Editing Crawley

{{Short description|Town and borough in West Sussex, England}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2013}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                   = Crawley
| official_name          = Borough of Crawley
| settlement_type        = [[List of towns in the United Kingdom|Town]] and [[Non-metropolitan district|non-metropolitan]] [[Borough status in England and Wales|borough]]
| image_skyline          = {{multiple images
  | image1 = August 2011 in Crawley's historic High Street (q) - geograph.org.uk - 2555359.jpg
  | image2 = Queens Square, Crawley (geograph 5814836).jpg
  | image3 = Goffs Park House, Crawley (geograph 7188075).jpg
  | image4 = Memorial Gardens (geograph 5531397).jpg
  | total_width = 250px | perrow = 2 | align=centre
}}
| image_caption           = The High Street, Queen's Square, Goff's Park House and the Memorial Gardens with the centre in the background
| image_blank_emblem      = CoatofArms-Crawley.png
| blank_emblem_type       = Coat of Arms of the Borough Council
| blank_emblem_size       = 100px
| nickname                = 
| motto                   = "I Grow and I Rejoice"
| pushpin_map             = West Sussex
| pushpin_label_position  = none
| pushpin_mapsize         = 250
| pushpin_map_caption     = Location of Crawley within West Sussex
| subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name        = [[United Kingdom]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Constituent country]]
| subdivision_name1       = England
| subdivision_type2       = [[Regions of England|Region]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[South East England]]
| subdivision_type3       = [[Ceremonial counties of England|Ceremonial county]]
| subdivision_name3       = [[West Sussex]]
| subdivision_type4       = [[Historic counties of England|Historic county]]
| subdivision_name4       = [[Sussex]]<br/>(Town centre and outlying areas)<br/>[[Surrey]]<br/>(Gatwick Airport)
| subdivision_type5       = Admin HQ
| subdivision_name5       = [[Crawley Town Hall]]
<!-- Politics ----------------->
| established_title       = Founded
| established_date        = 5th century
| established_title2      = [[Town charter]]
| established_date2       = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1202}}
| established_title3      = Borough status
| established_date3       = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1974}}
<!-- Area --------------------->
| government_footnotes            = 
| government_type         = [[Borough status in England and Wales|Borough]]
| governing_body          = [[Crawley Borough Council]]
| leader_title            = [[Executive arrangements#Leader and cabinet|Leadership]]
| leader_name             = [[Local Government Act 2000#Options for council executive forms|Leader and cabinet]]
| leader_title1           = Council Leader
| leader_name1            = [[Crawley Borough Council elections|Cllr Michael Jones]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])
| total_type              = Borough
| unit_pref               = <!--Enter: Imperial, if Imperial (metric) is desired-->
| area_footnotes          = 
| area_magnitude          = 
| area_total_km2          = 44.96 <!-- ALL fields dealing with a measurements are subject to automatic unit conversion-->
| area_land_km2           = <!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on automatic unit conversion-->
| area_water_km2          = <!-- Population ----------------------->
| elevation_footnotes     = <!--for references: use<ref> </ref> tags-->
| elevation_m             = 80<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
| population_total        = {{English district population|GSS=E07000226}} ([[List of English districts by population|ranked {{English district rank|GSS=E07000226}}]])
| population_as_of        = {{English statistics year}}
| population_footnotes    = 
| population_density_km2  = 2221|<!-- General information --------------->
| population_note         = 
| postal_code_type        = Postcode
| postal_code             = [[RH postcode area|RH]]6 and [[RH postcode area|RH]]10–11
| area_code               = 01293
| website                 = {{URL|https://crawley.gov.uk}}
| footnotes               = 
| pushpin_image           = Crawley UK locator map.svg
| leader_title2           = Mayor
| leader_name2            = Cllr Sharmila Sivarajah ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])
| leader_title3           = [[List of MPs elected in the 2015 United Kingdom general election|MPs]]  <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager -->
| leader_name3            = [[Peter Lamb (politician)|Peter Lamb]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])
| timezone                = [[Greenwich Mean Time]]
| utc_offset              = +0
| timezone_DST            = 
| utc_offset_DST          = 
| blank_name              = [[ISO 3166-2:GB|ISO 3166-2]]
| blank_info              = GB-WSX ([[West Sussex]])
| blank1_name             = [[ONS coding system|ONS code]]
| blank1_info             = 45UE (ONS)<br />E07000226 (GSS)
| blank2_name             = [[British national grid reference system|OS grid reference]]
| blank2_info             = {{gbmappingsmall|TQ268360}}
| blank3_name             = [[Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics|NUTS]] 3
| blank3_info             = UKJ24
| coordinates             = {{coord|51|6|33|N|0|11|14|W|region:GB|display=inline,title}}
<!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| demographics_type1      = Ethnicity <span style="font-weight:normal;">([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]])</span>
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis">{{NOMIS2021|id=E07000226|title=Crawley Local Authority|access-date=5 January 2024}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1    = [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|Ethnic groups]]
| demographics1_info1     =
 {{Collapsible list
 | 73.4% [[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]
 | 15.4% [[British Asians|Asian]]
 | 4.5% [[Black British people|Black]]
 | 4.1% [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]]
 | 2.7% [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|other]]
 }}
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->
| demographics_type2      = Religion <span style="font-weight:normal;">(2021)</span>
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis"/>
| demographics2_title1    = [[Religion in England|Religion]]
| demographics2_info1     = 
 {{Collapsible list
 | 42.6% [[Religion in England#Christianity|Christianity]]
 | 35.1% [[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|no religion]]
 | 9.7% [[Islam in England|Islam]]
 | 5.7% not stated
 | 5.1% [[Hinduism in England|Hinduism]]
 | 0.7% [[Sikhism in England|Sikhism]]
 | 0.5% [[Religion in England|other]]
 | 0.4% [[Buddhism in England|Buddhism]]
 | 0.1% [[History of the Jews in England|Judaism]]
 }}  
}}

'''Crawley''' ({{Audio|en-uk-Crawley.ogg|}}) is a town and [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|borough]] in [[West Sussex]], [[England]]. It is {{convert|28|mi|km|0}} south of [[London]], {{convert|18|mi|km|0}} north of [[Brighton and Hove]], and {{convert|32|mi|km|0}} north-east of the county town of [[Chichester]]. Crawley covers an area of {{convert|17.36|sqmi|km2|2}} and had a population of 118,493 at the time of the [[United Kingdom Census 2021|2021 Census]]. Southern parts of the borough lie immediately next to the [[High Weald National Landscape]].

The area has been inhabited since [[Three-age system|the Stone Age]],<ref name="Gwynne9">{{Harvnb|Gwynne|1990|p=9.}}</ref> and was a [[Wealden iron industry|centre of ironworking]] in the [[Iron Age]] and [[Roman Britain|Roman]] times. The area was probably used by the [[kings of Sussex]] for hunting.<ref name="ReferenceA">'The Kent and Sussex Weald, Peter Brandon, published by Phillimore and Company, 2003 {{ISBN|1-86077-241-2}}</ref> Initially a clearing in the vast forest of the [[Weald]], Crawley began as a settlement on the boundary of two of the sub-regions particular to Sussex, known as [[rape (county subdivision)|Rapes]], the [[Rape of Bramber]] and the [[Rape of Lewes]]. Becoming a [[market town]] in 1202, Crawley developed slowly, serving the surrounding villages in the [[Weald]]. In the medieval period, its location on the main road from London to the port of [[Shoreham-by-Sea|Shoreham]] helped the town to grow and when [[Brighton]] became a fashionable seaside town in the 17th century this brought passing trade, which encouraged the development of [[coaching inn]]s. A rail link to London and Brighton opened in 1841, encouraged further development.

After the [[Second World War]], the British Government planned to move large numbers of people and jobs out of [[London]] and into [[New towns in the United Kingdom|new towns]] around [[South East England]]. The [[New Towns Act 1946]] ([[9 & 10 Geo. 6]]. c. 68) designated Crawley as the site of one of these.<ref name="SuppMem">{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmselect/cmtlgr/603/603ap23.htm|title=Select Committee on Transport, Local Government and the Regions: Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence. Supplementary memorandum by Crawley Borough Council (NT 15(a))|access-date=2 April 2008|publisher=The Information Policy Division, Office of Public Sector Information|year=2002|work=United Kingdom Parliament Publications and Records website|archive-date=17 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717230546/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmselect/cmtlgr/603/603ap23.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> A master plan was developed for the establishment of new residential, commercial, industrial and civic areas, and rapid development greatly increased the size and population of the town over a few decades.

The town expanded further in 1974, to include [[Gatwick Airport]], Britain's 2nd busiest international airport and in 2024, the [[List of the busiest airports in Europe|10th largest in Europe]]. The town contains 14 residential neighbourhoods radiating out from the core of the old market town, and separated by main roads and railway lines. The nearby communities of [[Ifield, Crawley|Ifield]], [[Pound Hill, Crawley|Pound Hill]] and [[Three Bridges, West Sussex|Three Bridges]] were absorbed into the new town at various stages in its development. Established in 2019, the south-western suburb of [[Kilnwood Vale]] lies outside of the borough boundary in the neighbouring district of [[Horsham (district)|Horsham]].
<ref name="wnw">{{cite web|url=http://194.201.99.228/Index.htm|title=West and North West of Crawley|access-date=29 October 2009|publisher=Horsham District Council & Crawley Borough Council|year=2006–2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071206125102/http://194.201.99.228/Index.htm |archive-date = 6 December 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Economically, the town has developed into the main centre of industry and employment between London and Brighton. Its large industrial area supports manufacturing and service companies, many of them connected with the airport. The commercial and retail sectors continue to expand.<ref name="SuppMem"/>

In the late 20th century and early 21st century, the town has attracted a diverse and multicultural population. It is home to about two-thirds of the UK's population of [[Chagossians]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/gallery/2024/oct/07/chagos-islands-diego-garcia-chagossians-forced-exile-mauritius-britain-morgan-fache|title=Forced into exile: the Chagossians scattered in Mauritius and Britain|work=The Guardian|date=7 October 2024|accessdate=4 February 2025}}</ref>

==History==
===Origins===
The area may have been settled during the [[Mesolithic]] period: locally manufactured [[flint]]s of the Horsham Culture type have been found to the southwest of the town.<ref name="Gwynne9"/> Tools and [[burial mound]]s from the [[Neolithic period]], and burial mounds and a sword from the [[Bronze Age]], have also been discovered.<ref name="cbchist">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=221&strCSS=PB1_SS_MAIN|title=A Brief History of Crawley|access-date=31 July 2007|publisher=Crawley Borough Council|year=2007|work=Crawley Borough Council website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928091601/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=221&strCSS=PB1_SS_MAIN|archive-date=28 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Cole-CAHC-10">{{Harvnb|Cole|2004a|p=10.}}</ref> Crawley is on the western edge of the [[High Weald]], which produced iron for more than 2,000&nbsp;years from the [[Iron Age]] onwards.<ref name="HighWeald">{{cite web|url=http://www.highweald.org/text.asp?PageId=16|title=About The High Weald: The Iron Story|access-date=2 April 2008|publisher=High Weald AONB Unit|year=2008|work=High Weald AONB Unit website |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070807043509/http://www.highweald.org/text.asp?PageId=16 |archive-date = 7 August 2007}}</ref> Goffs Park—now a recreational area in the south of the town—was the site of two late Iron Age furnaces.<ref name="RIS1">{{cite web|url=http://www.romansinsussex.co.uk/level3/themes/life_in_late_iron_age_sussex_trade_indus.asp|title=Life in Late Iron Age Sussex: Trade & Industry|access-date=2 April 2008|publisher=The Sussex Archaeological Society|year=2008|work=Romans in Sussex website|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906180816/http://www.romansinsussex.co.uk/level3/themes/life_in_late_iron_age_sussex_trade_indus.asp|archive-date=6 September 2008}}</ref> Ironworking and mineral extraction continued throughout [[Roman Britain|Roman times]], particularly in the [[Broadfield, West Sussex|Broadfield]] area where many furnaces were built.<ref name="cbchist"/><ref name="RIS2">{{cite web|url=http://www.romansinsussex.co.uk/level3/themes/life_roman_britain/crafts_industry_iron.asp|title=Life in Roman Sussex: Crafts & Industry: Weald Iron Industry|access-date=2 April 2008|publisher=The Sussex Archaeological Society|year=2008|work=Romans in Sussex website|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911082426/http://www.romansinsussex.co.uk/level3/themes/life_roman_britain/crafts_industry_iron.asp|archive-date=11 September 2007}}</ref>

[[File:St John the Baptist's Church, Crawley (October 2011).JPG|thumb|left|[[St John the Baptist's Church, Crawley|St John the Baptist's Church]] from the southeast]]

