Newport ( ) is a city and principal area in Wales, in the United Kingdom. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, located roughly between Cardiff and Bristol, it is the cultural capital 1 and largest urban area in the historic county of Monmouthshire and governed by the unitary Newport City Council. The population of Newport is 140,100, making it the third most populous city in Wales. According to Census 2001 data the population of the core built-up area was 116,143.

The name 'Newport' derives from the fact that Caerleon was the 'old port' on the river Usk, but as ships became bigger, they could no longer navigate the river to Caerleon so a new port/dock was built near where the Riverfront Arts Centre stands today.

The Welsh language name for the city, Casnewydd-ar-Wysg (IPA2: kasˈnɛwɪð ar ˈwɪsk) means 'New castle-on-Usk' (this is a shortened version of Castell Newydd ar Wysg)Fact: date=December 2007. This refers to the twelfth-century castle ruins near the city centre. The original Newport Castle was a small Motte-and-bailey castle in the park opposite St. Woolos Cathedral. It was buried in rubble excavated from the railway tunnels that were dug under Stow Hill in the 1840s and no part of it is currently visible. Newport also has the Latin name Novus Burgus, meaning new borough or new town. It is sometimes labelled Newport-on-Usk on old maps.

The city's importance as a trading port in the Middle Ages was emphasised when a 15th century ship, referred to locally as the Newport ship, was uncovered from the bank of the Usk in 2002, during the construction of the Riverfront Arts Centre.

History

''See also :Category:History of Newport

As the Industrial Revolution took off in Britain in the late 19th century, the South Wales Valleys became key suppliers of coal from the South Wales coalfield and iron: these were transported down local rivers and the new canals to ports such as Newport, and Newport Docks which grew rapidly as a result. Newport became one of the largest towns in Wales and the focus for the new industrial towns of the eastern valleys of South Wales.

Newport was the focal point of a major Chartist uprising in 1839, where John Frost and 3,000 other Chartists marched on the Westgate Hotel at the centre of the town. The march was met with an attack by militia, called to the town by the Mayor: at least 20 marchers were killed and buried in St Woolos' churchyard. John Frost was sentenced to death for treason, but was instead transported to Australia: he returned to Britain (but not to Newport) later in his life. John Frost Square, in the centre of the city, is named in his honour. (See Chartism for more information).