exists in the city with a number of Polish supermarkets and restaurants in the city centre.

==Culture==
{{see also|Wrexham County Borough#Culture and tourism}}
In 2021–22, Wrexham County Borough's bid made it to the [[UK City of Culture 2025 bids|final four bids of twenty]] for the title of [[UK City of Culture]] in 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=UK City of Culture 2025 Shortlist Revealed |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-city-of-culture-2025-shortlist-revealed/ |website=Gov.UK |access-date=8 November 2022 |archive-date=11 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111033116/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-city-of-culture-2025-shortlist-revealed |url-status=live }}</ref> It later lost to [[Bradford UK City of Culture 2025|Bradford]] in May 2022.

===Performing arts===
[[File:The-arc-sculpture-wrexham-1b.jpg|thumb|right|The Arc sculpture|upright=0.75]]

A company of actors (anterliwtwyr) from Wrexham is recorded as appearing in Shrewsbury in Henry VIII's reign.<ref>{{cite book |title=A History of Wrexham, Denbighshire |date=1989 |publisher=Published for the Wrexham Borough Council ... [by Bridge Books] |others=Dodd, A. H. (Arthur Herbert), 1891–1975., Wrexham Maelor (Wales). Borough Council. |isbn=1-872424-01-5 |location=Wrexham |oclc=59816349 }}</ref>

The then town is referenced in the late-Jacobean [[Beaumont and Fletcher]] play, 'The pilgrim' (1647), in which the stock Welshman declares that "Pendragon was a shentleman, marg you, Sir, and the organs at Rixum were made by revelations".<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8W1VAAAAcAAJ&q=the+pilgrim+rixum&pg=PA77 |title=The Pilgrim. The Wild-goose-chase. The Prophetes. The Sea-voyage. The Spanish Curate: 8 |date=1845 |publisher=Edward Moxon |access-date=22 November 2020 |archive-date=27 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327082402/https://books.google.com/books?id=8W1VAAAAcAAJ&q=the+pilgrim+rixum&pg=PA77#v=onepage&q=the%20pilgrim%20rixum&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref>

Wrexham hosted the [[National Eisteddfod]] in 1888, 1912, 1933 and 1977, as well as an unofficial National Eisteddfod event in 1876. The National Eisteddfod returned to the area in 2011, when Wales' leading festival was held on the land of Lower Berse Farm between 30 July and 6 August.

Wrexham has a number of theatres, including the Grove Park Theatre on Hill Street, and the Yale Studio theatre close to Llwyn Isaf, with others at [[Wrexham University]] on Mold Road and at Coleg Cambria. There is a multi-screen Odeon cinema in the Eagles Meadow development.

===Visual arts===
{{see also|Tŷ Pawb}}
Tŷ Pawb (formerly Oriel Wrecsam and the People's Market) is Wrexham's largest facility for visual arts and exhibitions, and offers other resources including an indoor market, food court and performance spaces. Tŷ Pawb is Welsh for "Everybody's House" and the name was selected by public vote in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |title=Arts Hub name unveiled – Tŷ Pawb wins public vote! |url=http://www.wrexham.com/news/arts-hub-name-unveiled-ty-pawb-wins-public-vote-137034.html |website=Wrexham.com |access-date=10 February 2019 |archive-date=12 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212011034/http://www.wrexham.com/news/arts-hub-name-unveiled-ty-pawb-wins-public-vote-137034.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Tŷ Pawb was the lead organisation for Wales in the Venice Biennale 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Big News for Tŷ Pawb – Venice Is Coming to Wrexham! |url=https://news.wrexham.gov.uk/big-news-for-ty-pawb-venice-is-coming-to-wrexham/ |website=Wrexham Council News |date=25 May 2018 |access-date=10 February 2019 |archive-date=12 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212013349/https://news.wrexham.gov.uk/big-news-for-ty-pawb-venice-is-coming-to-wrexham/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Other galleries in Wrexham include Undegun Arts Space on Regent Street<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thisproject.co.uk/undegun/ |title=Undegun |access-date=27 July 2019 |archive-date=27 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727221407/http://thisproject.co.uk/undegun/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and The Wrexham Independent Gallery (TWIG) on Lord Street.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.twigwxm.uk/ |title=Home |access-date=27 July 2019 |archive-date=27 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727221408/http://www.twigwxm.uk/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Wrexham's [[School of Creative Arts, Wrexham|School of Creative Arts]] (part of [[Wrexham Glyndŵr University]] and formally known as North Wales School of Art and Design or NWSAD) is based on Regent Street.

===Music===
Live music venues have developed around the core of the city. Further out of the centre other venues provide live music shows. The scene is dominated by local bands, however, mainstream musicians have attended local venues including the [[Racecourse Ground]].

Central Station opened in 1999, the venue had a capacity of approximately 650, attracting a number of international acts. Shortly after its rebrand to Live Rooms Wrexham, it was found to be under financial pressures and closed on 9 February 2019, the year that marked its 20th anniversary.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrexham.com/news/the-live-rooms-wrexham-central-station-to-close-its-doors-for-the-final-time-this-weekend-163258.html |title=The Live Rooms Wrexham / Central Station to close its doors for the final time this weekend |publisher=Wrexham.com |access-date=3 April 2019 |archive-date=3 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403002940/http://www.wrexham.com/news/the-live-rooms-wrexham-central-station-to-close-its-doors-for-the-final-time-this-weekend-163258.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The venue re-opened in 2022 as The Rockin' Chair with local band [[The Royston Club]] as the opening act.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/20619298.wrexham-rockin-chair-set-opening-weekend/ |title=Wrexham: The Rockin Chair set for opening this weekend |date=11 August 2022 |publisher=Leader Live |access-date=2 March 2023 |archive-date=2 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302060954/https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/20619298.wrexham-rockin-chair-set-opening-weekend/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

William Aston Hall at Wrexham University is a 900-seat venue designed to accommodate a range of events from conferences and exhibitions to theatrical performances, comedy shows and pop/rock concerts. Acts who have performed there include [[Super Furry Animals]], [[Feeder (band)|Feeder]], [[Love (band)|Love]], [[Ray Davies]], [[Freddie Starr]] and [[The Sweet|Sweet]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newisu.com/ |title=NEWI Student's Union website |publisher=Newisu.com |access-date=9 February 2012 |archive-date=17 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317020157/http://www.newisu.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Wrexham Symphony Orchestra has been the orchestra in residence at William Aston Hall since 2004.