Passing through the north of the modern borough, the historic Sussex-Surrey border follows ridges and a trackway, in contrast to the Sussex-Kent border to the east, which follows waterways.<ref name="MOTHW">{{cite web|url=https://www.highweald.org/downloads/publications/uk-landscape-research-reports/120-the-making-of-the-high-weald-report/file.html|title=The Making of the High Weald|first=Roland B. |last=Harris|year=2003|publisher=High Weald AONB|access-date=18 May 2020}}</ref> According to Mark Gardiner, the border dates at least as far back as the Saxon period, although may in fact be earlier and represent the border between Roman cantons or Iron Age kingdoms.<ref name="MOTHW"/>
In the 5th&nbsp;century, [[Saxons|Saxon]] settlers named the area Crow's Leah—meaning a crow-infested clearing, or Crow's Wood.<ref name="Cole-CAHC-14">{{Harvnb|Cole|2004a|p=14.}}</ref> This name evolved over time, and the present spelling appeared by the early 14th&nbsp;century.<ref name="cbchist"/> By this time, nearby settlements were more established: the Saxon church at [[Worth village, West Sussex|Worth]], for example, dates from between 950 and 1050 AD.<ref name="WorthChurch">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&ssDocName=INT009968|title=Crawley Borough Council: St Nicholas Church|access-date=28 March 2007|publisher=Crawley Borough Council|year=2008|work=Crawley Borough Council website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927032345/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&ssDocName=INT009968|archive-date=27 September 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Although Crawley itself is not mentioned in the [[Domesday Book]] of 1086,<ref name="VCH56939">{{cite web|url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/Sussex/vol7/pp144-147|title=A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 7 – The Rape of Lewes. Parishes: Crawley|editor-last=Salzman|editor-first=L. F. |year=1940|work=Victoria County History of Sussex|publisher=British History Online|pages=144–147|access-date=30 October 2009|archive-date=8 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108002053/https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/Sussex/vol7/pp144-147|url-status=live}}</ref> the nearby settlements of [[Ifield, Crawley|Ifield]] and [[Worth village, West Sussex|Worth]] are recorded.<ref name="Domesday">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&ssDocName=INT009967|title=Crawley Borough Council: St Margaret's Church|access-date=28 March 2007|publisher=Crawley Borough Council|year=2008|work=Crawley Borough Council website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927032338/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&ssDocName=INT009967|archive-date=27 September 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref> Crawley's High Street was built on part of the route from London to the port of [[Shoreham-by-Sea|New Shoreham]], a major port in the 12th and 13th centuries that was on the most direct route between London and Normandy, used by the king and his knights and soldiers. The first written record of Crawley dates from 1202, when King John issued a licence for a weekly market on Wednesdays.<ref name="Cole-Misc">{{Harvnb|Cole|2004b|loc=Unpaginated.}}</ref> As a small [[market town]], Crawley grew slowly in importance over the next few centuries and as the Wealden iron industry declined, Crawley became an important centre for smuggling between the Sussex coast and London. Later in the 18th century, Crawley was boosted by the construction of the [[Turnpike trust|turnpike]] road between London and [[Brighton]]. When this was completed in 1770, travel between the newly fashionable seaside resort of Brighton and London became safer and quicker, and Crawley (located approximately halfway between the two) prospered as a coaching halt.<ref name="Gwynne98">{{Harvnb|Gwynne|1990|p=98.}}</ref>  By 1839 it offered almost an hourly service to both destinations.<ref name="Cole-CAHC-56">{{Harvnb|Cole|2004a|p=56.}}</ref><ref name="Pigot681">{{Harvnb|s.n.|1839|p=681.}}</ref> A [[Timber framing|timber-framed]] house on the High Street dating from the 15th century expanded to become a large coaching inn later known as Originally known as [[The George Hotel, Crawley|the George Hotel]], taking over adjacent buildings and at one stage includedan annexe in the middle of the wide High Street that survived until the 1930s.<ref name="George">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&strCSS=PB1_SS_MAIN&ssDocName=INT009956|title=Crawley High Street|access-date=3 August 2007|publisher=Crawley Borough Council|year=2007|work=Crawley Borough Council website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928091835/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&strCSS=PB1_SS_MAIN&ssDocName=INT009956|archive-date=28 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="IoE363355">{{NHLE|desc=The George Hotel, High Street (west side), Crawley, Crawley, West Sussex|num=1187088|year=2007|access-date=29 October 2009}}</ref>

Crawley's oldest church is [[St John the Baptist's Church, Crawley|St John the Baptist's]], between the High Street and the Broadway. It is said to have 13th-century origins,<ref name="StJB">{{cite web|url=http://www.acny.org.uk/venue.php?V=4860|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121223220816/http://www.acny.org.uk/venue.php?V=4860|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 December 2012|title=Diocese of Chichester: St John the Baptist, Crawley|access-date=13 September 2007|publisher=Oxford Diocesan Publications Ltd|year=2007|work=A Church Near You website}}</ref> but there has been much rebuilding (especially in the 19th century) and the oldest part remaining is the south wall of the [[nave]], which is believed to be 14th&nbsp;century. The church has a 15th-century [[Bell tower|tower]] (rebuilt in 1804) which originally contained four bells cast in 1724. Two were replaced by Thomas Lester of London in 1742; but in 1880 a new set of eight bells were cast and installed by the Croydon-based firm Gillett, Bland & Company.<ref name="MoreStJB">{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=56939#s3 |title=Parishes: Crawley |access-date=13 September 2007 |publisher=British History Online |year=1940 |author=Hudson, T.P. (Ed) |work=A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 7: The Rape of Lewes |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525074813/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=56939 |archive-date=25 May 2011 }}</ref><ref name="roughwoodStJB">{{cite web|url=http://www.roughwood.net/ChurchAlbum/WestSussex/Crawley/CrawleyStJohnBaptist2004.htm|title=St John the Baptist Parish Church, Crawley, West Sussex – 22nd&nbsp;April 2004|access-date=12 March 2008|publisher=Mark Collins|year=2007|work=The Roughwood website|archive-date=8 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080708203615/http://www.roughwood.net/ChurchAlbum/WestSussex/Crawley/CrawleyStJohnBaptist2004.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="StJBBells">{{cite web|url=http://dove.cccbr.org.uk/detail.php?searchString=Crawley&Submit=++Go++&DoveID=CRAWLEY+WS|title=Dove Details|access-date=12 March 2008|publisher=Sid Baldwin, Ron Johnston and Tim Jackson on behalf of the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers|date=24 February 2008|work=Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers website|archive-date=16 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016212720/http://dove.cccbr.org.uk/detail.php?searchString=Crawley&Submit=++Go++&DoveID=CRAWLEY+WS|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Railway age and Victorian era===
[[File:Crawley-signalbox-2008.JPG|thumb|upright|Crawley signal box in 2008]]
The [[Brighton Main Line]] was the first railway line to serve the Crawley area. A station was opened at [[Three Bridges, West Sussex|Three Bridges]] (originally known as East Crawley)<ref name="eastcrawley">{{cite web|url=http://www.maidenbower.org.uk/history/palmerhistory.pdf|title=A brief history of Maidenbower|access-date=6 September 2007|author=David Palmer|publisher=Stuart Cummings|year=2003|work=Maidenbower Village website|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927202025/http://www.maidenbower.org.uk/history/palmerhistory.pdf|archive-date=27 September 2007}}</ref> in the summer of 1841. [[Crawley railway station]], at the southern end of the High Street, was built in 1848 when the [[Arun Valley Line|Horsham branch]] was opened from Three Bridges to Horsham. A line was built eastwards from [[Three Bridges to Tunbridge Wells Central Line|Three Bridges to East Grinstead]] in 1855. [[Three Bridges, West Sussex|Three Bridges]] had become the hub of transport in the area by this stage: one-quarter of its population was employed in railway jobs by 1861 (mainly at the [[London, Brighton and South Coast Railway]]'s railway works near the station).<ref name="Gray9">{{Harvnb|Gray|1983|p=9.}}</ref> The Longley company—one of [[South East England]]'s largest building firms in the late 19th century, responsible for buildings including [[Christ's Hospital]] school and [[Edward VII|King Edward VII]] [[Sanatorium]] in [[Midhurst]]—moved to a site next to Crawley station in 1881.<ref name="longley">{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=18407|title=Ifield: Economic History|access-date=3 March 2008|publisher=British History Online|year=1987|author=Hudson, T.P. (Ed)|work=A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 6 Part 3|archive-date=25 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525132553/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=18407|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1898 more than 700 people were employed at the site.<ref name="Gwynne119">{{Harvnb|Gwynne|1990|p=119.}}</ref>

There was a major expansion in house building in the late 19th century. An area known as "New Town" (unrelated to the postwar developments) was created around the railway [[level crossing]] and down the Brighton Road;<ref name="Gray9"/><ref name="Cole-CAHC-62">{{Harvnb|Cole|2004a|p=62.}}</ref> the [[West Green, Crawley|West Green]] area, west of the High Street on the way to Ifield, was built up; and housing spread south of the Horsham line for the first time, into what is now [[Southgate, Crawley|Southgate]]. The population reached 4,433 in 1901, compared to 1,357 a century earlier.<ref name="popC">{{cite web |year=2001 |title=Crawley District: Total Population |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10076730&c_id=10001043&add=N |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001001149/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10076730&c_id=10001043&add=N |archive-date=1 October 2007 |access-date=2 August 2007 |work=A Vision of Britain Through Time website |publisher=National Statistics}}</ref> In 1891, a racecourse was opened on farmland at Gatwick. Built to replace a [[Steeplechase (horse racing)|steeplechase]] course at [[Waddon]] near [[Croydon]] in [[Surrey]], it was used for both steeplechase and [[flat racing]], and held the [[Grand National]] during the years of the [[First World War]].<ref name="cbchist"/> The course had its own railway station on the Brighton Main Line.<ref name="Gwynne146">{{Harvnb|Gwynne|1990|p=146.}}</ref>

In the early 20th century, many of the large [[Estate (house)|country estates]] in the area, with their [[mansion]]s and associated grounds and outbuildings, were split up into smaller plots of land, attracting haphazard housing development and small farms.<ref name="Gray11–12">{{Harvnb|Gray|1983|pp=11–12.}}</ref> By the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 Crawley had grown into a small but prosperous town, serving a wide rural area and those passing through on the [[A23 road|A23]] London–Brighton road. Three-quarters of the population had piped water supplies, all businesses and homes had electricity, and piped gas and street lighting had been in place for 50 years.<ref name="Gray9"/> An airfield was opened in 1930 on land near the racecourse. This was a private concern until the [[World War II|Second World War]] when it was claimed by the [[Royal Air Force]].<ref name="cbchist"/>

===New Town===
In May 1946, the New Towns Act of 1946 identified Crawley as a suitable location for a [[New towns in the United Kingdom|New Town]];<ref name="SuppMem"/> but it was not officially designated as such until {{nowrap|9 January 1947}}.<ref name="Gazette">{{London Gazette|issue=37849|page=231|date=10 January 1947}}</ref> The {{convert|5920|acre|ha|0}} of land set aside for the new town were split across the county borders between [[East Sussex]], [[West Sussex]] and [[Surrey]]. Architect [[Thomas Bennett (architect)|Thomas Bennett]] was appointed chairman of [[Crawley Development Corporation]]. Members of the working group developing a master plan included Lawrence Neal, [[Alwyn Sheppard Fidler]], [[Caroline Haslett]], [[Molly Bolton]], Sir [[Edward Frank Gillett|Edward Gillett]], Eric Walter Pasold and Alderman James Marshall.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 May 2023 |title=Cataloguing Crawley New Town: The Team Behind the Corp. |url=https://westsussexrecordofficeblog.com/2023/05/08/cataloguing-crawley-new-town-the-team-behind-the-corp/ |access-date=30 September 2023 |website=West Sussex Record Office |language=en}}</ref> A court challenge to the designation order meant that plans were not officially confirmed until December 1947. By this time, an initial plan for the development of the area had been drawn up by [[Anthony Minoprio]].<ref name="vic">{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=18414|title=Crawley New Town|access-date=31 July 2007|publisher=British History Online|year=1987|author=Hudson, T.P. (Ed)|work=A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 6 Part 3: Bramber Rape (North-Eastern Part) including Crawley New Town|archive-date=28 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928001914/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=18414|url-status=live}}</ref> This proposed filling in the gaps between the villages of Crawley, [[Ifield, West Sussex|Ifield]] and [[Three Bridges, West Sussex|Three Bridges]].<ref name="cbc">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&strCSS=PB1_SS_MAIN&nodeId=241|title=New Town History|access-date=10 March 2020|publisher=Crawley Borough Council|year=2005|work=Crawley Borough Council website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216163522/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/pw/Leisure_and_Culture/History_and_Heritage/New_Town_History/index.htm?strCSS=PB1_SS_MAIN|archive-date=16 December 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Bennett estimated that planning, designing and building the town, and increasing its population from the existing 9,500 to 40,000, would take 15 years.<ref name="13years">{{cite journal |last=Bennett |first=Thomas P. |author-link=Thomas Bennett (architect) |date=January 1961 |title=Crawley after Thirteen Years |journal=Town & County Planning |volume=XXIX |issue=I |pages=18–20 }}</ref>

Work began almost immediately to prepare for the expansion of the town. A full master plan was in place by 1949. This envisaged an increase in the population of the town to 50,000, residential properties in nine neighbourhoods radiating from the town centre, and a separate industrial area to the north.<ref name="vic"/> The neighbourhoods would consist mainly of three-bedroom family homes, with a number of smaller and larger properties. Each would be built around a centre with shops, a church, a [[public house]], a primary school and a [[community centre]].<ref name="cbc"/> Secondary education was to be provided at campuses at [[Ifield Community College|Ifield Green]], [[Three Bridges, West Sussex|Three Bridges]] and [[Tilgate, Crawley|Tilgate]].<ref name="plan">{{cite journal | title=First proposed structure plan, 1947| journal=Nostalgia: A Crawley Observer Supplement| year=1995| issue=2| page=3}}</ref> Later, a fourth campus, in [[Southgate, West Sussex|Southgate]], was added to the plans.<ref name="masterplan">{{Cite map|title=The Crawley Development Corporation's Master Plan for Crawley New Town|publisher=[[Crawley Development Corporation]]|year=1949}}</ref>

At first, little development took place in the town centre, and residents relied on the shops and services in the existing high street. The earliest progress was in [[West Green, Crawley|West Green]], where new residents moved in during the late 1940s. In 1950 the town was visited by the then heir to the throne, [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Princess Elizabeth]], when she officially opened the [[Manor Royal, Crawley|Manor Royal]] industrial area. Building work continued throughout the 1950s in [[West Green, West Sussex|West Green]], [[Northgate, Crawley|Northgate]] and [[Three Bridges, West Sussex|Three Bridges]], and later in [[Langley Green, Crawley|Langley Green]], [[Pound Hill, Crawley|Pound Hill]] and Ifield. In 1956, land at "Tilgate East" was allocated for housing use, eventually becoming the new neighbourhood of [[Furnace Green, Crawley|Furnace Green]].<ref name="vic"/>

