Editing Limerick (section)

==Geography and metropolitan area==
Limerick is located on the River Shannon with four main river-crossing points near the city centre. To the south of the city is the [[Golden Vale]], an area of rich [[pastureland]]. Historically, much of the city's industry was based on this agricultural hinterland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Limerick {{!}} History, Geography & Points of Interest {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Limerick-county-Ireland |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>

On 1 June 2014, following the amalgamation of the separate local government areas of the county of Limerick and the local government area of the city of Limerick to form Limerick City and County, a new Metropolitan District of Limerick was formed within the united council, which extended the city area. The Metropolitan District includes the city urban area and extends outwards towards [[Patrickswell]] in the west and [[Castleconnell]] in the east.<ref>{{cite web|title=Census 2011 – Population Classified by Area (Table 5: Population of towns ordered by county and size, 2006 and 2011)|url=http://cso.ie/en/media/csoie/census/documents/census2011vol1andprofile1/Table%205.pdf|website=cso.ie|publisher=Government of the Republic of Ireland|access-date=5 July 2015|year=2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112194519/http://cso.ie/en/media/csoie/census/documents/census2011vol1andprofile1/Table%205.pdf|archive-date=12 November 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> The City Metropolitan Area however excludes city suburbs located within [[County Clare]]. At the [[2016 census of Ireland|2016 census]], the Metropolitan District of Limerick had a population of 104,952.<ref name="Municipal District Limerick">{{cite web|title=Census 2016 Municipal District Limerick|url=http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2016/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=MD2014&Geog_Code=C87338E0-A7B9-4305-B7F2-FC23410FEFE2|access-date=22 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005050929/http://census.cso.ie/sapmap2016/Results.aspx?Geog_Type=MD2014&Geog_Code=C87338E0-A7B9-4305-B7F2-FC23410FEFE2|archive-date=5 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>