The first known concert to be held at the [[Racecourse Ground]] was in the 1970s with live performances from [[KC and the Sunshine Band]], [[Mac and Katie Kissoon]] and [[Junior Walker]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport/stadium-north-rugby-rock-concerts-24244828 |title=Stereophonics set to rock Wrexham with summer concert |publisher=Daily Post |access-date=2 March 2023 |date=18 June 2022 |archive-date=2 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302055302/https://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport/stadium-north-rugby-rock-concerts-24244828?int_source=amp_continue_reading&int_medium=amp&int_campaign=continue_reading_button#amp-readmore-target |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2016 the [[Racecourse Ground]] re-introduced live music to its summer schedule, the Welsh band [[Stereophonics]] were the first musicians to play a live show since the festival with [[Motörhead]] in 1982.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/stereophonics-set-rock-wrexham-summer-10969115 |title=Stereophonics set to rock Wrexham with summer concert |publisher=Daily Post |access-date=10 March 2018 |date=March 2016 |archive-date=11 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311081300/https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/stereophonics-set-rock-wrexham-summer-10969115 |url-status=live }}</ref> After the success of Stereophonics with special guests [[Catfish and the Bottlemen]] came 2017 with live music from [[UB 40]] and [[Olly Murs]]. In June 2018 the Stereophonics returned to the Racecourse Ground alongside special guest [[Jake Bugg]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/jake-bugg-stereophonics-wrexham-tickets-14386240 |title=Jake Bugg to support Stereophonics in Wrexham |publisher=Daily Post |access-date=10 March 2018 |date=8 March 2018 |archive-date=8 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308231209/https://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/jake-bugg-stereophonics-wrexham-tickets-14386240 |url-status=live }}</ref> In May 2023, [[Kings of Leon]] headlined shows at the Racecourse Ground.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wrexham.com/news/kings-of-leon-and-the-declan-swans-to-play-racecourse-stadium-231251.html |title=Kings Of Leon – and the Declan Swans – to play Racecourse Stadium in May |publisher=Wrexham.com |access-date=27 February 2023 |date=27 February 2023 |archive-date=27 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227190750/https://www.wrexham.com/news/kings-of-leon-and-the-declan-swans-to-play-racecourse-stadium-231251.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

FOCUS Wales is a festival that began in 2010 to showcase musicians from Wales and around the world using venues across the city. FOCUS Wales includes interactive sessions and celebrates the arts of the region and beyond.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/leisure/features/15962248.Meet_the_man_behind_Focus_Wales_who_s_putting_Wrexham_on_the_musical_map/ |title=Meet the man behind Focus Wales who's putting Wrexham on the musical map |date=15 December 2017 |publisher=The Leader |access-date=11 March 2018 |archive-date=12 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312022731/http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/leisure/features/15962248.Meet_the_man_behind_Focus_Wales_who_s_putting_Wrexham_on_the_musical_map/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Wrexham Guardian Jan 2 1875.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|Front page of the Wrexham Guardian; 2 January 1875]]

===Media===
Wrexham's newspapers include two daily titles, [[Reach plc]]'s ''[[Daily Post (North Wales)|Daily Post]]'' run remotely, and Newsquest's ''[[The Leader (Welsh newspaper)|The Leader]]'' (formerly ''Wrexham Evening Leader'') run from Mold.

The Leader, Wrexham edition, has a circulation of 1,780,<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.abc.org.uk/Certificates/51011448.pdf | title=The Leader has reported in accordance with ABC's industry-agreed standards for Regional Publications | website=www.abc.org.uk}}</ref> and the Daily Post has a circulation of 6,843<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.abc.org.uk/Certificates/50993006.pdf | title=Daily Post (Wales) has reported in accordance with ABC's industry-agreed standards for Regional Publications | website=www.abc.org.uk}}</ref> but covers all of [[North Wales]].

Two commercial radio stations used to broadcast from the Wrexham area – [[Communicorp]] station [[Heart North and Mid Wales]] and [[Global Radio]]-owned [[Capital (radio network)|Capital North West and Wales]], and a third station, [[Capital Cymru]] (serving Anglesey and Gwynedd). However, the studios in Gwersyllt were closed in January 2025 and are now vacant.<ref>{{Cite web | title="Twelve jobs being lost" as Global set to close Wrexham studio - Wrexham.com | url=https://wrexham.com/news/twelve-jobs-being-lost-as-global-set-to-close-wrexham-studio-263823.html | access-date=2025-07-06 | website=wrexham.com}}</ref>

[[BBC Cymru Wales]] has a studio and newsroom for radio, television and online services based at Glyndŵr University on Mold Road. From March 2008 to January 2021, the university was also the base for [[Calon FM]], a community radio station that served Wrexham however the licence transferred from Wrexham Community Broadcasting CIC  to Premier Radio CIC in April 2025.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Radio Broadcast Update – March 2025 - Ofcom | url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/analogue-radio/radio-broadcast-update-march-2025 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250404183353/https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/analogue-radio/radio-broadcast-update-march-2025 | access-date=2025-07-06 | archive-date=2025-04-04}}</ref>

[[Eagles Meadow]] is the home of Premier Radio.

An online news website covering the Wrexham area, ''Wrexham.com'', has operated from offices on Regent Street in the city centre since 2012.

==Parks and open spaces==
[[File:WXM-SDSC0055.jpg|right|thumb|'Cup and Saucer' at [[Erddig]] Park]]
[[File:Acton Park lake, Wrexham.jpg|right|thumb|Lake at Acton Park]]
{{Main|Parks and open spaces in Wrexham}}
{{For|parks in the wider Wrexham County Borough|Wrexham County Borough#Country parks}}

A total of 37 parks and green spaces in Wrexham County Borough Council ownership have been, or are in the process of being, legally protected with green space charity [[Fields in Trust]] ensuring they can never be built on, nor lost to development.<ref>{{cite web |title=Protecting Wrexham's Green Spaces for Good |url=https://www.fieldsintrust.org/wrexham |website=Fields in Trust |access-date=3 April 2022 |archive-date=26 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526212010/https://www.fieldsintrust.org/wrexham |url-status=live }}</ref>

Wrexham has three parks, [[Bellevue Park, Wrexham|Bellevue Park]], [[Acton Park, Wrexham|Acton Park]] and the parkland at Erddig, as well as a green area within the city centre called [[Llwyn Isaf]].

Bellevue Park was built alongside the old cemetery on Ruabon Road. The park was designed to commemorate the jubilee year of the incorporation of Wrexham. It became neglected during the 1970s and many of the amenities were in a poor state of repair. A major project was undertaken to restore the park to its original state. The park reopened in June 2000. In 2015 Belle Vue Park was dedicated as a Fields in Trust Centenary Field because of its links with veterans of two world wars.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fieldsintrust.org/FieldSite/Bellevue-Park |title=Belle Vue Park, Wrexham |publisher=Fields in Trust |access-date=13 October 2021 |archive-date=28 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028171431/https://www.fieldsintrust.org/FieldSite/Bellevue-Park |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[Acton, Wrexham#Acton Park|Acton Park]] was originally the landscaped grounds of [[Acton Hall, Wrexham|Acton Hall]]. It was laid out in 1785 by [[James Wyatt]] on the instructions of the owner [[Sir Foster Cunliffe]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://exchange.umma.umich.edu/resources/43884/view |title=Sir Foster Cunliffe: The True Story |publisher=University of Michigan Museum of Art |access-date=20 May 2022 |archive-date=25 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425144606/https://exchange.umma.umich.edu/resources/43884/view |url-status=live }}</ref>

Llwyn Isaf, situated alongside [[Wrexham Guildhall]], is a popular green area within the city centre. The green was originally the landscaped grounds of a mansion house known as Llwyn Isaf. It now lies at the centre of Wrexham's civic centre just off Queens Square. The Welsh ''[[Children in Need]]'' concert was held here in 2005, which included [[Bryan Adams]] and [[Katherine Jenkins]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2004/11_november/09/adams.shtml |title=Bryan Adams to join Pudsey in Wrexham |work=BBC News |date=9 November 2004 |access-date=10 March 2018 |archive-date=17 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417012011/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2004/11_november/09/adams.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

Erddig Park is two miles (3&nbsp;km) south of the city centre where the city meets the Clywedog Valley. The park is owned and managed by the [[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust]], and is home to Erddig Hall and its formal gardens.