Expectations of the eventual population of the town were revised upwards several times. The 1949 master plan had allowed for 50,000 people, but this was amended to 55,000 in 1956 after the Development Corporation had successfully resisted pressure from the Minister for Town and Country Planning to accommodate 60,000. Nevertheless, plans dated 1961 anticipated growth to 70,000 by 1980, and by 1969 consideration was given to an eventual expansion of up to 120,000.<ref name="vic"/>

[[File:Crawley.JPG|thumb|left|Queen's Square in the central shopping area, looking towards the bandstand, [[The Body Shop]], [[Marks & Spencer]] and the former [[Woolworths (United Kingdom)|Woolworths]] store]]
Extended shopping facilities to the east of the existing high street were provided. The first stage to open was The Broadwalk in 1954, following by the opening of the Queen's Square development by [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Her Majesty The Queen]] in 1958. Crawley railway station was moved eastwards towards the new development.<ref name="vic"/>

[[File:St Mary's Church, Southgate, Crawley (Jan 2013).JPG|thumb|right|One of the neighbourhood churches: St Mary's in Southgate (now a [[Locally listed buildings in Crawley|locally listed building]])]]
By April 1960, when Thomas Bennett made his last presentation as chairman of the Development Corporation, the town's population had reached 51,700; {{convert|2289000|sqft|m2|-2}} of the factory and other industrial space had been provided; 21,800 people were employed, nearly 60% of whom worked in manufacturing industries, and only seventy people were registered as unemployed. The corporation had built 10,254 houses, and private builders provided around 1,500 more. Tenants were by then permitted to buy their houses and 440&nbsp;householders had chosen to do so by April 1960.<ref name="13years"/>

A new plan was put forward by [[West Sussex County Council]] in 1961. This proposed new neighbourhoods at [[Broadfield, West Sussex|Broadfield]] and [[Bewbush]], both of which extended outside the administrative area of the then [[Urban district (England and Wales)|Urban District Council]]. Detailed plans were made for [[Broadfield, West Sussex|Broadfield]] in the late 1960s; by the early 1970s building work had begun. Further expansion at [[Bewbush]] was begun in 1974, although development there was slow. The two neighbourhoods were both larger than the original nine: together, their proposed population was 23,000. Work also took place in the area now known as [[Ifield, West Sussex|Ifield West]] on the western fringes of the town.<ref name="vicdates"/>

By 1980, the council identified land at [[Maidenbower]], south of the [[Pound Hill]] neighbourhood, as being suitable for another new neighbourhood, and work began in 1986. However, all of this development was undertaken privately, unlike the earlier neighbourhoods in which most of the housing was owned by the council.<ref name="vicdates"/>

In 1999, plans were announced to develop the 14th neighbourhood on land at [[Tinsley Green, West Sussex|Tinsley Green]] to the northeast of the town; this was given the go ahead in 2011 and is officially the town's 14th neighbourhood, named [[Forge Wood]] after the [[ancient woodland]] that is enclosed within the development. After a temporary halt to the proposals when a possible expansion at [[Gatwick Airport]] was announced,<ref name="nesector">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&ssDocName=PR1966&ssTargetNodeId=99|title=Council wins fight against new neighbourhood|access-date=21 August 2007|publisher=Crawley Borough Council|date=15 May 2007|first=Janet |last=Treagus|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928092233/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&ssDocName=PR1966&ssTargetNodeId=99|archive-date=28 September 2007}}</ref> construction started in 2015.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.crawleynews24.co.uk/crawleys-new-forge-wood-school-officially-opened/ |title=Crawley's New Forge Wood school is officially opened |website=CrawleyNews24 |date=23 November 2017 |access-date=5 April 2020 |archive-date=18 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918210829/https://www.crawleynews24.co.uk/crawleys-new-forge-wood-school-officially-opened/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Forge Wood]] is to have a maximum of 1900 homes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://crawley.gov.uk/forgewood |title=Forge Wood |publisher=Crawley Borough Council |access-date=5 April 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122234119/https://crawley.gov.uk/community/about-crawley/crawleys-neighbourhoods/forge-wood |url-status=live }}</ref> Development of another neighbourhood began in 2012 on the western side of Crawley in the [[Horsham District|Horsham district]], named [[Kilnwood Vale]]. A plan for a new railway station fell through.<ref name="wnw"/>

== Governance ==
=== Local government ===
{{main|Crawley Borough Council}}
{{see also|Crawley Borough Council elections}}
[[File:WestSussexCrawley.png|thumb|right|Borough of Crawley shown within [[West Sussex]]]]
[[File:Crawley New Town Hall (1).jpg|thumb|[[Crawley Town Hall]], on The Boulevard in the town centre]]
[[File:Crawley1932OS.png|thumb|Ordnance Survey map of the Crawley area, 1932]]
The [[borough]] is part of a two-tier arrangement, with service provision shared with [[West Sussex County Council]]. Since 2018 the borough has partnered with other local authorities as part of the [[Greater Brighton City Region]]. The authority is divided into 13&nbsp;wards, each of which is represented by two or three local councillors, forming a total council of 36&nbsp;members. Most wards are coterminous with the borough's neighbourhoods, but three neighbourhoods are divided: [[Broadfield, West Sussex|Broadfield]], [[Northgate, West Sussex|Northgate]], and [[Pound Hill]] into "Pound Hill North and [[Forge Wood]]" and "Pound Hill South and Worth". The council is elected in thirds.<ref name="bcfe">{{cite web|url=http://www.boundarycommittee.org.uk/files/dms/Crawley_5885-5489__E__.pdf|title=Final recommendations on the future electoral arrangements for Crawley in West Sussex|access-date=31 July 2007|publisher=The Boundary Committee for England|year=2002|archive-date=10 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110043846/http://www.boundarycommittee.org.uk/files/dms/Crawley_5885-5489__E__.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Crawley Borough Council has had a [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] majority since 2022.

Crawley became a [[parish]] in the sixteenth century, having previously been a [[chapelry]] in the [[parish]] of [[Slaugham]]. Crawley's position straddling the Rapes of [[Rape of Bramber|Bramber]] and [[Rape of Lewes|Lewes]] with the High Street, London Road and Brighton Road forming the boundary, led to the town being divided, falling under the administration of both [[East Sussex County Council]] and [[West Sussex County Council]] when [[administrative counties of England|administrative counties]] were first formed in 1889. When [[district]] and [[Parish council (England)|parish councils]] were established under the [[Local Government Act 1894]], Crawley was given a [[Parish council (England)|parish council]]; it was included in the [[Horsham]] [[Rural District]] and was administered by West Sussex County Council. The [[parish]] was significantly enlarged in 1933, when it absorbed the neighbouring [[parish]] of [[Ifield, West Sussex|Ifield]].<ref name="visionofbritain.org.uk">{{cite web |title=Crawley Civil Parish / Ancient Parish / Chapelry |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10294800 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=10 September 2022}}</ref>

Following the designation as a New Town in 1947, the [[parish]] of Crawley was enlarged in 1953 to take in territory to the east, from the parishes of [[Slaugham]] and [[Worth, West Sussex|Worth]]. Three years later, on 1 April 1956, the parish of Crawley was made an [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|urban district]], making it independent from Horsham Rural District.<ref name="Gwynne165">{{Harvnb|Gwynne|1990|p=165.}}</ref><ref name="visionofbritain.org.uk"/> The [[Local Government Act 1972]] led to the [[district]] being reformed as a [[borough]] in April 1974,<ref name="arms">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&ssDocName=INT010340&ssTargetNodeId=425&strCSS=PB1_SS_MAIN|title=Coat of Arms|access-date=1 September 2007|publisher=Crawley Borough Council|year=2007|work=Crawley Borough Council website|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928092143/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&ssDocName=INT010340&ssTargetNodeId=425&strCSS=PB1_SS_MAIN|archive-date=28 September 2007}}</ref> gaining a mayor for the first time.<ref name="mayor">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&ssDocName=INT010428|title=Past Mayors|access-date=9 April 2008|publisher=Crawley Borough Council|year=2007|work=Crawley Borough Council website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071111233702/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&ssDocName=INT010428|archive-date=11 November 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> The new [[borough]] in 1974 also saw its boundaries enlarged, gaining other areas which had been included in the designated area of the New Town as well as the area north of the town including [[Gatwick Airport]], which had previously been in [[Surrey]].<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-Metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972|year=1972|number=2039|accessdate=10 September 2022}}</ref>

The [[Urban district council|Urban District Council]] received its [[coat of arms]] from the [[College of Heralds]] in 1957. After the change to [[borough]] status a modified coat of arms, based on the original, was awarded in 1976 and presented to the council on 24 March 1977. It features a central cross on a shield, representing the town's location at the meeting point of north–south and east–west roads. The shield bears nine [[martlet]]s representing both the county of [[Sussex]] and the new town's original nine neighbourhoods. Supporters, of an eagle and a winged lion, relate to the significance of the airport to the locality. The motto featured is ''I Grow and I Rejoice''—a translation of a phrase from the ''Epistulae'' of [[Seneca the Younger]].<ref name="arms"/> Despite a petition to save it,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-the-demolition-of-crawley-town-hall|title=Stop the demolition of Crawley Town Hall|publisher=38 Degrees|access-date=8 February 2021|archive-date=28 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528135018/https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-the-demolition-of-crawley-town-hall|url-status=live}}</ref> the old Crawley Town Hall, which was built in 1964, was demolished in 2020<ref>{{cite web|url=https://investcrawley.co.uk/news/shw-appointed-crawley-town-hall-redevelopment|title=SHW appointed on Crawley Town Hall redevelopment|date=12 June 2020|publisher=Invest Crawley|access-date=8 February 2021|archive-date=29 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129035241/https://investcrawley.co.uk/news/shw-appointed-crawley-town-hall-redevelopment|url-status=live}}</ref> and a new [[Crawley Town Hall]] was completed in 2023.<ref>{{cite news |title=Crawley's New Town Hall is officially opened |url=https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/politics/crawleys-new-town-hall-is-officially-opened-4075461 |access-date=23 April 2023 |work=Sussex World |date=22 March 2023}}</ref>

Initially, the [[district]] (and then [[borough]]) council worked with the [[English Partnerships|Commission for New Towns]] on many aspects of development; but in 1978 many of the commission's assets, such as housing and parks, were surrendered to the council. The authority's boundaries were extended in 1983 to accommodate the [[Bewbush]] and [[Broadfield, West Sussex|Broadfield]] neighbourhoods.<ref name="CBC-Guide-1997">{{Harvnb|Crawley Borough Council|1997|loc=Unpaginated.}}</ref>

=== United Kingdom government ===
Crawley has had its own MP since 1983, and the  [[Crawley (UK Parliament constituency)|parliamentary constituency of Crawley]] shares the same boundaries as the borough. [[Peter Lamb (politician)|Peter Lamb]] of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] won the seat at the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]], replacing [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] [[Henry Smith (British politician)|Henry Smith]] who was MP from 2010 to 2024. Previously, [[Laura Moffatt]], a member of the Labour Party, had been the MP for Crawley from 1997 to 2010; she was the [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] to the [[Secretary of State for Health]], [[Alan Johnson]].<ref name="mp">{{cite web|url=http://www.lauramoffattmp.co.uk/ |title=Laura Moffatt—Labour Member of Parliament for Crawley |access-date=1 April 2008 |publisher=The Labour Party |year=2008 |work=Official website of Laura Moffatt MP |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080419090655/http://www.lauramoffattmp.co.uk/ |archive-date=19 April 2008 }}</ref><ref name="PPS">{{cite news|url=http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,,-3678,00.html |title=Laura Moffatt |access-date=1 April 2008 |publisher=Guardian News and Media Ltd |year=2008 |work=The Guardian |location=London Politics website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070218113746/http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0%2C%2C-3678%2C00.html |archive-date=18 February 2007 }}</ref> In the [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005 general election]], the winning margin was the slimmest of any [[United Kingdom constituencies|UK constituency]]: Moffatt won by just 37 votes.<ref name="mp2">{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/frontpage/4521191.stm|title=10 things about the election|access-date=31 July 2007|date=6 May 2005|publisher=BBC News Website: Election 2005|archive-date=22 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122234119/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/vote_2005/frontpage/4521191.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> Crawley was previously in the constituencies of [[Horsham and Crawley (UK Parliament constituency)|Horsham and Crawley]] (1974-1983) and before that [[Horsham (UK Parliament constituency)|Horsham]] (to 1918, 1945-1974) and [[Horsham and Worthing (UK Parliament constituency)|Horsham and Worthing]] (1918-1945)

