City of Sunderland

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Region: North East
Country: England

§ This page provides an overview of an officially designated city in the UK, bringing together various information to help you better understand this city.

Sunderland was granted city status on 14 February 1992 during Queen Elizabeth II’s Ruby Jubilee programme, reflecting a history shaped by shipbuilding, coal and later automotive manufacturing. The borough formed in 1974 within Tyne and Wear; after the county council’s abolition in 1986 the council again provided both district- and county-level services, and, on being granted city status, adopted the name Sunderland City Council. In May 2024 the authority became part of the new North East Mayoral Combined Authority, adding a strategic regional tier over transport, skills and investment alongside the city council’s responsibilities.

City Council Status

Sunderland City Council is a metropolitan district council in Tyne and Wear; it participates in the North East Mayoral Combined Authority for regional strategy and investment.

In the UK, a city is not defined by size or population but by formal status granted by the monarch, often through historical charters or, more recently, civic honours competitions. There are 76 officially recognised cities, some of which are relatively small compared to other urban areas. In contrast, local authority districts (361 in total) are administrative areas created for local government purposes and may include a mix of urban centres, suburbs, and rural communities. Within districts, there may be one or more towns, which generally refer to sizeable urban settlements but do not hold city status unless it has been formally granted. In practice, a city can exist within a district, and a district can cover multiple towns, showing the clear distinction between legal status, administrative boundaries, and everyday usage.

Cities in North East