==Sport==

===Football===
[[File:Wrexham FC.jpg|right|thumb|[[The Racecourse Ground]], home of [[Wrexham A.F.C.]]]]
{{Main|Wrexham A.F.C.}}

The city has a professional [[association football|football]] team, Wrexham A.F.C., the oldest football club in Wales.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wrexham Supporters Trust – Our Club Our Future |url=https://wst.org.uk/www3/index.php/component/k2/item/472-wrexham-fc-oldest-club-in-wales |website=wst.org.uk |access-date=29 June 2021 |archive-date=26 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026165127/https://wst.org.uk/www3/index.php/component/k2/item/472-wrexham-fc-oldest-club-in-wales |url-status=live }}</ref> Their home ground is the Racecourse Ground, the oldest international football ground in the world.<ref>{{cite web |title=Oldest international football ground |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/oldest-international-football-ground |website=Guinness World Records |access-date=29 June 2021 |archive-date=30 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730193107/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/oldest-international-football-ground?fb_comment_id=749109001844435_768358416586160 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Wrexham was the site of the headquarters of the Football Association of Wales from its formation in 1876 until relocation to Cardiff in 1991.

Colliers Park has received a substantial investment to improve the facility, which was financed by FAW Wales and now recognised as a National Development Centre, complementing their existing facility in [[Newport, Wales|Newport]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrexham.com/news/faw-university-unveil-4m-investment-to-develop-colliers-park-into-national-development-centre-144196.html |title=FAW & University unveil £4m investment to develop Colliers Park into National Development Centre |publisher=Wrexham.com |access-date=4 September 2018 |date=5 February 2018 |archive-date=9 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209022007/http://www.wrexham.com/news/faw-university-unveil-4m-investment-to-develop-colliers-park-into-national-development-centre-144196.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 16 November 2020, it was confirmed that actors [[Ryan Reynolds]] and [[Rob McElhenney]], through the RR McReynolds Company LLC, would be taking over the club after receiving the backing of the Wrexham Supporters Trust.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/latest-news/31660/done-deal-ryan-reynolds-and-rob-mcelhenney-acquire-wrexham-afc/ |title=Done Deal: Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney acquire Wrexham AFC |date=16 November 2020 |access-date=16 November 2020 |work=[[The Non-League Paper]] |archive-date=16 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116140059/https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/latest-news/31660/done-deal-ryan-reynolds-and-rob-mcelhenney-acquire-wrexham-afc/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54956962 |title=Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney: Hollywood stars to take over Wrexham |date=16 November 2020 |access-date=16 November 2020 |work=[[BBC Sport]] |archive-date=16 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116074550/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54956962 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Rugby League===

In 2010, Wrexham became the new home of [[North Wales Crusaders|Celtic Crusaders]] rugby league club spending their final two of three seasons in the [[Super League]] – the top tier of the [[British rugby league system]]. Following the end of the 2011 season, the club entered administration. A [[Phoenix club (sports)|phoenix club]] was readmitted as [[North Wales Crusaders]] into the third tier [[RFL League 1|Championship 1]]. In 2016, the club moved to the [[Queensway Stadium]] in Caia Park as a result of lower matchday attendance, before moving to [[Colwyn Bay]] in 2021. The city has also hosted ten matches of the [[Wales national rugby league team]].<ref>{{cite web |date= 16 December 2024 |title=Locations of League: Wrexham |url=https://www.totalrl.com/locations-of-league-wrexham/ |access-date=
23 April 2025 |publisher=TotalRugbyLeague}}</ref>

===Rugby Union===
{{Main|Wrexham RFC}}
The Racecourse Ground has in the past also served as the secondary home of the [[Scarlets]], one of the four Welsh professional [[rugby union]] sides that compete in the [[Pro14]]. The Wales rugby union team have also played there on occasion. Wrexham is also home to rugby union team [[Wrexham RFC]], a team affiliated to the [[Welsh Rugby Union]]. In 1931 nine northern Welsh clubs met at Wrexham to form the North Wales Rugby Union, Wrexham RFC were one of the founders.<ref>''Fields of Praise, The Official History of the Welsh Rugby Union 1881–1981'', David Smith, Gareth Williams (1980) pg 271 {{ISBN|0-7083-0766-3}}</ref> Rhos Rugby Club, one of Wrexham RFC's main rivals are also based just outside the city in the village of Rhosllanerchrugog. Rhos now have grown to match Wrexham's quality, making the rivalry even more intense than in previous years.{{citation needed|date=August 2025}}
[[File:Wrexham Waterworld Leisure and Activity Centre.JPG|thumb|[[Wrexham Swimming Baths]]]]

===Other sports===
* [[Athletics (sport)|Athletics]] – Queensway International Athletics stadium in Caia Park is Wrexham's second stadium after the Racecourse and has hosted the Welsh Open Athletics event in recent years. The stadium is also home to North Wales' largest athletics club, Wrexham Amateur Athletics Club. From 2017 it is home to rugby league side North Wales Crusaders.
* [[Field hockey|Hockey]] – Plas Coch is home to the North Wales Regional Hockey Stadium, home of Wrexham Glyndwr HC, with seating for 200 spectators and floodlighting.
* [[Leisure centre]]s – Wrexham has 7 leisure centres: Chirk, Clywedog, Darland, Gwyn Evans(Gwersyllt), [[Plas Madoc]], Queensway and [[Waterworld, Wrexham|Waterworld]], which offer activities including swimming, aerobics, climbing walls and yoga.
* [[Tennis]] – Wrexham is home to the North Wales Regional Tennis Centre, which plays host to a number of international competitions each year including the Challenger Series. The centre is a pay and play facility and is open 7 days a week to all members of the public. The centre is also home to the WLTA (Wrexham Lawn Tennis Association).
* [[Golf]] – Wrexham has 4 golf courses: Moss Valley Golf Club, Plassey Golf Club, Wrexham Golf Club and Clays Farm Golf Club.

==Religion==

===Parish Church of St. Giles===
{{main|St Giles' Church, Wrexham}}

[[File:St Giles' Church, Wrexham (geograph 4885639 cropped).jpg|thumb|[[St Giles' Church, Wrexham|St Giles' Church]], considered the greatest example of Gothic architecture in Wales]]
[[St. Giles]] is the [[Church in Wales|Anglican]] [[parish church]] of Wrexham and is considered to be the greatest medieval church in Wales.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.openchurchnetwork.co.uk/churches.asp?cid=23%7COpen |title=openchurchnetwork.co.uk |access-date=25 December 2016 |archive-date=25 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225215620/http://www.openchurchnetwork.co.uk/churches.asp?cid=23%7COpen |url-status=live }}</ref> It includes a colourful ceiling of flying musical [[angel]]s, two early [[eagle lectern]]s, a window by the artist [[Edward Burne-Jones]] and the [[Royal Welch Fusiliers]] chapel. In the graveyard is the tomb of [[Elihu Yale]] who was the benefactor of [[Yale University]] in [[New Haven, Connecticut|New Haven]], Connecticut, United States and after whom [[Yale College Wrexham]] is named. As a tribute to Yale and his resting place, a scaled-down replica of the church tower, known as Wrexham Tower was constructed at Yale University. The tower appears in an 18th-century rhyme, as one of the [[Seven Wonders of Wales]]. In 2015, a first edition (1611) of the [[King James Bible]] (also known as the Authorized Version) was discovered in a cabinet by the Vicar of the parish.<ref>{{cite web |title=First edition King James Bible uncovered at Wrexham church |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-34462030 |website=BBC News |access-date=29 June 2021 |date=7 October 2015 |archive-date=5 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105152804/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-34462030 |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Wrexham Cathedral (geograph 5518262 cropped).jpg|right|thumb|St Mary's Cathedral, Wrexham|upright=0.75]]

===St. Mary's Cathedral===
The Roman Catholic [[Wrexham Cathedral|Cathedral of Our Lady of Sorrows]] in Regent Street is the main church of the [[Bishop of Wrexham|Diocese of Wrexham]], which extends over all of North Wales. Built in 1857 after [[Catholic Emancipation]] and at the height of the [[Gothic Revival]], the cathedral was home to the [[Bishop of Menevia]] from 1898 until 1987, whose diocese covered all of Wales. However, in 1987 the Roman Catholic province of Wales was reconstructed, since which time the cathedral has been home to the Bishop of Wrexham. The cathedral is also home to the relic of [[Saint Richard Gwyn]], Wrexham's [[patron saint]], who was a Roman Catholic martyr in the 16th century. Richard was [[hanged, drawn and quartered]] at Wrexham's Beast Market. He was canonised by [[Pope Paul VI]] in 1970.