Two [[Immigration detention in the United Kingdom|immigration detention centres]] –&nbsp;[[Brook House Immigration Removal Centre|Brook House]] and [[Tinsley House Immigration Removal Centre|Tinsley House]] –&nbsp;are situated within the grounds of [[Gatwick Airport]] in Crawley.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-29 |title=Brook House: Ongoing 'failings' at migrant removal centre |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpqjy4vlgg5o |access-date=2025-02-23 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Geography ==
At {{coord|51|6|33|N|0|11|14|W|type:city}} (51.1092, −0.1872), Crawley is in the north-east of [[West Sussex]] in [[South East England]], {{convert|28|mi|km|0}} south of London and {{convert|18|mi|km|0}} north of [[Brighton and Hove]].  The [[borough]] of Crawley is bordered by the [[district]]s of [[Mid Sussex District|Mid Sussex]] and [[Horsham District|Horsham]] in [[West Sussex]] as well as the [[district]]s of [[Mole Valley]] and [[Tandridge District|Tandridge]] and the [[borough]] of [[Reigate and Banstead]] in [[Surrey]]. Nearby towns include [[Horsham]], [[Haywards Heath]], [[Burgess Hill]] and [[East Grinstead]] as well as the Surrey towns of [[Horley]], [[Redhill, Surrey|Redhill]], [[Reigate]], [[Oxted]] and [[Dorking]], <ref name="towns">{{cite web|url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/census2001/ks_urban_south_east_part_5.pdf |title=Census 2001: Key Statistics for urban areas in the South East; Map 3 |author=Office for National Statistics |publisher=statistics.gov.uk |access-date=17 April 2008 |year=2001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324215904/http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/census2001/ks_urban_south_east_part_5.pdf |archive-date=24 March 2009 |author-link=Office for National Statistics }}</ref><ref name="MR-Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/otherdocs/int148919.pdf|title=Crawley Manor Royal: Final Report|date=May 2008|work=Crawley Borough Council/BDP/Regeneris Final Report on Manor Royal Industrial Estate|publisher=Crawley Borough Council, [[Building Design Partnership]] (BDP) and Regeneris Consulting Ltd|page=11|access-date=3 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205080002/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/otherdocs/int148919.pdf|archive-date=5 February 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Crawley lies in the [[Low Weald]], on the edge of the High Weald between the [[North Downs|North]] and [[South Downs]]. The town centre lies on a gentle slope {{convert|67|m|ft}} above sea level where the High Street meets Kilnmead, rising to {{convert|77|m|ft}} above sea level where the High Street meets the railway line.<ref>{{cite web|title=Crawley - Historic Character Assessment Report, Sussex Extensive Urban Survey (EUS) |url=https://crawley.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/INT164001.pdf|type=PDF|date = December 2008|first=Roland B.|last=Harris}}</ref> The highest point in the borough is {{convert|486|ft|m|order=flip}} above sea level<ref name="Lowerson3">{{Harvnb|Lowerson|1980|p=3.}}</ref> This forms part of the Forest Ridge of the High Weald, which extends eastwards through the north of Sussex into Tunbridge Wells and Cranbrook in Kent. Two beds of [[sedimentary rock]] meet beneath the town: the eastern neighbourhoods and the town centre lie largely on the [[sandstone]] Hastings Beds, while the rest of the town is based on [[Weald Clay]].<ref name="geolmap">{{cite web|url=http://www.soton.ac.uk/~imw/jpg/sussex.jpg|title=Geology of Surrey and Sussex, after Woodward (1904), based on Reynolds (1860; 1889)|access-date=1 April 2008|publisher=Ian West and Tonya West|year=2008|work=Geology of Great Britain—an Introduction with Geological Maps (from the website of Southampton University)|archive-date=28 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528225433/http://www.soton.ac.uk/~imw/jpg/sussex.jpg|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Gwynne3–4">{{Harvnb|Gwynne|1990|pp=3–4.}}</ref> A [[Fault (geology)|geological fault]] running from east to west has left an area of Weald Clay (with a ridge of [[limestone]]) jutting into the Hastings Beds around [[Tilgate]].<ref name="Gwynne3–4"/> The town has no major waterways, although the [[River Mole, Surrey|River Mole]] rises near [[Rusper]]. meeting the Ifield Stream in the north of Crawley, and the [[Gatwick Stream]] near [[Gatwick Airport]], before continuing northwards to the [[River Thames]] at [[Hampton Court Palace]]. There are several lakes at [[Tilgate Park, Crawley|Tilgate Park]] and a mill pond at [[Ifield, West Sussex|Ifield]] which was stopped to feed the [[Ifield Water Mill]].<ref name="mill">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&ssDocName=INT010149 |title=Ifield Mill Pond |access-date=10 August 2007 |publisher=Crawley Borough Council |year=2007 |work=Crawley Borough Council website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928091641/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&ssDocName=INT010149 |archive-date=28 September 2007}}</ref> To the south-west of the town lies [[St Leonards Forest]], including Buchan Country Park; to the south-east is [[Tilgate Forest]], originally part of Worth Forest. This area forms part of the Weald to Waves [[wildlife corridor]], providing a key link between [[Knepp Wildland]] and [[Ashdown Forest]], which connects further to coast via the Rivers [[River Adur|Adur]], [[River Arun|Arun]] and [[River Ouse, Sussex|Ouse]].

In 1822 [[Gideon Algernon Mantell|Gideon Mantell]], an amateur fossil collector and [[palaeontologist]], discovered teeth, bones and other remains of what he described as "an animal of the lizard tribe of enormous magnitude", in [[Tilgate Forest]] on the edge of Crawley. He announced his discovery in an 1825 scientific paper, giving the creature the name [[Iguanodon]].<ref name="AmSci">{{cite journal |last=Thomson |first=Keith Stewart |date=March–April 2006 |title=American Dinosaurs: Who and What Was First |journal=American Scientist |volume=94 |issue=2 |doi=10.1511/2006.58.209 |page=209}}</ref> In 1832 he discovered and named the [[Hylaeosaurus]] genus of [[dinosaur]]s after finding a fossil in the same forest.<ref name="LindaHall">{{cite web|title=The Discovery of Hylaeosaurus, 1833|url=http://www.lhl.lib.mo.us/events_exhib/exhibit/exhibits/dino/man1833.htm|access-date=1 April 2008|publisher=Linda Hall Library|year=2003|work=The Linda Hall Library, Kansas City website|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080508200032/http://www.lhl.lib.mo.us/events_exhib/exhibit/exhibits/dino/man1833.htm |archive-date = 8 May 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Climate ===
Crawley lies within the [[Sussex Weald (UK Parliament constituency)|Sussex Weald]], an area of highly variable terrain so that many microclimates of frost hollows, sun traps and windswept hilltops will be encountered over a short distance. During calm, clear periods of weather this allows for some interesting temperature variations, although most of the time, when mobile westerly airstreams persist, the weather is typically [[Oceanic climate|Oceanic]] like the rest of the British Isles. Gatwick is the nearest weather station that publishes long-term averages that give an accurate description of the climate of the Crawley area, although more recently the [[Met Office]] has also published data for its nearby weather station at [[Charlwood]]. Both weather stations are about 3 miles north of Crawley town centre and at similar altitudes.

Generally, Crawley's inland and southerly position within the UK means temperatures in summer are amongst the highest in the British Isles, Charlwood recording 36.3°C (97.3°F)<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/interesting/july2006/MaxTemp1907Points_jpeg.JPG 
 |title=July 2006 
 |access-date=25 February 2011 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629215609/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/interesting/july2006/MaxTemp1907Points_jpeg.JPG 
 |archive-date=29 June 2011 }}</ref> and Gatwick recording 36.4C (97.5F)<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=13&year=2006&indexid=TXx&stationid=2128
|title=July 2006
|access-date=25 February 2011
|archive-date=24 July 2011
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724160503/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=13&year=2006&indexid=TXx&stationid=2128
|url-status=live
}}</ref> on 19 July 2006, just 0.2C and 0.1C lower, respectively, than the UK monthly record for that day set at [[Wisley]], 20 miles to the west. The overall maximum stands at 36.5C (97.7F)<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.tutiempo.net/en/Climate/CHARLWOOD/10-08-2003/37690.htm
|title=August 2003
|access-date=25 February 2011
|archive-date=24 July 2011
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724114107/http://www.tutiempo.net/en/Climate/CHARLWOOD/10-08-2003/37690.htm
|url-status=live
}}</ref> at Charlwood, set on 10 August 2003. The absolute record for Gatwick is the aforementioned 36.4°C. Before this, the highest temperature recorded at Gatwick was 35.6°C (96.1°F), also in August 2003.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=14&year=2003&indexid=TXx&stationid=2128
|title=August 2003
|access-date=25 February 2011
|archive-date=24 July 2011
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724160524/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=14&year=2003&indexid=TXx&stationid=2128
|url-status=live
}}</ref> The maximum temperature was 25.1°C (77.2°F) or higher on 15.9 days of the year<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=SU&stationid=2128
|title=1971-00 Normals
|access-date=25 February 2011
|archive-date=24 July 2011
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724160531/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=SU&stationid=2128
|url-status=live
}}</ref> on average (1971–2000) and the warmest day will typically rise to 29.4°C (84.9°F).<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=TXx&stationid=2128
|title=1971-00 Normals
|access-date=25 February 2011
|archive-date=24 July 2011
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724160541/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=TXx&stationid=2128
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

The overall minimum for [[Gatwick Airport]] for the period from 1960 is −16.7°C (1.9°F), set in January 1963. More recently, Charlwood fell to −11.2°C (11.8°F)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2010/dec/20/winter-weather-coldest-places-britain|title=December 2010|access-date=25 February 2011|location=London|work=The Guardian|first=Simon|last=Rogers|date=21 December 2010|archive-date=9 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109144858/https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2010/dec/20/winter-weather-coldest-places-britain|url-status=live}}</ref> and Gatwick −11.1°C (12.0°F)<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=18&year=2010&indexid=TNn&stationid=2128
|title=December 2010
|access-date=25 February 2011
|archive-date=24 July 2011
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724160547/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=18&year=2010&indexid=TNn&stationid=2128
|url-status=live
}}</ref> on 20 December 2010. Typically the coldest night at Gatwick will fall to −8.9°C (16.0°F).<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=TNn&stationid=2128
|title=Annual average minimum
|access-date=25 February 2011
|archive-date=24 July 2011
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724160555/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=TNn&stationid=2128
|url-status=live
}}</ref> Air frost is recorded on 58.2 nights at Gatwick<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=FD&stationid=2128
|title=Annual average frost
|access-date=25 February 2011
|archive-date=24 July 2011
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724160600/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=FD&stationid=2128
|url-status=live
}}</ref> (1971–2000)

Sunshine totals in Crawley are higher than many inland areas due to its southerly location: Gatwick averaged 1,574 hours per year over 1961–90. No data is available for 1971 to 2000, but given increases at comparable sites nearby, annual averages are likely to be over 1,600 hours.

Snowfall is often heavier in the [[Sussex Weald (UK Parliament constituency)|Sussex Weald]] than in many other low-lying parts of central and [[southern England]] due to the proximity of moisture-laden southerly tracking low-pressure systems bringing easterly winds and snow to areas from [[South London]] southwards. However, again due to the southerly location of the area, with warmer air from the nearby [[English Channel]], the snow is often temporary as low-pressure systems track north bringing in milder air; areas immediately north of [[London Calling|London]] tend to have less accumulation, but lying for a longer duration.

Rainfall is lower than the English average, but higher than many other areas of the South East. 1mm of rain or more falls on 116.7 days of the year.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=RR1&stationid=2128
|title=Wet days 1971-00
|access-date=25 February 2011
|archive-date=24 July 2011
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724160613/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=RR1&stationid=2128
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Gatwick, elevation 62m,1971–2000, Sunshine 1961–90, extremes 1960–
|collapsed =
|metric first = y
|single line = y
|Jan record high C = 14.0
|Feb record high C = 17.0
|Mar record high C = 22.2
|Apr record high C = 24.5
|May record high C = 30.0
|Jun record high C = 33.8
|Jul record high C = 36.4
|Aug record high C = 35.6
|Sep record high C = 31.6
|Oct record high C = 24.7
|Nov record high C = 18.3
|Dec record high C = 15.2
|year record high C = 36.4
|Jan high C = 7.3
|Feb high C = 7.6
|Mar high C = 10.4
|Apr high C = 12.8
|May high C = 16.7
|Jun high C = 19.5
|Jul high C = 22.2
|Aug high C = 22.1
|Sep high C = 18.9
|Oct high C = 14.8
|Nov high C = 10.5
|Dec high C = 8.2
|year high C = 14.3
|Jan low C = 1.1
|Feb low C = 0.8
|Mar low C = 2.3
|Apr low C = 3.7
|May low C = 6.8
|Jun low C = 9.6
|Jul low C = 11.9
|Aug low C = 11.5
|Sep low C = 9.2
|Oct low C = 6.5
|Nov low C = 3.2
|Dec low C = 2.0
|year low C = 5.8
|Jan record low C = −16.7
|Feb record low C = −14.5
|Mar record low C = −11.3
|Apr record low C = −5.7
|May record low C = −4.0
|Jun record low C = -1.6
|Jul record low C = 2.8
|Aug record low C = 1.6
|Sep record low C = -0.7
|Oct record low C = −4.7
|Nov record low C = −8.6
|Dec record low C = −12.0
|year record low C = −16.7
|Jan precipitation mm = 83.85
|Feb precipitation mm = 51.84
|Mar precipitation mm = 59.89
|Apr precipitation mm = 50.84
|May precipitation mm = 49.30
|Jun precipitation mm = 58.80
|Jul precipitation mm = 42.36
|Aug precipitation mm = 52.66
|Sep precipitation mm = 65.29
|Oct precipitation mm = 82.14
|Nov precipitation mm = 78.86
|Dec precipitation mm = 84.36
|year precipitation mm = 746.97
|Jan sun = 52.4
|Feb sun = 71.3
|Mar sun = 113.4
|Apr sun = 153.0
|May sun = 204.3
|Jun sun = 204.3
|Jul sun = 204.5
|Aug sun = 195.3
|Sep sun = 148.1
|Oct sun = 110.5
|Nov sun = 69.3
|Dec sun = 47.8
|year sun = 1574.2
|source 1 =YR.NO<ref>{{cite web
 | url=http://www.yr.no/sted/Storbritannia/England/Hookwood/statistikk.html
 | title=Climate Normals 1971–2000
 | publisher=YR.NO
 | access-date=25 February 2011
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117193032/http://www.yr.no/sted/Storbritannia/England/Hookwood/statistikk.html
 | archive-date=17 November 2018
| url-status=dead
 }}</ref>
|source 2 = NOAA<ref>{{cite web
 | url=ftp://dossier.ogp.noaa.gov/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-VI/UK/03776.TXT
 | title=Climate Normals 1961–1990
 | publisher=NOAA
 | access-date=25 February 2011}}</ref>
|date=February 2011
}}

