Some notable employers in the city include the University of Southampton, Ordnance Survey, BBC South, Associated British Ports and Carnival UK.The unitary authority area of Southampton had a population of 253,651 at the 2011 census, making it one of the most populous cities in southern England.
In the past century, the city was one of Europe’s main ports for ocean liners and more recently, Southampton is known as the home port of some of the largest cruise ships in the world.
In 1964, the town of Southampton acquired city status, becoming the City of Southampton.