===Other denominations===
Wrexham has a number of [[Nonconformity in Wales|non-conformist]] chapels and churches around the city, including a corps of [[The Salvation Army]]. The main [[Methodist]] church is Wrexham Methodist church, built in 1971 on the site of the former Brynyfynnon Chapel on Regent Street. There is also a [[Trinity Presbyterian Church, Wrexham|Presbyterian church]] in the city.

Wrexham had a church with a spire dedicated to and named after [[St. Mark]] in St. Mark's Road but it was demolished in 1960 after being declared unsafe and in danger of collapse due to inadequate foundations. A [[multi-storey car park]] named St. Mark's was erected on the site.

==Education==
{{See also|Wrexham County Borough#Education}}

===Wrexham University===
{{Main|Wrexham University}}
Wrexham University was formed when the North East Wales Institute (NEWI) was granted full university status in 2008. It consists of Plas Coch campus in the western part of the city and the North Wales School of Art and Design located on Regent Street. The institution was founded in 1887 as the Wrexham School of Science and Art. It was formerly named after the 14th century scholar and last Welsh [[Prince of Wales]], [[Owain Glyndŵr]], as (Wrexham) Glyndŵr University.

===Yale College (Coleg Cambria)===
{{Main|Yale College, Wrexham}}
Yale College (now part of [[Coleg Cambria]]) is the main provider of adult education in Wrexham and is one of the largest colleges in Wales. As a tertiary college it also provides a wide range of higher education courses at its two campuses at Grove Park in the city centre and Bersham Road in southwest Wrexham.

It was named after Elihu Yale, best known for being the prime benefactor of Yale University. It was founded in 1950 as a state school on a site at Crispin Lane. In 1973, as part of the conversion of local schools to the comprehensive system, it was renamed as Yale Sixth Form College and the pupils re-located to other schools. The Crispin Lane site was incorporated into NEWI (now Glyndŵr University) after the development of the Grove Park Campus.

In 1998 Yale College took up residence in two sites across Wrexham: the faculty of engineering and construction at a site on Bersham Road, and a multi-purpose site in a redeveloped Grove Park campus. Over the next fifteen years the college grew.

In 2013 Yale College was merged with Deeside College, Northop College, and Llysfasi College to form a new college, Coleg Cambria, under the leadership of the ex-Deeside principal David Jones. The merger officially took place on 1 August 2013.

For the 2020–21 academic year, one of Coleg Cambria's Yale Grove Park Campus in Wrexham city centre underwent redevelopment. With a cost of £20 million, the new Hafod building is described to be a "commercial village" in Wrexham.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 2019 |title=The Halton Curve: Small piece of track, big rail ambitions |url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/business/business-news/20m-coleg-cambria-campus-redevelopment-16057438 |access-date=3 April 2019 |website=www.dailypost.co.uk |archive-date=3 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403004205/https://www.dailypost.co.uk/business/business-news/20m-coleg-cambria-campus-redevelopment-16057438 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Schools===
Wrexham has a number of primary and secondary schools. It has just one Welsh-speaking secondary school, [[Ysgol Morgan Llwyd]]. In 2003, three of the largest secondary schools, St David's School, Ysgol Bryn Offa and The [[Groves High School, Wrexham|Groves High School]] were merged to create two larger "super schools", [[Rhosnesni High School]], and [[Ysgol Clywedog]]. Other large secondary schools [[Darland High School]] and [[Ysgol Bryn Alyn]], were both built in 1958. Wrexham has become home to the first shared-faith school in Wales, [[St Joseph's Catholic and Anglican High School, Wrexham|St Joseph's]].

There are seven [[Welsh medium education|Welsh medium]] primary schools in Wrexham County Borough, two of which are located in Wrexham city (Ysgol Bodhyfryd CP and Ysgol Plas Coch CP).<ref>{{cite web |title=Wrexham School Finder |url=http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/education/schools.cfm?welsh=Yes |website=Wrexham County Borough Council |access-date=25 May 2015 |archive-date=27 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527001722/http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/education/schools.cfm?welsh=Yes |url-status=live }}</ref> Ysgol Morgan Llwyd serves as the single Welsh medium secondary school for the county and is located in Wrexham.

==Twin municipalities==
The city of Wrexham is [[Sister city|twinned]] with the German district of [[Märkischer Kreis]] and the Polish town of [[Racibórz]].

The first twinning was established on 17 March 1970 between the former Kreis Iserlohn and Wrexham Rural District. Its early success ensured that, after local government reorganisation in both countries in the mid-seventies, the twinning was taken over by the new Councils of Märkischer Kreis and Wrexham Maelor Borough Council and, in 1996, by Wrexham County Borough Council.

In 2001 Märkischer Kreis entered a twinning arrangement with Racibórz (Ratibor), a county in Poland, which was formerly part of Silesia, Germany. In September 2002, a delegation from Racibórz visited Wrexham and began initial discussions about possible co-operation which led, eventually, to the signing of Articles of Twinning between Wrexham and Racibórz in March 2004. The Wrexham area has strong historical links with Poland. Following World War II, many service personnel from the Free Polish armed forces who had been injured received treatment at [[Penley]] Polish Hospital. Many of their descendants remain in the area to this day.

==Transport==
{{For|transport in the wider Wrexham County Borough|Wrexham County Borough#Transport}}

===Rail===
[[File:Wrexham General station building (geograph 4023924).jpg|thumb|Wrexham General railway station building]]

Wrexham has two railway stations, [[Wrexham General railway station|Wrexham General]] and [[Wrexham Central railway station|Wrexham Central]], with [[Gwersyllt railway station|Gwersyllt]] located in the city's western suburbs. Until the early 1980s what is now platform 4 of Wrexham General, serving the Wrexham Central – Bidston service, was a separate station, Wrexham Exchange. There were plans for two new railway stations named after but located outside the then town in 2017: [[Wrexham North railway station|Wrexham North]] and [[Wrexham South railway station|Wrexham South]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hemming |first1=Jez |title=Plans for four new North Wales railway stations take 'significant step forward' |url=http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/plans-four-new-north-wales-12954428 |website=Daily Post |access-date=4 November 2017 |date=27 April 2017 |archive-date=7 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107010049/http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/plans-four-new-north-wales-12954428 |url-status=live }}</ref>

;Wrexham General
{{Main|Wrexham General railway station}}

Wrexham General was opened in 1846, rebuilt in 1912 and again in 1997. It has six platforms (four through, two terminal). Wrexham General is on two different lines, the [[Shrewsbury to Chester Line]] and the [[Borderlands Line]], both of which are run by [[Transport for Wales Rail|Transport for Wales]].