=== Neighbourhoods and areas ===
[[File:Shopping Parade, Southgate.JPG|thumb|right|The Southgate neighbourhood's parade of shops]]
[[File:Crawley Colour-Coded Neighbourhood Street Sign - Southgate.JPG|thumb|right|Each neighbourhood has colour-coded street name signs ''(Southgate example pictured)''.]]
[[File:Crawley Neighbourhoods with Colours.png|thumb|right|Neighbourhoods of Crawley, identified in the table]]
[[File:Lowfield Heath (E) 01.JPG|thumb|right|Church Road in [[Lowfield Heath]] village, looking east towards [[St Michael and All Angels Church, Lowfield Heath|St Michael and All Angels Church]]. No houses remain here; a hotel, depots and light industrial units have replaced the earlier development.]]
There are 14 residential neighbourhoods,<ref name="CBCN">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=870|title=Crawley Borough Council: Crawley's Neighbourhoods|access-date=2 April 2008|publisher=Crawley Borough Council|year=2008|work=Crawley Borough Council website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080802052549/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=870|archive-date=2 August 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> each with a variety of housing types: terraced, semi-detached and detached houses, low-rise flats and bungalows. There are no residential tower blocks, apart from the 8-storey [[Milton Mount Flats]] at the North end of [[Pound Hill]].<ref name="Baseline24">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/report/int163920.pdf|title=Crawley Baseline Character Assessment|date=May 2009|publisher=EDAW/[[AECOM]]|page=24|access-date=9 March 2010|archive-date=8 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608024540/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/report/int163920.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Many houses have their own gardens and are set back from roads. The hub of each neighbourhood is a shopping parade, community centre and church, and each has a school and recreational open spaces as well.<ref name="vicdates">{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=18415|title=Growth of the New Town|access-date=7 August 2007|publisher=Victoria County History|year=1987|author=Hudson, T.P. (Ed)|work=A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 6 Part 3: Bramber Rape (North-Eastern Part) including Crawley New Town|archive-date=27 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927231113/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=18415|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Crawley Development Corporation]]'s intention was for neighbourhood shops to cater only to basic needs, and for the town centre to be used for most shopping requirements. The number of shop units provided in the neighbourhood parades reflected this: despite the master plan making provision for at least 20 shops in each neighbourhood,<ref name="econhist">{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=18418|title=Crawley New Town: Economic History|access-date=3 July 2007|publisher=British History Online|year=1987|author=Hudson, T.P. (Ed)|work=A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 6 Part 3: Bramber Rape (North-Eastern Part) including Crawley New Town|archive-date=27 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927221049/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=18418|url-status=live}}</ref> the number actually built ranged from 19 in the outlying [[Langley Green, West Sussex|Langley Green]] neighbourhood to just seven in [[West Green, West Sussex|West Green]], close to the town centre.<ref name="13years"/>

Each of the 14 residential neighbourhoods is identified by a colour, which is shown on street name signs in a standard format throughout the town: below the street name, the neighbourhood name is shown in white text on a coloured background.<ref>{{cite map |publisher=G.I. Barnett & Sons Ltd|title=Street Plan of Crawley|year=1970|cartography=Ordnance Survey|scale=5.6" = 1-mile }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Number<br />on map
!Name
!Colour
!Construction<br />commenced<ref name="vicdates"/>
!Population<ref name="stats">{{cite web|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/|title=Neighbourhood Statistics|access-date=7 August 2007|publisher=Office for National Statistics|year=2007|work=National Statistics website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507114341/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/|archive-date=7 May 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><br>(2007)<br>{{Needs update|date=April 2025}}
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:gray; color:white;"| 1 
|[[Langley Green, West Sussex|Langley Green]]
|Grey
| style="text-align:center;"| 1952
| style="text-align:center;"| 7,286
|-
|  style="text-align:center; background:#228b22;color:white;" | 2 
|[[Northgate, West Sussex|Northgate]]
|Dark green
| style="text-align:center;"| 1951
| style="text-align:center;"| 4,407
|-
|  style="text-align:center; background:#ffa000;"| 3
|[[Pound Hill]]
|Orange
| style="text-align:center;"| 1953
| style="text-align:center;"| 14,716
|-
|  style="text-align:center; background:#084c9e;color:white;" | 4 
|[[Maidenbower]]
|Blue
| style="text-align:center;"| 1987
| style="text-align:center;"| 8,070
|-
|  style="text-align:center; background:#32cd32;"| 5
|[[Furnace Green]]
|Light green
| style="text-align:center;"| 1960
| style="text-align:center;"| 5,734
|-
|  style="text-align:center; background:red;color:white;" | 6 
|[[Tilgate]]
|Red
| style="text-align:center;"| 1955
| style="text-align:center;"| 6,198
|-
|  style="text-align:center; background:#7df9ff;"| 7
|[[Broadfield, West Sussex|Broadfield]]
|Sky blue
| style="text-align:center;"| 1969
| style="text-align:center;"| 12,666
|-
|  style="text-align:center; background:#c72;"| 8
|[[Bewbush]]
|Light brown
| style="text-align:center;"| 1975
| style="text-align:center;"| 9,081
|-
|  style="text-align:center; background:#919;color:white;" | 9 
|[[Ifield, West Sussex|Ifield]]
|Purple
| style="text-align:center;"| 1953
| style="text-align:center;"| 8,414
|-
|  style="text-align:center; background:navy;color:white;" | 10 
|[[West Green, West Sussex|West Green]]
|Dark blue
| style="text-align:center;"| 1949
| style="text-align:center;"| 4,404
|-
|  style="text-align:center; background:maroon;color:white;" | 11 
|[[Gossops Green]]
|Maroon
| style="text-align:center;"| 1956
| style="text-align:center;"| 5,014
|-
|  style="text-align:center; background:#964b00;color:white;" | 12 
|[[Southgate, West Sussex|Southgate]]
|Brown
| style="text-align:center;"| 1955
| style="text-align:center;"| 8,106
|-
|  style="text-align:center; background:#fde910;"| 13
|[[Three Bridges, West Sussex|Three Bridges]]
|Yellow
| style="text-align:center;"| 1952
| style="text-align:center;"| 5,648
|-
|  style="text-align:center; background:#ff00ee;"| 14
|[[Forge Wood]]
|Pink
| style="text-align:center;"| 2014
| style="text-align:center;"| 
|}

There are areas which are not defined as neighbourhoods but which are closely associated with Crawley:
* The [[Manor Royal]] industrial estate is in the north of the town. Although it is part of the [[Northgate Ward|Northgate ward]], it is allocated a colour: its street name signs feature the word "Industrial" on a black background.
* Crawley's town centre is in the southernmost part of Northgate. Its street name signs do not follow the standard format of the neighbourhood signs but display only the street name.
* [[Gatwick Airport]] was built on the site of a manor house, Gatwick Manor, close to the village of [[Lowfield Heath]]. Most of the village was demolished when the airport expanded, but the [[Listed building|Grade II*-listed]] [[St Michael and All Angels Church, Lowfield Heath|St Michael and All Angels Church]],<ref name="StMLH">{{cite web|url=http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/diocesesparishes/rcsale/lowfieldheath.html|title=Lowfield Heath St Michael|access-date=31 March 2008|publisher=The Archbishops' Council|year=2007|work=The Church of England website|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080224175604/http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/diocesesparishes/rcsale/lowfieldheath.html |archive-date = 24 February 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> remains. The site of [[Lowfield Heath|Lowfield Heath village]], now occupied by warehouses and light industrial units,<ref name="Gwynne170">{{Harvnb|Gwynne|1990|p=170.}}</ref> is on the airport's southern boundary, between the perimeter road and the A23 close to [[Manor Royal]].
* [[Worth, West Sussex|Worth]] was originally a village with its own [[civil parish]], lying just beyond the eastern edge of the Crawley urban area and borough boundary;<ref>{{cite map |publisher=Ordnance Survey|title= Sheet 187: Dorking, Reigate and Crawley|year= 1980|scale= 1:50,000|series= Landranger Series of Great Britain}}</ref> but the development of the [[Pound Hill]] and [[Maidenbower]] neighbourhoods has filled in the gaps, and the [[borough]] boundary has been extended to include the whole of the village. The [[civil parish]] of [[Worth, West Sussex|Worth]] remains, albeit reduced in size, as part of the [[Mid Sussex District|Mid Sussex]] district.
* [[Tinsley Green, West Sussex|Tinsley Green]], a [[Hamlet (place)|hamlet]] in [[Worth, West Sussex|Worth parish]],<ref name="VCH56946">{{cite web|url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/Sussex/vol7/pp192-200|title=A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 7 – The Rape of Lewes. Parishes:Worth|editor-last=Salzman|editor-first=L. F. |year=1940|work=Victoria County History of Sussex|publisher=British History Online|pages=192–200|access-date=12 January 2010|archive-date=8 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108005142/https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/Sussex/vol7/pp192-200|url-status=live}}</ref> is now within the [[Forgewood|Forge Wood]] neighbourhood. Its houses, farms and public house, the [[Greyhound]] (at which the [[British and World Marbles Championship]] has been held annually since 1932),<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2009/apr/04/british-world-marble-championship|title=Event preview: British And World Marbles Championship, Tinsley Green|last=Aitch|first=Iain|date=4 April 2009|work=The Guardian|location=UK|publisher=Guardian News and Media Ltd|access-date=13 January 2010|archive-date=3 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303005759/http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2009/apr/04/british-world-marble-championship|url-status=live}}</ref> lie on or around an east–west minor road running from the main [[Balcombe]]–[[Horley]] road to the [[Manor Royal estate]].<ref name="NESectorApp">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&ssTargetNodeId=560&ssDocName=PLA_18537&pageCSS=&pApplicationNo=cr/1998/0039/out&pDayFrom=01&pMonthFrom=01&pYearFrom=09&pDayTo=31&pMonthTo=01&pYearTo=10&pWard=&pLocation=&pPostcode=&pDateType=received&pProposal=&pAppealsOnly=|title=Planning Application No. CR/1998/0039/OUT|date=21 January 1998|work=Crawley Borough Council planning application|publisher=Crawley Borough Council|access-date=13 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608005642/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&ssTargetNodeId=560&ssDocName=PLA_18537&pageCSS=&pApplicationNo=cr%2F1998%2F0039%2Fout&pDayFrom=01&pMonthFrom=01&pYearFrom=09&pDayTo=31&pMonthTo=01&pYearTo=10&pWard=&pLocation=&pPostcode=&pDateType=received&pProposal=&pAppealsOnly=|archive-date=8 June 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* The [[Hamlet (place)|hamlet]] of [[Fernhill, West Sussex|Fernhill]] is {{convert|1+1/2|mi|km}} east of Gatwick Airport<ref name="Argus-Fernhill-p12">{{cite news|last1=Bird|first1=Philip|last2=Moore|first2=Joe|last3=Mulcock|first3=John|title=How horror came from the sky at 2.35&nbsp;am|date=6 January 1969|number=Special Extra Edition|work=[[The Argus (Brighton)|Evening Argus]] (incorporating Sussex Daily News)|location=Brighton|page=12}}</ref> and the same distance south of [[Horley]].<ref name="SurreyCon">{{cite web|url=http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/history-from-police-archives/RB1/Pt3/pt3GatwickCrash69.html |title=Surrey Constabulary – Part 3: Policing Change 1951–1975. Airliner crashes on approach to Gatwick Airport 1969 |year=2013 |publisher=[[Open University]] and Robert Bartlett |work=The Open University International Centre for the History of Crime, Policing and Justice |access-date=26 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031071355/http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/history-from-police-archives/RB1/Pt3/pt3GatwickCrash69.html |archive-date=31 October 2014 |url-status=live  }}</ref> It has been wholly within the [[borough]] since 1990, when the [[borough]] and county boundary was moved eastwards to align exactly with the [[M23 motorway|M23]] motorway.<ref name="LGBCE-Rpt589-Para23+66">{{cite report|url=http://www.lgbce.org.uk/__documents/lgbce/research/lgbce-reports-1973---1992/mandatory-reviews/589-county-of-west-sussex-and-its-boundary-with-surrey.pdf |title=Review of non-Metropolitan counties: County of West Sussex and its Boundary with Surrey |pages=§§. 23, 66 |no-pp=y |work=LGBCE Report No. 589 |publisher=[[Local Government Boundary Commission for England]] |date=26 April 1990 |access-date=16 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017021732/http://www.lgbce.org.uk/__documents/lgbce/research/lgbce-reports-1973---1992/mandatory-reviews/589-county-of-west-sussex-and-its-boundary-with-surrey.pdf |archive-date=17 October 2013 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> Until then, its houses and farms straddled the boundary.<ref name="LGBCE-Rpt589-Map10">{{cite report|url=http://www.lgbce.org.uk/__documents/lgbce/research/lgbce-reports-1973---1992/mandatory-reviews/589-county-of-west-sussex-and-its-boundary-with-surrey.pdf |title=Review of non-Metropolitan counties: County of West Sussex and its Boundary with Surrey |pages=Map 10 |no-pp=y |work=LGBCE Report No. 589 |publisher=[[Local Government Boundary Commission for England]] |date=26 April 1990 |access-date=19 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017021732/http://www.lgbce.org.uk/__documents/lgbce/research/lgbce-reports-1973---1992/mandatory-reviews/589-county-of-west-sussex-and-its-boundary-with-surrey.pdf |archive-date=17 October 2013 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> [[Fernhill, West Sussex|Fernhill]] was the site of a fatal aeroplane crash in 1969: 50 people (including two residents) died when [[Ariana Afghan Airlines Flight 701]] crashed into a house on [[Fernhill Road]].<ref name="Ariana">{{cite report |last=Kelly |first=G.M. |title=Civil Aircraft Accident Report No. EW/C/303: Report on the Accident to Boeing 727-112C YA-FAR 1.5 miles east of London (Gatwick) Airport on 5th January 1969 |url=http://www.gatwickaviationsociety.org.uk/YA-FAR.asp |publisher=[[Office of Public Sector Information|Her Majesty's Stationery Office]] |date=7 January 1969 |access-date=26 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120907045653/http://www.gatwickaviationsociety.org.uk/YA-FAR.asp |archive-date=7 September 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{{Geographic location
|title = '''Neighbouring areas'''
|Northwest = [[Dorking]]
|North = [[Horley]], [[Reigate]], [[Redhill, Surrey|Redhill]]
|Northeast = [[Copthorne, West Sussex|Copthorne]]
|West = [[Horsham]]
|Centre = Crawley
|East = [[Crawley Down]], [[East Grinstead]]
|Southwest = [[St Leonards Forest]]
|South = [[Haywards Heath]], [[Burgess Hill]]
|Southeast = [[Balcombe]]
}}

