Croydon is a large town in south London, England. Croydon's name means "crocus valley" in the Anglo-Saxon language, and it had 365 inhabitants by 1086. It expanded in the Middle Ages as a market town and a center for charcoal production, leather tanning, and brewing. The Surrey Iron Railway from Croydon to Wandsworth opened in 1803 as the world's first public railway, and railway building facilitated Croydon's status as a commuter town for London. By the early 20th century, it was an important industrial area, known for car manufacture, metal working, and the Croydon Airport. In the mid 20th century, these industries were replaced by retail and the service industry, and massive redevelopment led to the construction of office blocks and the massive Whitgift Centre shopping center. In 1965, Croydon was amalgamated into Greater London. Croydon had a population of 382,300 in mid-2016.