Wrexham General was also the base for the former [[train operating company]] [[Wrexham & Shropshire]] (the operating name of the Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone Railway Company). The company-provided passenger train services from Wrexham via [[Shropshire]] to [[Marylebone station|London Marylebone]] on an open-access basis. Services started in 2008, with an agreement for a seven-year period.<ref>{{cite press release |title=ORR announces decision on additional services between London and Wrexham |date=3 September 2007 |publisher=[[Office of Rail Regulation]] |url=http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.8899 |access-date=3 September 2007 |archive-date=13 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070913145722/http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.8899 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Wrexham & Shropshire began running services on 28 April 2008.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/north_east/7369998.stm |title=Wrexham service to London starts |work=BBC News |date=28 April 2008 |access-date=18 August 2012 |archive-date=26 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326093801/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/north_east/7369998.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Clinnick, Richard |title=40 years on – Wrexham and Shropshire takes to the rails |journal=Rail |volume=591 |date=7–20 May 2008 |pages=6–7}}</ref> Having decided they could not make the business profitable, the company ended services on 28 January 2011.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/jan/26/wrexham-and-shropshire-railways-close |title=Wrexham & Shropshire rail operator shuts after severe losses in profit |first=Dan |last=Milmo |work=The Guardian |date=26 January 2011 |access-date=18 August 2012 |archive-date=21 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921010033/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/jan/26/wrexham-and-shropshire-railways-close |url-status=live }}</ref>

All services that operate from Wrexham Central to Bidston also run through this station.

A token [[Avanti West Coast]] service runs via [[Chester railway station|Chester]] and [[Crewe railway station|Crewe]] to [[London Euston railway station|London Euston]], whereas Transport for Wales operate a few direct services every weekday to {{rws|Liverpool Lime Street}}.

;Wrexham Central
{{Main|Wrexham Central railway station}}

Wrexham Central, which is located on the [[Island Green]] retail park, is a small terminus station which is the southern terminus of the Wrexham to Bidston in Birkenhead Borderlands Line. Until the 1998 construction of the Island Green retail park, Wrexham Central station was located 50 metres further along the track.

;Gwersyllt
{{Main|Gwersyllt railway station}}

{{stnlnk|Gwersyllt}} is an unmanned halt which serves the Gwersyllt suburb of Wrexham. It is a stop on the Borderlands line between Wrexham General and Bidston.

===Bus===
{{Main|Wrexham bus station}}
[[File:FourWrexhamBlueBirds.jpg|right|thumb|[[First Chester & The Wirral]] Yellow School Buses]]

A [[Wrexham bus station|bus terminal]], the largest in north Wales,{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} has been built in Wrexham, which formerly housed a staffed information booth. The bus station serves local, regional and long-distance bus services. It is served by various bus companies, including [[Arriva Buses Wales]] and [[Stagecoach Group|Stagecoach]]. Long-distance coaches are available to [[Edinburgh]] via [[Manchester]], [[Bradford]] and [[Leeds]] and to London via [[Telford]] and [[Birmingham]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2022}} The Wrexham Shuttle provides a link between Wrexham and the nearby industrial estate.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} The townlink bus connects the main bus station with Eagles Meadow shopping centre and Border retail park to the east and Wrexham General and Central stations with Plas Coch, Wrexham Central and Island Green shopping centres to the south and west of the city.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} Wrexham is served by the National Express coach network, which picks up from the Wrexham bus station.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} Wrexham use the distinctive yellow American [[Blue Bird Corp.|Bluebird]] school buses.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2372437.stm |title=Yellow buses fleet set to double |work=BBC News |date=29 October 2002 |access-date=19 May 2018 |archive-date=13 June 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040613070905/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2372437.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Roads===

[[File:130711 Wrexham sign.JPG|thumb|Street sign in English and Welsh: note the spelling of ''stryd'']]

The city centre is orbited by a ring road. The northern and eastern parts of the road are dualled between Rhosddu Road roundabout and Eagles Meadow. The [[A483 road|A483]] is Wrexham's principal route. It skirts the western edge of the city, dividing it from the urban villages to the west. The road has connections with major roads ([[A55 road|A55]]([[M53 motorway|M53]]), [[A5 road (Great Britain)|A5]]([[M54 motorway|M54]])). The [[A5156 road (Great Britain)|A5156]] leads to the A534 and on to the Wrexham Industrial Estate. The [[A541 road]] is the main route into Wrexham from Mold and the city's western urban area. It connects to the [[B5101 road]] which eventually leads to the [[A5104 road]] to the east of [[Treuddyn]] in [[Flintshire]].

==Future development==

The [[Welsh Government]] has acquired key sites to form part of the Wrexham Gateway Project to redevelop the Kop stand at the Racecourse Ground and upgrade the transportation network to support the upgrade in the sport and event facility.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.insidermedia.com/news/wales/key-sites-acquired-for-wrexham-gateway-project |title=Key Sites Acquired for Wrexham Gateway Project |date=1 June 2020 |website=insidermedia.com |access-date=22 November 2020 |archive-date=10 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310064627/https://www.insidermedia.com/news/wales/key-sites-acquired-for-wrexham-gateway-project |url-status=live }}</ref>

£5.4 million funding has been agreed for the redevelopment of the [[Wrexham Museum]] that will integrate a [[Football Museum for Wales|Welsh Football Museum]], which has been dubbed a museum of two halves. The football museum will have a number of themes including Welsh language communities, fan culture, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities and LGBTQ+ experiences.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.wales/more-54-million-new-football-museum-wales-wrexham |title=More than £5.4 million for new Football Museum for Wales in Wrexham |date=27 February 2023 |website=Welsh Government |access-date=27 February 2023 |archive-date=27 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227205117/https://www.gov.wales/more-54-million-new-football-museum-wales-wrexham |url-status=live }}</ref>

A health and wellbeing complex at [[Coleg Cambria]] is expected to be built by summer 2024 at a cost of £14 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/23351393.new-north-wales-health-complex-underway-wrexham/#comments-anchor |title=New North Wales health complex underway in Wrexham |date=28 February 2023 |website=Leader Live |access-date=2 March 2023 |archive-date=2 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302041131/https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/23351393.new-north-wales-health-complex-underway-wrexham/#comments-anchor |url-status=live }}</ref>

Work has started on the regeneration of the historic markets by the contractor SWG. The aim of the project is to bring significant improvements to the Grade II-listed General and Butchers markets.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://swg.co.uk/news/swg-secures-contract-for-major-refurbishment-of-wrexham-markets/ |title=SWG secures contract for major refurbishment of Wrexham markets |date=17 August 2023 |website=Leader Live |access-date=8 October 2023 |archive-date=12 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012235004/https://swg.co.uk/news/swg-secures-contract-for-major-refurbishment-of-wrexham-markets/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Wrexham University's Enterprise Engineering and Optics Centre (EEOC) funding is now in place with Wynne Construction expected to start on the Plas Coch campus in 2024 forming part of the overall aim to improve the facilities at [[Wrexham University]] Plas Coch campus.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/23935370.wrexham-multi-million-pound-project-start-2024/#comments-anchor |title=Wrexham: Multi million pound project to start in 2024 |date=22 November 2023 |website=Leader Live |access-date=22 November 2023 |archive-date=21 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121205610/https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/23935370.wrexham-multi-million-pound-project-start-2024/#comments-anchor |url-status=live }}</ref>