== Demography ==
{| class="wikitable" style="float:left; margin: 0.5em; text-align:right;"
! Year !! Population<ref name="popC" />
|-
| 1901 || 4,433
|-
| 1921 || 5,437
|-
| 1941 || 7,090
|-
| 1961 || 25,550
|-
| 1981 || 87,865
|-
| 2001 || 99,744
|-
| 2011 || 106,597
|-
| 2021 || 118,493
|}

At the [[United Kingdom Census 2011|census]] in 2011 the population of Crawley was recorded as 106,597.<ref name="census11">{{cite web|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=277137&c=crawley&d=13&e=62&g=496061&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1490185486750&enc=1|title=Key Figures for 2011 Census: Key Statistics|access-date=22 March 2017|publisher=National Statistics|year=2011|work=Neighbourhood Statistics website|archive-date=23 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323055341/http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=277137&c=crawley&d=13&e=62&g=496061&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1490185486750&enc=1|url-status=live}}</ref> The 2001 census data showed that population then accounted for 13.2% of the population of the county of [[West Sussex]]. The growth in population of the new town (around 1,000% between 1951 and 2001<ref name="popC" />) has outstripped that of most similar-sized settlements. For example, in the same period, the population of the neighbouring district of [[Horsham]] grew by just 99%.<ref name="popH">{{cite web|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10076808&c_id=10001043&add=N|title=Horsham District: Total Population|access-date=2 August 2007|publisher=National Statistics|year=2001|work=A Vision of Britain Through Time website|archive-date=22 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122234119/https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10076808&c_id=10001043&add=N|url-status=live}}</ref>

According to the [[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 census]], Crawley's population had grown to 118,493.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Crawley |url=https://censusdata.uk/e07000226-crawley |access-date=9 September 2023 |website=censusdata.uk |language=en}}</ref> White people made up 73.4% of the population, of those 61.8% identified as [[White British]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census Maps - Census 2021 data interactive, ONS |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/maps/choropleth |access-date=9 September 2023 |website=www.ons.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref> a decrease from 84.5% in 2001,<ref name="ethicityCry">{{cite web |year=2001 |title=Ethnic Group (UV09) dataset |url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=277137&c=crawley&d=13&e=16&g=496061&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=87 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071206080049/http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=277137&c=crawley&d=13&e=16&g=496061&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=87 |archive-date=6 December 2007 |access-date=2 August 2007 |work=Neighbourhood Statistics website |publisher=National Statistics}}</ref> while those who identified as "[[Other White]]" were 10.5%. Asians made up 15.4% of the population, with [[British Indians|Indians]] and [[British Pakistanis|Pakistanis]] making up 6.2% and 5.2% of the population respectively, while [[British Sri Lankans|Sri Lankans]] (mostly of [[Tamils|Tamil]] [[Sri Lankan Tamils|descent]]/[[Sri Lankan Moors|background]]) make up the majority of "[[Other Asian (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Other Asian]]" write-ins.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Crawley: Ethnic group (detailed) |url=https://censusdata.uk/e07000226-crawley/ts022-ethnic-group-detailed |access-date=9 September 2023 |website=censusdata.uk |language=en}}</ref> Those of [[Black British people|Black]] descent made up 4.5% of the population. Crawley also has a noticeable [[Mauritians|Mauritian]] minority, made up of people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds.

Those who recorded their main language as [[English language|English]] made up 84.3% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Crawley: Main language (detailed) |url=https://censusdata.uk/e07000226-crawley/ts024-main-language-detailed |access-date=9 September 2023 |website=censusdata.uk |language=en}}</ref> Other languages were [[Romanian language|Romanian]] (2.1%), [[Polish language|Polish]] (1.7%), [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] (1.4%), [[Tamil language|Tamil]] (1.3), [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] (1.1%) and [[Hindustani language|Hindustani]] ([[Hindi]]/[[Urdu]]) (1.1%). There is also a Tamil learning centre.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tamil Learning Centre |url=https://www.crawleytamil.co.uk/ |access-date=9 September 2023 |website=www.crawleytamil.co.uk}}</ref>

Many [[Chagossians]] expelled from the [[Chagos Archipelago]] in the [[Indian Ocean]] settled in Crawley in the 1960s and 1970s, and it was reported in 2016 that the town's [[Chagossians|Chagossian]] community numbered approximately 3,000 people.<ref name="BBC-38003791">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38003791 |title=Chagos Islanders will not be allowed home, UK government says |date=16 November 2016 |work=BBC News |access-date=16 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024141918/http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ec55v2/live/c5v2fx |archive-date=24 October 2016 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Former Crawley MP [[Henry Smith (British politician)|Henry Smith]] stated that Crawley "is home to perhaps the largest [[Chagossians|Chagossian]] population in the world".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/news/helping-the-exiled-and-ignored-chagossians-1-8333729|title=Helping the 'exiled and ignored' Chagossians|publisher=[[Crawley and Horley Observer]]|date=17 January 2018|access-date=8 September 2018|archive-date=8 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908202405/https://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/news/helping-the-exiled-and-ignored-chagossians-1-8333729|url-status=live}}</ref>

The town has a population density of around 2,635 persons per square kilometre,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population density - Census Maps, ONS |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/maps/choropleth/population/population-density/population-density/persons-per-square-kilometre |access-date=9 September 2023 |website=www.ons.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref> making it the second most densely populated district in [[West Sussex]], after [[Worthing]]. In 2021, around 28.6% were in managerial, administrative or professional occupations,<ref>{{Cite web |title=National statistics socio economic classification ns sec - Census Maps, ONS |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/census/maps/choropleth/work/national-statistics-socio-economic-classification-ns-sec/ns-sec-10a/l1-l2-and-l3-higher-managerial-administrative-and-professional-occupations |access-date=9 September 2023 |website=www.ons.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref> although this varied by ward, with just 19.5% in [[Broadfield, West Sussex|Broadfield West]], compared to 45.7% in [[Maidenbower]].

The proportion of people in the town with higher education qualifications is lower than the national average. Around 27.5% have a qualification at [[National Qualifications Framework|level 4]] or above, compared to 33.9% nationally.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Crawley: Highest level of qualification |url=https://censusdata.uk/e07000226-crawley/ts067-highest-level-of-qualification |access-date=9 September 2023 |website=censusdata.uk |language=en}}</ref>

=== Religion ===
The largest religious affiliation was [[Religion in the United Kingdom|Christianity]] at 42.6%, followed by those with no religion at 35.1%, [[Islam in the United Kingdom|Islam]] at 9.7%, [[Hinduism in the United Kingdom|Hinduism]] at 5.1%, [[Sikhism in the United Kingdom|Sikhism]] at 0.7%, [[Buddhism in the United Kingdom|Buddhism]] at 0.4%, [[Judaism in the United Kingdom|Judaism]] at 0.1% and any other religion at 0.5%.

Like the rest of Sussex, Crawley's [[Church of England]] churches fall within the [[Diocese of Chichester]].  These churches include [[St John the Baptist's Church, Crawley|St John the Baptist's Church]]'s in Crawley town centre and [[St Margaret's Church, Ifield|St Margaret's Church]], both of which dates from the 13th century. Parts of [[St Nicholas Church, Worth|St Nicholas Church]] in Worth date to the 10th century. [[Ifield Friends Meeting House]] dates from 1676 and is one of the oldest purpose-built Friends meeting houses in the world.<ref name="VCH18411">{{cite web|url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/Sussex/vol6/pt3/pp71-72|title=A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 6 Part 3 – Bramber Rape (North-Eastern Part) including Crawley New Town. Ifield – Protestant Nonconformity|editor-last=Hudson|editor-first=T. P. |year=1987|work=Victoria County History of Sussex|publisher=British History Online|pages=71–72|access-date=2008-12-07}}</ref><ref name="IoE363371">{{NHLE|desc= Friends' Meeting House, Langley Lane|num=1298879|year=2007|access-date=2008-12-07}}</ref>

Crawley is home to three [[mosque|mosques]]<ref name="VCH18424"/><ref name="TIS-Ahmadiyya">{{cite news |url=http://www.thisissussex.co.uk/Langley-Green-church-converts-new-mosque/story-15848405-detail/story.html |title=Langley Green church converts to new mosque |date=18 April 2012 |work=Crawley News/thisiscrawley.co.uk website |publisher=East Surrey & Sussex News and Media Ltd |access-date=29 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223012252/http://www.thisissussex.co.uk/Langley-Green-church-converts-new-mosque/story-15848405-detail/story.html |archive-date=23 December 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A [[Gurjar|Gurjar Hindu]] community became established in Crawley in 1968 and opened a [[Hindu temple|mandir]] (temple) and community centre in a building in West Green in 1998.<ref name="CrawleyHindu">{{cite web|title=History of GHU – The Journey |url=http://crawleyhindu.com/apple-tree-centre/history-of-ghu-the-journey/ |access-date=30 January 2013 |publisher=Gurjar Hindu Union (Apple Tree Centre) |year=2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130812212542/http://crawleyhindu.com/apple-tree-centre/history-of-ghu-the-journey/ |archive-date=12 August 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="FaithGuide">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/pub_livx/groups/webcontent/documents/otherdocs/int153691.pdf |title=Faith, Belief & Culture Guide |date=October 2008 |work=Crawley Borough Council Faith, Belief and Culture Guide |publisher=Crawley Borough Council and Crawley Interfaith Network |access-date=29 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054622/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/pub_livx/groups/webcontent/documents/otherdocs/int153691.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> A Hindu temple in Ifield opened in 2010,<ref name="Temple-Sep2009">{{cite news|url=http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/news/local/temple-on-target-as-specialist-stonemasons-flown-in-1-980654 |title=Temple on target as specialist stonemasons flown in |date=25 September 2009 |work=Crawley Observer |publisher=[[Johnston Press|Johnston Press Digital Publishing]] |access-date=30 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729185009/http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/news/local/temple-on-target-as-specialist-stonemasons-flown-in-1-980654 |archive-date=29 July 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> the largest such temple in [[South East England]], at {{convert|230|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, with a {{convert|1216|m2|sqft|abbr=on}} [[community centre]], offices, gardens and sports facilities.<ref name="CObserver">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/news/local/new-hindu-temple-for-langley-green-1-976096 |title=New Hindu temple for Langley Green |last=Baldock |first=Stacia |date=8 June 2007 |work=Crawley Observer |publisher=[[Johnston Press|Johnston Press Digital Publishing]] |access-date=30 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729184821/http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/news/local/new-hindu-temple-for-langley-green-1-976096 |archive-date=29 July 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Economy ==
{{table alignment}}
{|class="wikitable floatright col1left" style="text-align:right;"
|+Labour profile<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/2038431836/report.aspx?town=crawley#tabjobs |title=Labour Market Profile: Crawley |access-date=2 August 2007 |work=Nomis official labour market statistics |publisher=[[Office for National Statistics]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717095926/https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/2038431836/report.aspx?town=crawley#tabjobs |archive-date=17 July 2011 }} Data is taken from the ONS annual business inquiry employee analysis and refers to 2005</ref>
! scope="col" | Job
! scope="col" | Number
! scope="col" | %
|-
||Total employee jobs||79,700||{{n/a}}
|-style="border-top: 2px solid black;"
||Full-time||58,100||72.9%
|-
||Part-time||21,600||27.1%
|-style="border-top: 2px solid black;"
||Manufacturing||7,500||9.4%
|-
||Construction||1,800||2.2%
|-
||Services||70,100||87.9%
|-style="border-top: 2px solid black;"
|style="left-padding: 20pt"|Distribution, hotels & restaurants||19,600||24.6%
|-
|style="left-padding: 20pt"|Transport & communications||23,900||30.0%
|-
|style="left-padding: 20pt"|Finance, IT, other business activities||15,400||19.3%
|-
|style="left-padding: 20pt"|Public admin, education & health||9,600||12.1%
|-
|style="left-padding: 20pt"|Other services||1,600||2.0%
|-
|style="left-padding: 20pt"|Tourism-related||6,600||8.3%
|}

Crawley traded as a market town. The [[Crawley Development Corporation|Development Corporation]] intended to develop it as a centre for manufacturing and light engineering, with an industrial zone.<ref name="econhist"/> The rapid growth of Gatwick Airport provided opportunities for businesses in the aviation, transport, warehousing and distribution industries. The significance of the airport to local employment and enterprise was reflected by the formation of the Gatwick Diamond partnership. This venture, supported by local businesses, local government and [[South East England Development Agency|SEEDA]], South East England's [[Regional Development Agency]], aims to maintain and improve the Crawley and Gatwick area's status as a region of national and international economic importance.<ref name="gatdiamond">{{cite web|url=http://www.gatwickdiamond.co.uk/|title=The Gatwick Diamond|access-date=2 August 2007|publisher=West Sussex Economic Partnership|year=2007|work=Gatwick Diamond website|archive-date=8 June 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070608021523/http://www.gatwickdiamond.co.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since the Second World War, unemployment in Crawley has been low: the rate was 1.47% of the working-age population in 2003.<ref name="unemployment">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&dDocName=INT010610&RevisionSelectionMethod=LatestReleased&Rendition=Web|title=Unemployment|access-date=2 August 2007|publisher=Crawley Borough Council|year=2004|work=Crawley Economic Profile 2004|format=PDF|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928091626/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&dDocName=INT010610&RevisionSelectionMethod=LatestReleased&Rendition=Web|archive-date=28 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> During the boom of the 1980s the town boasted the lowest level of unemployment in the UK.<ref name="hansard">{{cite web | title = Debates for 9&nbsp;Feb 1989 | work = House of Commons Hansard | publisher = HMSO | year = 1989 | url = https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm198889/cmhansrd/1989-02-09/Debate-4.html | access-date = 6 January 2007 | archive-date = 28 June 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090628042137/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm198889/cmhansrd/1989-02-09/Debate-4.html | url-status = live }}</ref> Continuous growth and investment have made Crawley one of the most important business and employment centres in the [[South East England]] region.<ref name="SuppMem"/>

