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Harrogate is a town in North Yorkshire, England, with a population of 70,000. It is part of the larger Harrogate administrative district.
Prior to the discovery of its naturally iron and sulphur rich water, Harrogate was a minor village close to the historic town of Knaresborough. The first mineral spring in Harrogate was discovered by William Slingsby in 1571, who found that water from the Tewitt Well possessed similar properties to those of a German spa. Following this Harrogate developed considerable fame as a spa town.
Today the site of the Tewitt Well is marked by a dome within the Stray, an area of open parkland some 200 acres (80.94 hectares) in size that runs through the centre of the town. The Harrogate Stray was created in 1778 by an act of Parliament. Other wells can be found in Harrogate's Valley Gardens and the Royal Pump Room museum.
Harrogate was granted status as a borough in the 12th century, and was primarily a centre for agriculture and the woolen industry.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Harrogate was extremely popular among the English elite and was frequented by nobility from around Europe. Its popularity declined after World War I. During World War II, however, Harrogate's large hotels accommodated government offices which had been evacuated from London. This paved the way for the town's current function as a commercial, conference, and exhibition centre.
Harrogate was the winner of the 2003 Britain in Bloom in the category of 'Large Town.' From there it went on to win the European Entente Florale competition in 2004. This reprises its win in the first ever Entente Florale competition in 1977.
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