The creation of a Ryan Rodney Reynolds memorial park was officially announced on 23 October 2023 it is expected to consist of play facilities, tables and chairs, artworks, street food and a community cinema.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-67198439 |title=Wrexham: Rob McElhenney gives Ryan Reynolds birthday park |date=23 October 2023 |website=BBC News |access-date=23 November 2023 |archive-date=23 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231123211207/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-67198439 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Notable people==
{{see also|Category:People from Wrexham}}
[[File:Richard Gwyn.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|St.[[Richard Gwyn]] ]]
[[File:Samuel Warren by John Linnell.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|[[Samuel Warren (British lawyer)|Samuel Warren]], 1882]]
[[File:Sir Charles Alexander Harris (1855-1947).jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|Sir [[Charles Alexander Harris]] ]]
[[File:Andy Scott - Wacken Open Air 2018 03.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|[[Andy Scott (guitarist)|Andy Scott]], 2018]]
[[File:Official portrait of Susan Elan Jones crop 2.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|[[Susan Elan Jones]], 2017]]
* [[Saint Richard Gwyn]] (1537–1584), Catholic martyr and Patron Saint of Wrexham, hung drawn and quartered in Wrexham.<ref>{{Cite DNB |wstitle=White, Richard (d.1584) |volume=61 |last=Thomas |first=Daniel Lleufer |author-link=Daniel Lleufer Thomas |page=70 |short=1}}</ref>
* [[Daniel Williams (theologian)|Daniel Williams]] (ca.1643–1716), a British benefactor, minister and theologian, born in Wrexham.<ref>{{cite DNB |last=Gordon |first=Alexander |author-link=Alexander Gordon (Unitarian) | |wstitle=Williams, Daniel |volume=61 |pages=385–389 |short=1}}</ref>
* [[George Jeffreys, 1st Baron Jeffreys|George Jeffreys]] (1645–1689), 'The Hanging Judge' of Acton Hall in [[Acton, Wrexham|Acton]].<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Jeffreys, George Jeffreys, 1st Baron |volume= 15 | pages = 308-310 |short=1}}</ref>
* [[Elihu Yale]] (1649–1721), businessman and benefactor of [[Yale University]].<ref>{{Cite DNB |wstitle=Yale, Elihu |volume=63 |last=Lupton |first=Joseph Hirst |author-link=Joseph Hirst Lupton |page=282 |short=1}}</ref>
* [[John Yale (cleric)|John Yale]] (d. 1800), Reverend, Deacon, Rector and Fellow of [[St John's College, Cambridge]]<ref name="Yale Cambridge1">[https://archive.org/details/admissionstocoll02stjoiala/page/162/mode/2up?q=yale Admissions to the college of St. John the Evangelist in the University of Cambridge], Cambridge University Press, Deighton Bell & Co., Cambridge, 1903, p. 163-167-168-686</ref>
* [[John Evans (divine)|John Evans]] (ca.1680–1730), a Welsh divine, born in Wrexham.<ref>{{Cite DNB |wstitle=Evans, John (1680?-1730) |volume=18 |last=Vian |first=Alsager Richard |author-link= |pages=65-66 |short=1}}</ref>
* [[John Wilkinson (industrialist)|John "Iron-Mad" Wilkinson]] (1728–1808), known for [[Bersham Ironworks]], produced cannons for the US civil war.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Wilkinson, John |volume= 28 | pages = 647-648 |short=1}}</ref>
* [[Thomas Beach (poet)|Thomas Beach]] (died 1737), a Welsh poet and wine merchant in Wrexham.<ref>{{Cite DNB |wstitle=Beach, Thomas (d.1737) |first=Alfred |last=Goodwin |volume=3 |page=458 |short=1}}</ref>
* [[Philip Yorke (antiquary)|Philip Yorke]] (1743–1804), antiquarian, politician and writer, squire of [[Erddig]].<ref>{{Cite DNB |wstitle=Yorke, Philip (1743-1804) |volume=63 |last=Seccombe |first=Thomas |author-link=Thomas Seccombe |page=353 |short=1}}</ref>
* [[John Edwards (1747–1792)|John Edwards]] (1747–1792), a Welsh poet, born at Crogen Wladys in Glyn Ceiriog.<ref>{{Cite DNB |wstitle=Edwards, John (1747-1792) |volume=17 |last=Jones |first=Rees M. Jenkin |author-link= |page=123 |short=1}}</ref>
* [[Robert Waithman]] (1764–1833), born in Wrexham, became Lord Mayor of London in 1823.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Waithman, Robert |volume= 28 | page = 246 |short=1}}</ref>
* [[Thomas Penson]] (ca.1790 – 1859), Welsh architect and [[county surveyor]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Thomas Penson 1790-1859 |url=https://www.thomaspenson.org/ |access-date=14 June 2022 |website=www.thomaspenson.org |archive-date=27 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327082325/https://www.thomaspenson.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Samuel Warren (British lawyer)|Samuel Warren]] (1807–1877), a British barrister, novelist and MP; born at Rackery Farm.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Warren, Samuel |volume= 28 | pages = 330-331 |short=1}}</ref> 
* [[Edwin Hughes (soldier)|Edwin Hughes]] (1830–1927), known as ''Balaclava Ned'', the last survivor of the [[Charge of the Light Brigade]] at [[Balaklava]] in the [[Crimea]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/northeastwales/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8170000/8170593.stm |title=Hall of Fame: Balaclava Ned |date=27 July 2009 |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=4 May 2023 |archive-date=15 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815035832/http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/northeastwales/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8170000/8170593.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Dr [[Thomas Eyton-Jones]] (1832–1893), surgeon, physician, magistrate and Mayor of Wrexham in 1875
* [[Charles Alexander Harris|Sir Charles Alexander Harris]] (1855–1947), British colonial administrator from Wrexham & Governor of Newfoundland.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/politics/colonial-charles-harris.php |title=Harris, Sir Charles Alexander (1855-1947) |access-date=8 May 2023 |archive-date=18 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418210035/https://www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/politics/colonial-charles-harris.php |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Dr [[Harold Drinkwater]] (1855–1925), physician noted as a botanical artist; moved to Wrexham in 1890.
* [[Florence Missouri Caton]] (1875–1917), British nurse who served in Serbia during World War I.<ref>{{Cite book |last=John |first=Steven |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s2HNDwAAQBAJ&dq=Florence+Missouri+Caton&pg=PT485 |title=The Welsh at War: The Grinding War: The Somme and Arras |date=2020-01-31 |publisher=Pen and Sword |isbn=978-1-5267-0033-9 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Cecil Faber Aspinall-Oglander|Brigadier-General Cecil Faber Aspinall-Oglander]] (1878–1959), military historian, noted for his works WWI; born in Wrexham.<ref>{{Lives of WWI | id= 87079 | name=Cecil Faber Aspinall }}</ref>
* [[C. H. Dodd|Charles Harold Dodd]] (1884–1973), eminent [[New Testament]] scholar and influential Protestant [[theologian]].<ref>[https://biography.wales/article/s6-DODD-HAR-1884 Biography of C. H. Dodd] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123040459/https://biography.wales/article/s6-DODD-HAR-1884 |date=23 January 2022 }} (National Library of Wales)</ref>
* [[Hubert Winthrop Young|Major Sir Hubert Winthrop Young]] (1885–1950), an English soldier Liberal Party politician, diplomat and colonial governor.
* [[William Davidson Bissett]] (1893–1971), [[Victoria Cross]] recipient, died locally, cremated at [[Pentre Bychan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grave locations for holders of the Victoria Cross in Hampshire |url=http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/cohampsh.htm |access-date=17 March 2022 |website=.victoriacross.org.uk |archive-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117073101/http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/cohampsh.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Bernard Warburton-Lee]] (1895–1940), senior officer in the Royal Navy and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, born in Wrexham.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.unithistories.com/officers/RN_officersW.html#Warburton-Lee_BAW |title=Royal Navy Officers 1939−1945 |access-date=9 May 2023 |archive-date=13 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113131751/http://www.unithistories.com/officers/RN_officersW.html#Warburton-Lee_BAW |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Lancelot Hogben]] (1895–1975), zoologist and popularizer of science, died in Wrexham<ref name="HogbenODNB">{{Cite ODNB | title = Lancelot Hogben| volume = 1| author = Bud, Robert| doi = 10.1093/ref:odnb/31244 | year = 2004 | pmid =  | pmc = }}</ref>
* [[Ewart Jones|Professor Sir Ewart Ray Herbert Jones]] (1911–2002), chemist, inventor of the [[Jones oxidation]], [[Waynflete Professorship|Waynflete Professor]] of Chemistry at [[Oxford University]], moved to Wrexham in 1948.<ref name="guardian obit">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/may/18/guardianobituaries.obituaries |title=Sir Ewart Jones |work=The Guardian |date=18 May 2002 |access-date=4 May 2023 |archive-date=9 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909134820/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/may/18/guardianobituaries.obituaries |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[David Lord (officer)|David Lord]],  (1913–1944), holder of the [[Victoria Cross]] and [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|Distinguished Flying Cross]], brought up in Wrexham
* [[Jack Mary Ann]], local folk hero who lived in the Top Boat House area of Broughton, exploits in the 1920s and 1930s
* [[Charlie Landsborough]] (born 1941), born in Wrexham, British country and folk musician and singer-songwriter
* [[Rosemarie Frankland]] (1943–2000), model and beauty queen, born in Rhosllanerchrugog; won 4 major titles in 1961.
* [[Andy Scott (guitarist)|Andy Scott]] (born 1949), guitarist with 1970s glam rock band [[The Sweet]]
* [[Ian Lucas]] (born 1960), a former British Labour MP for [[Wrexham (UK Parliament constituency)|Wrexham]] from 2001 to 2019.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-50021863 |title=Wrexham MP Ian Lucas will stand down at next election |date=11 October 2019 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=16 October 2019 |archive-date=14 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014110508/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-50021863 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Grahame Davies]] (born 1964), poet, author and former journalist; raised in the nearby coal mining village of [[Coedpoeth]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.serenbooks.com/author/grahame-davies |title=Grahame Davies &#124; Seren Books |access-date=4 May 2023 |archive-date=11 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111135552/http://www.serenbooks.com/author/grahame-davies |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Guto Bebb]] (born 1968), born in Wrexham, Welsh politician former MP for [[Aberconwy (UK Parliament constituency)|Aberconwy]] from 2010 to 2019.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Keeping it in the family: new MPs continue to hire relatives as staff |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jun/29/mps-continue-hire-relatives-as-staff |access-date=17 October 2018 |work=The Guardian |date=29 June 2015 |archive-date=10 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810142533/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jun/29/mps-continue-hire-relatives-as-staff |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Susan Elan Jones]] (born 1968), former British Labour MP for [[Clwyd South (UK Parliament constituency)|Clwyd South]], comes from [[Ponciau]].<ref name="telegraph-profile">{{cite news |url=http://ukpolitics.telegraph.co.uk/Clwyd+South/Susan+Jones |title=Susan Jones – Parliamentary Candidates |work=The Daily Telegraph |year=2010 |access-date=7 May 2010 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831204528/http://ukpolitics.telegraph.co.uk/Clwyd+South/Susan+Jones |archive-date=31 August 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[David Bower]] (born 1969), deaf actor, born locally, played David, the younger brother of Charles, in the comedy [[Four Weddings and a Funeral]].
* [[Stephen Evans (actor)|Stephen Evans]] (born 1970), actor in [[Hyperdrive (British TV series)]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stephen Evans's Page |url=https://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profiles/profile/show?id=StephenEvans |access-date=14 February 2023 |website=community.nationaltheatrewales.org |language=en |archive-date=14 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230214215513/https://community.nationaltheatrewales.org/profiles/profile/show?id=StephenEvans |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Tim Vincent]] (born 1972), former ''[[Blue Peter]]'' presenter and former ''[[Access Hollywood]]'' reporter.<ref>{{cite news |title=Former Blue Peter host Tim Vincent joins Magic 105.4 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/aug/12/tim-vincent-kim-wilde-magic-radio |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=12 August 2009 |access-date=4 May 2023 |archive-date=4 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504192105/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/aug/12/tim-vincent-kim-wilde-magic-radio |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Llŷr Williams]] (born 1976) Welsh pianist, born in the village of [[Pentre Bychan]]; won Outstanding Young Artist Award.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/3KCXSkDdL19yMnCtLTbQ309/llyr-williams |title=BBC Four – BBC Young Musician, 2016 – Llyr Williams |publisher=BBC |access-date=4 May 2023 |archive-date=4 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504192105/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/3KCXSkDdL19yMnCtLTbQ309/llyr-williams |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Mike Williams (journalist)|Mike Williams]] (born 1979), Welsh journalist, former editor in Chief of [[NME]]
* [[Darren Jeffries]] (born 1982), actor in [[Hollyoaks]], born locally
* [[Amy Guy]] (born 1983), a Welsh beauty queen and TV performer, gladiator in TV show 'SIREN'. Member of the British Team in horse riding. Miss Wales & Miss World Sport 2004. Miss United Kingdom 2005.
* [[Neck Deep]] (formed in 2012), Welsh pop punk band