In April 2020, the [[Centre for Cities]] [[thinktank]] identified Crawley as the place in [[Great Britain|Britain]] at the highest risk of widespread job losses due to the [[Coronavirus|coronavirus']] effect on the economy; classing 56% of jobs in the town as either vulnerable or very vulnerable of being [[furlough]]ed or lost.<ref name="guardian-covid">{{Cite news |last=Partington |first=Richard |date=16 April 2020 |title=Crawley likely to be worst affected by UK coronavirus job losses |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/apr/16/crawley-worst-uk-coronavirus-job-losses-aviation |access-date=11 June 2020 |archive-date=11 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611182600/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/apr/16/crawley-worst-uk-coronavirus-job-losses-aviation |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Manufacturing industry ===
Crawley was already a modest industrial centre by the end of the Second World War. Building was an important trade: 800 people were employed by building and joinery firms, and two—Longley's and Cook's—were large enough to have their own factories.<ref name="Gray16">{{Harvnb|Gray|1983|p=16.}}</ref> In 1949, 1,529 people worked in manufacturing: the main industries were light and [[precision engineering]] and aircraft repair. Many of the jobs in these industries were highly skilled.<ref name="econhist"/><ref name="Gray16"/>

Industrial development had to take place relatively soon after the new town was established because part of the corporation's remit was to move people and jobs out of an overcrowded and war-damaged London. Industrial jobs were needed as well as houses and shops to create a balanced community where people could settle.<ref name="NTA1946-31">{{Harvnb|Bennett|1949|p=31.}}</ref> The Development Corporation wanted the new town to support a large and mixed industrial base, with factories and other buildings based in a single zone rather than spread throughout the town. A {{convert|267|acre|ha|0|adj=on}}<ref name="NTA1946-31"/> site in the northeastern part of the development area was chosen. Its advantages included flat land with no existing development; proximity to the London–Brighton railway line, the A23 and the planned M23; space for railway sidings (which were eventually built on a much smaller scale than envisaged); and an adjacent {{convert|44|acre|ha|0|adj=on}} site reserved for future expansion, on the other side of the railway line (again, not used for this purpose in the end). [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Princess Elizabeth]] (later Queen Elizabeth II) opened the first part of the industrial area on 25 January 1950;<ref name="Cole-Misc"/> its main road was named Manor Royal, and this name eventually came to refer to the whole estate.<ref name="econhist"/>

The Corporation stipulated that several [[Secondary sector of economic activity|manufacturing industries]] should be developed, rather than allowing one sector or firm to dominate. It did not seek to attract companies by offering financial or other incentives; instead, it set out to create the ideal conditions for industrial development to arise naturally, by providing large plots of land with room for expansion, allowing firms to build their own premises or rent ready-made buildings, and constructing a wide range of building types and sizes.<ref name="econhist"/><ref name="Gray33">{{Harvnb|Gray|1983|p=33.}}</ref>

Despite the lack of direct incentives, many firms applied to move to the Manor Royal estate: it was considered such an attractive place to relocate to that the Development Corporation was able to choose between applicants to achieve the ideal mix of firms, and little advertising or promotion had to be undertaken.<ref name="Gray33"/> One year after Manor Royal was opened, eighteen firms were trading there, including four with more than 100 employees and one with more than 1,000.<ref name="econhist"/> By 1964, businesses which had moved to the town since 1950 employed 16,000 people; the master plan had anticipated between 8,000 and 8,500. In 1978 there were 105 such firms, employing nearly 20,000 people.<ref name="econhist"/><ref name="Gray34">{{Harvnb|Gray|1983|p=34.}}</ref>

[[Thales Group]] opened a new manufacturing and office complex in Crawley in 2009. The site consolidated manufacturing and offices in the Crawley area and the south-east of England.<ref name="Thales">{{cite news|title=Thales opens new Crawley site in lifeline for town business|url=http://www.thisissussex.co.uk/crawley/business/Thales-opens-new-Crawley-site-lifeline-town-business/article-412601-detail/article.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505100304/http://www.thisissussex.co.uk/crawley/business/Thales-opens-new-Crawley-site-lifeline-town-business/article-412601-detail/article.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 May 2013|work=Crawley News|publisher=East Surrey and Sussex News and Media|location=Reigate, Surrey|issn=0961-480X|date=20 October 2008|access-date=30 October 2009}}</ref>

=== Service industry and commerce ===
[[File:VirginTheOffice02.jpg|thumb|Former [[Virgin Atlantic]] head office.]]
While most of the jobs created in the new town's early years were in manufacturing, the [[Tertiary sector of economic activity|tertiary sector]] developed strongly from the 1960s. The [[Manor Royal]] estate, with its space, proximity to Gatwick Airport and good transport links, attracted airport-related services such as logistics, catering, distribution and warehousing; and the corporation and private companies built offices throughout the town. Office floorspace in the town increased from {{convert|55000|sqft|m2|-2}} in 1965 to a conservative estimate of {{convert|453000|sqft|m2|-2}} in 1984.<ref name="econhist"/> Major schemes during that period included premises for the [[NatWest|Westminster Bank]], [[British Caledonian]] and [[Paymaster General|The Office of the Paymaster-General]].<ref name="econhist"/> The five-storey Overline House above the railway station, completed in 1968, is used by Crawley's NHS [[primary care trust]] and various other companies.<ref name="nhs">{{cite web|url=http://www.nhs.uk/ServiceDirectories/Pages/Trust.aspx?id=5P6&v=6|title=NHS: West Sussex PCT|access-date=5 September 2007|publisher=Department of Health|year=2007|work=NHS Choices: West Sussex PCT (list of sites)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926231559/http://www.nhs.uk/ServiceDirectories/Pages/Trust.aspx?id=5P6&v=6|archive-date=26 September 2007}}</ref><ref name="otheroverlinecos">{{cite web|url=http://www.locallife.co.uk/crawley/jobagencies3.asp|title=Locallife Crawley|access-date=5 September 2007|publisher=Locallife Ltd|year=2007|work=Locallife Crawley: Business directory|archive-date=27 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927070806/http://www.locallife.co.uk/crawley/jobagencies3.asp|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:SchlumbergerHouseGatwick.jpg|thumb|left|[[Schlumberger]] House, the head office of [[WesternGeco]] at Gatwick Airport]]
Companies headquartered in Crawley include [[Doosan Babcock Energy]],<ref name="DoosanBabcock">{{cite web|url=http://www.doosanbabcock.com/live/cme74.htm|title=Contacts Europe|year=2009|publisher=[[Doosan Babcock]]|access-date=29 October 2009|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100312102536/http://www.doosanbabcock.com/live/cme74.htm|archive-date=12 March 2010}}</ref> [[WesternGeco]],<ref name="WesternGeco">{{cite web|url=http://www.westerngeco.com/about/contact/regions.aspx |title=Regions, WesternGeco |year=2009 |publisher=[[Schlumberger|Schlumberger Ltd]] |access-date=29 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601064428/http://www.westerngeco.com/about/contact/regions.aspx |archive-date=1 June 2009 }}</ref> [[Virgin Atlantic]],<ref name="VAA">{{cite web|url=http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/us/allaboutus/howtofindus/index.jsp|title=Our Offices Around the World|year=2009|publisher=[[Virgin Atlantic]] Ltd|access-date=29 October 2009|archive-date=9 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209013045/http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/us/allaboutus/howtofindus/index.jsp|url-status=live}}</ref> Virgin Atlantic's associated travel agency [[Virgin Holidays]], [[William Reed Business Media]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.william-reed.com/contact-us|title=William Reed Business Media|access-date=19 September 2012|archive-date=22 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922172131/http://www.william-reed.com/contact-us|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Dualit]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Nicholls |first=David |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/interiors/11064079/Toast-of-the-Nation-how-Dualit-became-makers-of-the-ultimate-design-classic.html |title=Video: Toast of the Nation: how Dualit became makers of the ultimate design classic |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=5 September 2014 |access-date=2 December 2018 |archive-date=22 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922121129/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/interiors/11064079/Toast-of-the-Nation-how-Dualit-became-makers-of-the-ultimate-design-classic.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the Office of the Paymaster-General.<ref name="econhist"/> Danish company [[Novo Nordisk]], which manufactures much of the world's [[insulin]] supply, has its UK headquarters at the Broadfield Business Park,<ref name="Novo">{{cite news|url=http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/news/local/company-celebrates-90-years-of-providing-insulin-to-diabetics-1-4838317 |title=Company celebrates 90 years of providing insulin to diabetics |date=5 March 2013 |work=Crawley Observer |publisher=[[Johnston Press|Johnston Publishing Ltd]] |access-date=6 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103204550/http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/news/local/company-celebrates-90-years-of-providing-insulin-to-diabetics-1-4838317 |archive-date=3 November 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref> and [[BDO Global]] has an office in Crawley.<ref>Sukhraj, Penny. "[http://www.accountancyage.com/aa/news/1783326/bdo-bromley-moves-gatwick BDO Bromley moves to Gatwick] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113032524/http://www.accountancyage.com/aa/news/1783326/bdo-bromley-moves-gatwick |date=13 January 2012 }}." ''[[Accountancy Age]]''. 29 January 2007. Retrieved on 12 February 2011.</ref> The UK headquarters of [[Nestlé]] is in the Manor Royal area of Crawley.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nestle.co.uk/en-gb/aboutus/locations |title=Nestlé in the UK & Ireland Locations |access-date=6 September 2019 |archive-date=6 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906084059/https://www.nestle.co.uk/en-gb/aboutus/locations |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition the registered offices of TUI UK and [[Thomson Airways]] are located in Crawley.<ref>"[http://www.thomson.co.uk/editorial/legal/website-terms-and-conditions.html Website Terms and Conditions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918213035/http://www.thomson.co.uk/editorial/legal/website-terms-and-conditions.html |date=18 September 2008 }}." [[TUI UK]]. Retrieved on 2 January 2011. "TUI UK Limited ("TUI UK") trades under a number of brands including Thomson, and has its Registered Office at TUI Travel House, Crawley Business Quarter, Fleming Way, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 9QL."</ref><ref>"[http://flights.thomson.co.uk/en/popup_booking_conditions.html Booking Conditions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119063448/http://flights.thomson.co.uk/en/popup_booking_conditions.html |date=19 January 2012 }}." Thomson Airways. Retrieved on 4 February 2011."Both Thomson Airways and TUI UK Limited have their Registered Office at TUI Travel House, Crawley Business Quarter, Fleming Way, Crawley RH10 9QL[...]"</ref><!--Those are NOT the head offices, though-->

[[British Airways]] took over [[British Caledonian]]'s former headquarters near the Manor Royal estate, renamed it "Astral Towers" and based its British Airways Holidays and [[Air Miles]] divisions there.<ref name="baholidays">{{cite web|url=http://www.baholidays.com/packages/terms06.jsp|title=British Airways Holidays: Booking terms and conditions|access-date=5 September 2007|publisher=British Airways Holidays Ltd|year=2007|archive-date=12 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070812234957/http://www.baholidays.com/packages/terms06.jsp|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="AIRMILES">{{cite web |url=http://www.airmiles.co.uk/tertiary/aboutus.do |title=About Airmiles |access-date=21 March 2008 |publisher=AIRMILES Travel Promotions Ltd, trading as AIRMILES |year=2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014010204/http://www.airmiles.co.uk/tertiary/aboutus.do |archive-date=14 October 2007 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> Other companies formerly headquartered in Crawley include [[Astraeus Airlines]],<ref>"{{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20090823070223/http://www.flyastraeus.com/contact/index.php Contacts]}}." [[Astraeus Airlines]]. Retrieved on 22 May 2010.</ref> [[British United Airways]],<ref name="flight1969">{{cite journal | title= World Airline Survey ... | journal= [[Flight International]] | page= 564 | url= http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1969/1969%20-%201817.html | date= 10 April 1969 | access-date= 13 February 2011 | archive-date= 4 February 2012 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120204172737/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1969/1969%20-%201817.html | url-status= live }} "Head Office: Gatwick Airport, Horley. Surrey."</ref> [[CityFlyer Express]],<ref>"World Airline Directory." ''[[Flight International]]''. 24–30 March 1999. [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1999/1999%20-%200644.html?search=%22CityFlyer%20Express%22 64] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204173408/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1999/1999%20-%200644.html?search=%22CityFlyer%20Express%22 |date=4 February 2012 }}.</ref> [[CP Ships]],<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20051104045146/http://www.cpships.com/contact.cfm Contact Us]." CP Ships. 4 November 2005. Retrieved on 12 February 2011. "CP Ships Limited 2 City Place Beehive Ring Road Gatwick, West Sussex RH6 0PA, United Kingdom"</ref> [[First Choice Airways]],<ref>Dennis, Juliet. "[http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/2009/01/06/29876/management-structure-of-thomson-and-first-choice-shops.html Management structure of Thomson and First Choice shops merged] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422135402/http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/2009/01/06/29876/management-structure-of-thomson-and-first-choice-shops.html |date=22 April 2012 }}." ''Travel Weekly''. 6 January 2009. Retrieved on 4 January 2011.</ref> [[GB Airways]],<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20070214124459/http://www.gbairways.co.uk/company-details/the-beehive/ The Beehive]." ''GB Airways''. Retrieved on 19 May 2009.</ref> [[Laker Airways]],<ref>"World Airline Directory." ''[[Flight International]]''. 16 May 1981. [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1981/1981%20-%201442.html?search=%22Laker%20Airways%22 1444] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204180617/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1981/1981%20-%201442.html?search=%22Laker%20Airways%22 |date=4 February 2012 }}.</ref> [[Tradewinds Airways]],<ref>''World Airline Directory''. Flight International. 20 March 1975. [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1975/1975%20-%200567.html 505] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204181105/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1975/1975%20-%200567.html |date=4 February 2012 }}. "Head Office: Gatwick Airport, Horley, Surrey."</ref> and [[Air Europe]].<ref>"World Airline Directory." ''[[Flight International]]''. 14–20 March 1990. [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1990/1990%20-%200707.html?search=%22Air%20Europe%22 55] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204174217/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1990/1990%20-%200707.html?search=%22Air%20Europe%22 |date=4 February 2012 }}. "Head Office: The Galleria, Station Road, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 1HY, England"</ref>