=== Sport ===
[[File:Dennis Taylor, 2004.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|[[Dennis Taylor]], 2004]]
[[File:RobbieSavage01.JPG|thumb|[[Robbie Savage]], 2008]]
[[File:Laura Deas 2017 Lake Placid WC (1 of 3).jpg|thumb|[[Laura Deas]], 2017]]
* [[Charles James Apperley]] (1777–1843), sportsman and sporting writer known as ''Nimrod'', came from Wrexham.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Apperley, Charles James|volume=2|page=221|short=1}}</ref>
* [[William Lloyd (mountaineer)|Major Sir William Lloyd]] (1782–1857), Welsh military commander, and Himalayan mountaineer.<ref>{{cite DWB |id=s3-LLOY-WIL-1782 |title=Lloyd, Sir William (1782-1857) |author=Ioan Bowen Rees |year=2001 |access-date=25 January 2022}}</ref>
* [[James Trainer]] (1863–1915), football goalkeeper with 253 club caps and 20 with [[Wales national football team|Wales]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/PRESTONtrainer.htm |title=James Trainer : Biography at Spartacus Educational |access-date=14 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090709115857/http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/PRESTONtrainer.htm |archive-date=9 July 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Leigh Richmond Roose]] (1877–1916), former Wales footballer with 370 club caps and 24 with [[Wales national football team|Wales]], born in [[Holt, Wrexham|Holt]].<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-14842206 Football's 'forgotten hero' Leigh Richmond Roose] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504193609/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-14842206 |date=4 May 2023 }} bbc.co.uk, date 10 September 2011</ref>
* [[J. G. Parry-Thomas]] (1884–1927), motor-racing driver, land speed record holder; died racing at [[Pendine Sands]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Parry Thomas and Babs at Pendine Sands |url=http://www.bluebird-electric.net/parry_thomas.htm |access-date=7 May 2023 |archive-date=16 June 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060616004020/http://www.bluebird-electric.net/parry_thomas.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Helen Johnson Houghton]] (1910–2012), a British racehorse trainer from Wrexham.<ref>[http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/racing/farewell-to-racehorse-trainer-helen-johnson-houghton-315337 Farewell to… racehorse trainer Helen Johnson Houghton] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230507172023/https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/racing/farewell-to-racehorse-trainer-helen-johnson-houghton-315337 |date=7 May 2023 }}, Horse & Hound, 13 December 2012</ref>
* [[Ray Williams (rugby union coach)|Ray Williams]] (1927–2014), the world's first professional full-time rugby union coach.<ref>[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/other-sport/rugby-first-minister-helps-honour-1933040 Rugby: First Minister helps honour Ray Williams OBE] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150322223900/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/other-sport/rugby-first-minister-helps-honour-1933040 |date=22 March 2015 }}. Wales Online. 2010.</ref>
* [[Stuart Williams (footballer)|Stuart Williams]] (1930–2013), a Welsh footballer with 381 club caps and 43 with [[Wales national football team|Wales]], born in Wrexham.<ref>{{cite web |title=Former Wales full-back Stuart Williams dies aged 83 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/24844670 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=10 November 2013 |date=6 November 2013 |archive-date=10 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110042631/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24844670 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[John Williams (snooker referee)|John Williams]] (born 1937), a Welsh retired snooker referee from Wrexham.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/talkwales/chat/010423-010508/snooker/020430.shtml |title=Snooker Chat Transcript |work=BBC Sport |date=30 April 2002 |access-date=19 August 2010 |archive-date=19 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219214313/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/talkwales/chat/010423-010508/snooker/020430.shtml |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Arfon Griffiths]] (born 1941), a former footballer and manager, 621 club caps and 17 for [[Wales national football team|Wales]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Griffiths |first1=Rob |title=Wrexham FC top 20 signings: Arfon Griffiths |date=6 June 2015 |url=http://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/wrexham-fc-top-20-signings-9392425 |access-date=21 June 2015 |archive-date=7 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607050104/http://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/wrexham-fc-top-20-signings-9392425 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Dennis Taylor]] (born 1949), ex-snooker World Champion, currently lives in [[Llay]].
* [[Joey Jones]] (born 1955) former footballer with 594 club caps and 72 with [[Wales national football team|Wales]], lived in Wrexham
* [[Mark Hughes]] (born 1963), former Wales international footballer, later manager of Wales and other clubs.
* [[Xenna Hughes]], former Wales and Commonwealth Games hockey player.
* [[Robbie Savage]] (born 1974), former footballer with 538 club caps and 39 with [[Wales national football team|Wales]], born in Wrexham
* [[Andy Moore (rugby union, born 1974)|Andy Moore]] (born 1974), Neath/Swansea Rugby Club & Wales International, went to school in Wrexham
* [[Jason Koumas]] (born 1979), former Wales footballer with 422 club caps and 34 caps for [[Wales national football team|Wales]], born in Wrexham
* [[Jonathon O'Dougherty]] (born 1978), British National Ice Dance champion, born in Wrexham
* [[Chris Bartley (rower)|Chris Bartley]] (born 1984), rower, team silver medallist at the [[2012 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Tom James (rower)|Tom James]] (born 1984), Olympic Gold Medallist rower whose home town is nearby village of [[Coedpoeth]].<ref>{{cite web |date=1 December 2008 |title=Profile: Tom James |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/wales/7735433.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215123441/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/wales/7735433.stm |archive-date=15 December 2019 |access-date=5 December 2010 |publisher=[[BBC Sport]]}}</ref>
* [[Laura Deas]] (born 1988), a skeleton ski racer, bronze medallist at the [[2018 Winter Olympics]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Tom |title=Deas confirms Beijing 2022 aim |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/winter-sports/50663182 |work=[[BBC Sport]] |access-date=8 May 2023 |archive-date=8 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230508111441/https://www.bbc.com/sport/winter-sports/50663182 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Dewi Penrhyn Jones]] (born 1994), professional cricketer for Glamorgan C.C.C. in 2014, born in Wrexham
* [[Tom Lawrence]] (born 1994), Welsh footballer with over 280 club caps and 23 caps for [[Wales national football team|Wales]], born in Wrexham.
* [[Seb Morris]] (born 1995), racing driver, in 2013 appeared as the face of [[Jack Wills]], a British clothing brand; comes from [[Marford]]
* [[Harry Wilson (footballer, born 1997)|Harry Wilson]] (born 1997), [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]] and Wales international footballer with 44 caps for [[Wales national football team|Wales]]
* [[Max Hudson]] (born 2007), goalkeeper
<!--- WARNING: This site is not the place to put your friends or enemies. All names entered here must be verifiable under Wikipedia's [[WP:BLP|Biographies of Living People]] policy, and violators of this policy may be blocked.-->

==Freedom of the City==
The following people and military units have received the [[Freedom of the City]] of Wrexham.

{{Incomplete list|date=April 2023}}

===Individuals===
* [[Ryan Reynolds]]: 10 April 2023.<ref name=BBC>{{cite web |title=Wrexham: Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney awarded freedom of city |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-65233729 |website=BBC News Wales |date=10 April 2023 |access-date=10 April 2023 |language=en |archive-date=10 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410191931/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-65233729 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Rob McElhenney]]: 10 April 2023.<ref name=BBC />

===Military Units===
* [[Royal Welch Fusiliers]]: 5 June 1946.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/heritage/150_exhibition/150_gallery/freedom_ofthe_borough.htm |title=Wrexham 150 Gallery – Freedom of the Borough – WCBC |author=Wrexham County Borough Council, Guildhall, Wrexham |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |access-date=10 April 2023 |archive-date=28 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228041737/http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/heritage/150_exhibition/150_gallery/freedom_ofthe_borough.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* The [[Royal Welsh]]: 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/20899480.wrexham-royal-welsh-regiments-march-pictures/ |title=Wrexham: Royal Welsh Regiment's march in pictures |last=Robinson |first=Joe |date=3 September 2022 |website=The Leader |access-date=5 September 2022 |archive-date=5 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905232226/https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/20899480.wrexham-royal-welsh-regiments-march-pictures/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 101 Force Support Battalion, [[Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers]]: 5 April 2013.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hundreds turnout for soldiers town centre march in Wrexham |url=http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/need_to_read/2013/04/06/hundreds-turnout-for-soldiers-town-centre-march-in-wrexham-55578-33124579/ |work=[[Daily Post (North Wales)|Daily Post]] |date=6 April 2013 |access-date=10 April 2023 |archive-date=27 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327082420/https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=REME Freedom March – Route Announcement |url=http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/council/news/reme_route13.htm |publisher=[[Wrexham County Borough Council]] |date=3 April 2013 |access-date=10 April 2023 |archive-date=28 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228041713/http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/council/news/reme_route13.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* The [[Welsh Guards]]: 18 July 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/welsh-guards-parade-hundreds-line-7456499 |title=Welsh Guards parade: Hundreds line Wrexham streets as regiment granted freedom of the borough |first=Steve |last=Bagnall |date=18 July 2014 |access-date=10 April 2023 |archive-date=16 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416114732/https://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/welsh-guards-parade-hundreds-line-7456499 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{Commons category|Wrexham}}
{{Wikivoyage|Wrexham}}

{{City of Wrexham}}
{{GreenWrexham}}
{{Wrexham}}
{{UK cities}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Wrexham| ]]
[[Category:Towns of the Welsh Marches]]
[[Category:Market towns in Wales]]
[[Category:The Lordship of Bromfield and Yale]]
[[Category:Cities in Wales]]
[[Category:Populated places in Wrexham County Borough]]