Crawley has numerous hotels, including [[The George Hotel, Crawley|The George Hotel]], dated to 1615. It is reputedly haunted.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.english-inns.co.uk/HauntedInns.htm|title=Reputedly haunted hotels and inns|publisher=English Inns|access-date=14 August 2010|archive-date=29 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229030414/http://www.english-inns.co.uk/HauntedInns.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{Clear}}

=== Shopping and retail ===
[[File:34-36 High Street, Crawley (IoE Code 363353).jpg|thumb|right|34 and 36 High Street - Grade II late 18th-century brick building with sash windows, two chimneys and a tiled roof.]]
[[File:Crawley - County Mall (Friary Way Entrance).JPG|thumb|right|The Friary Way entrance to County Mall]]
Even before the new town was planned, Crawley was a retail centre for the surrounding area: there were 177 shops in the town in 1948,<ref name="Gray16"/> 99 of which were on the High Street.<ref name="econhist"/> Early new town residents relied on these shopping facilities until the Corporation implemented the master plan's designs for a new shopping area on the mostly undeveloped land east of the High Street and north of the railway line.<ref name="NTA1946-31"/> The Broadwalk and its 23 shops were built in 1954, followed by the Queen's Square complex and surrounding streets in the mid-1950s.<ref name="vicdates"/> Queen's Square, a pedestrianised plaza surrounded by large shops and linked to the High Street by The Broadwalk, was officially opened in 1958 by Queen Elizabeth II.<ref name="Gray39">{{Harvnb|Gray|1983|p=39.}}</ref> The town centre was completed by 1960, by which time Crawley was already recognised as an important regional, rather than merely local, shopping centre.

In the 1960s and 1970s, large branches of [[Tesco]], [[Sainsbury's]] and [[Marks & Spencer]] were opened (the Tesco superstore was the largest in Britain at the time). The shopping area was also expanded southeastwards from Queen's Square: although the original plans of 1975 were not implemented fully, several large shop units were built and a new pedestrianised link—The Martlets—was provided between Queen's Square and Haslett Avenue, the main road to Three Bridges.<ref name="econhist"/> The remaining land between this area and the railway line was sold for private development by 1982;<ref name="econhist"/> in 1992 a {{convert|450000|sqft|m2|-2}}<ref name="CMsize">{{cite web|url=http://www.propertymall.com/press/article/433|title=Propertymall.com: Crawley, County Mall Shopping Centre|access-date=5 September 2007|publisher=MaxiMalls.com Ltd|year=2007|work=www.propertymall.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928194451/http://www.propertymall.com/press/article/433|archive-date=28 September 2007}}</ref> shopping centre named County Mall and anchored by an [[Owen Owen]] department store was opened there.<ref name="mall">{{cite web|url=http://www.propertyweek.com/story.asp?storyCode=3047252|title=The magnetic North|access-date=21 August 2007|publisher=Property Week|date=25 February 2005|author=Christine Ease|work=www.propertyweek.com|archive-date=27 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927201440/http://www.propertyweek.com/story.asp?storyCode=3047252|url-status=live}}</ref> Its stores includes major retailers such as [[The Entertainer (retailer)|The Entertainer]], [[Boots UK|Boots]], [[WHSmith]] and [[Superdry]] as well as over 80 smaller outlets.<ref name="shops">{{cite web|url=http://www.standardlifeweb.co.uk/retailerslist.php?user=countymall&all=true|title=Shopping|access-date=21 August 2007|publisher=Standard Life Property|year=2007|work=www.countymall.co.uk|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008211838/http://www.standardlifeweb.co.uk/retailerslist.php?user=countymall&all=true|archive-date=8 October 2007}}</ref> The town's main bus station was redesigned, roads including the main A2220 Haslett Avenue were rerouted, and some buildings at the south end of The Martlets were demolished to accommodate the mall.

A regeneration strategy for the town centre, "Centre Vision 2000", was produced in 1993.<ref name="centrevision">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/strategypolicy/int010609.pdf|title=Town Centre Strategy—Consultation Document|access-date=31 March 2008|publisher=Crawley Borough Council|date=27 April 2005|work=Crawley Borough Council website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528225443/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/strategypolicy/int010609.pdf|archive-date=28 May 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> Changes brought about by the scheme have included {{convert|50000|sqft|m2|-2}} of additional retail space in Queen's Square and The Martlets, and a mixed-use development at the southern end of the High Street on land formerly occupied by Robinson Road (which was demolished) and Spencers Road (shortened and severed at one end). An ASDA superstore, opened in September 2003, forms the centrepiece.<ref name="tcn">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/strategypolicy/int087038.pdf|title=Town Centre North, Crawley: Retail Assessment|access-date=9 September 2007|publisher=Grosvenor Investments Ltd|date=May 2006|work=Crawley Borough Council website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928091848/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/strategypolicy/int087038.pdf|archive-date=28 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> Robinson Road, previously named Church Road, had been at the heart of the old Crawley: a century before its demolition, its buildings included two chapels, a school, a hospital and a post office.<ref name="Bastable2004-9">{{Harvnb|Bastable|2004|p=9.}}</ref>

== Public services ==
{{main|Public services in Crawley}}
[[File:Public Services in Crawley - Crawley Police Station.JPG|thumb|right|Crawley police station]]
[[File:Public Services in Crawley - Crawley New Library.JPG|thumb|right|Crawley library, opened in December 2008]]
Policing in Crawley is provided by [[Sussex Police]]; the [[British Transport Police]] are responsible for the rail network. The borough is the police headquarters for the West Sussex division,<ref name="ssxdiv">{{cite web|url=http://www.sussex.police.uk/npt/district_map.asp|title=Policing Your Neighbourhood: Local Policing|access-date=22 February 2008|publisher=Sussex Police|year=2008|work=Sussex Police website |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071210125120/http://www.sussex.police.uk/npt/district_map.asp |archive-date = 10 December 2007}}</ref> and is itself divided into three areas for the purposes of neighbourhood policing: Crawley East, Crawley West, and Crawley Town Centre.<ref name="ssxdist">{{cite web|url=http://www.sussex.police.uk/neighbourhood_policing/transferDistrict.aspx?district=Crawley |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110172905/https://sussex.police.uk/neighbourhood_policing/transferDistrict.aspx?district=Crawley |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 November 2016 |title=Sussex Police Online – District Crawley |access-date=22 February 2008 |publisher=Sussex Police |year=2008 |work=Sussex Police website }}</ref> A separate division covers Gatwick Airport.<ref name="ssxdiv"/> There is a police station in the town centre; it is open 24 hours a day, and the front desk is staffed for 16 hours each day except Christmas Day.<ref name="policecry">{{cite web|url=http://www.sussex.police.uk/npt/local_police_stations.asp?id=local&stationID=crawley |title=Policing Your Neighbourhood—Local Police Stations |access-date=22 February 2008 |publisher=Sussex Police |year=2008 |work=Sussex Police website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228031853/http://www.sussex.police.uk/npt/local_police_stations.asp?id=local |archive-date=28 February 2008 }}</ref> [[Fire service in the United Kingdom|Statutory emergency fire and rescue services]] are provided by the [[West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service]] which operates a fire station in the town centre.<ref name="fire">{{cite web|url=http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/emergency-services/west-sussex-fire-&-rescue-service/08--contacts/ |title=West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service: Contacts |access-date=22 February 2008 |publisher=West Sussex County Council |year=2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080205060052/http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/emergency-services/west-sussex-fire-%26-rescue-service/08--contacts/ |archive-date=5 February 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[South East Coast Ambulance Service]] is responsible for ambulance and paramedic services.<ref name="amb">{{cite web|url=http://www.secamb.nhs.uk/about-us|title=South East Coast Ambulance Service—About Us|access-date=22 February 2008|publisher=South East Coast Ambulance Service|year=2008|work=Secamb website|archive-date=2 March 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080302110724/http://www.secamb.nhs.uk/about-us|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Crawley Hospital]] in West Green is operated by West Sussex [[primary care trust|Primary Care Trust]]. Some services are provided by the Surrey and Sussex Healthcare [[NHS Trust]], including a 24-hour Urgent Treatment Centre for semi-life-threatening injuries.<ref name="hosp">{{cite web|url=http://www.nhs.uk/servicedirectories/pages/Hospital.aspx?id=RTP02|title=Crawley Hospital General Information|access-date=22 February 2008|publisher=National Health Service|year=2008|work=NHS website|archive-date=12 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312012036/http://www.nhs.uk/ServiceDirectories/Pages/Hospital.aspx?id=RTP02|url-status=live}}</ref> The Surrey and Sussex was judged as "weak" by the [[Healthcare Commission]] in 2008,<ref name="trust">{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7050375.stm|title=Mixed marks for South East trusts|access-date=22 February 2008|publisher=BBC News website|date=18 October 2007|archive-date=20 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020121348/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7050375.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> however in 2015 both the hospital<ref name="cqc-ch">{{cite web|url=http://www.cqc.org.uk/sites/default/files/new_reports/AAAA1788.pdf|title=Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust Crawley Hospital Quality Report|access-date=10 August 2015|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923223643/http://www.cqc.org.uk/sites/default/files/new_reports/AAAA1788.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> and the Surrey and Sussex Trust<ref name="cqc-sands">{{cite web|url=http://www.cqc.org.uk/sites/default/files/new_reports/AAAA1787.pdf|title=Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust Quality Report|access-date=10 August 2015|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923223632/http://www.cqc.org.uk/sites/default/files/new_reports/AAAA1787.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> were rated good by the [[Care Quality Commission]].

[[Thames Water]] is responsible for all waste water and sewerage provision. Residents in most parts of Crawley receive their drinking water from [[Southern Water]]; areas in the north of the town around Gatwick Airport are provided by Sutton & East Surrey Water; and South East Water supplies Maidenbower.<ref name="water">{{cite web|url=http://www.thameswater.co.uk/en_gb/Downloads/Flash_Documents/map.swf|title=Thames Water Service Area Map|access-date=22 February 2008|publisher=Thames Water|year=2008|work=Thames Water website|format=SWF |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080229141209/http://www.thameswater.co.uk/en_gb/Downloads/Flash_Documents/map.swf |archive-date = 29 February 2008}}</ref>

[[UK Power Networks]] is the [[distribution network operator]] responsible for electricity.<ref name="elec">{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Electricity/AboutElectricity/DistributionCompanies/|title=National Grid: Distribution Network Operator (DNO) Companies|access-date=22 February 2008|publisher=National Grid|year=2008|work=National Grid website|archive-date=20 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220153254/http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Electricity/AboutElectricity/DistributionCompanies|url-status=live}}</ref> Gas is supplied by [[Scotia Gas Networks|Southern Gas Networks]] who own and manage the South East Local Distribution Zone.<ref name="gas">{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Gas/About/How+Gas+is+Delivered/|title=National Grid: About the Gas Industry|access-date=22 February 2008|publisher=National Grid|year=2008|work=National Grid website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213110828/http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Gas/About/How+Gas+is+Delivered/|archive-date=13 February 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The provision of public services was made in co-operation with the local authorities as the town grew in the 1950s and 1960s. They oversaw the opening of a fire station in 1958, the telephone exchange, police station and town centre health clinic in 1961 and an ambulance station in 1963. Plans for a new hospital on land at The Hawth were abandoned, however, and the existing hospital in West Green was redeveloped instead.<ref name="VCH18420">{{cite web|url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/Sussex/vol6/pp89-91|title=A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 6 Part 3 – Bramber Rape (North-Eastern Part) including Crawley New Town. Crawley New Town: Public services|editor-last=Hudson|editor-first=T. P. |year=1987|work=Victoria County History of Sussex|publisher=British History Online|pages=89–91|access-date=18 February 2008}}</ref> Gas was piped from Croydon, {{convert|20|mi|km|0}} away, and a gasworks at Redhill, while the town's water supply came from the [[Weir Wood]] reservoir south of East Grinstead and another at [[Pease Pottage]].<ref name="vic"/><ref name="oldphotos">{{Harvnb|Green|Allen|1993}}</ref>

In December 2008, a new three-storey library was opened in new buildings at Southgate Avenue, replacing the considerably undersized establishment formerly at County Buildings.<ref name="libr">{{cite web|url=http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/ccm/content/your-council/news-room/press-releases/2008/2008-12/new-crawley-library-to-open-its-doors-next-week.en |title=New Crawley Library to open its doors next week |access-date=10 January 2009 |publisher=West Sussex County Council |work=WSCC Press Release }}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

The [[Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom)|Civil Aviation Authority]] Regulation Safety Group is in the Aviation House in [[Gatwick Airport]] in Crawley.<ref>"[http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAA_Bus_Service.pdf Bus Services to CAA Safety Regulation Group, Aviation House] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120901204025/http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAA_Bus_Service.pdf |date=1 September 2012 }}." [[Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom)|Civil Aviation Authority]]. Retrieved on 9 September 2010.</ref>

== Transport ==
Crawley's development as a market town was helped by its location on the London–Brighton turnpike. The area was joined to the [[Rail transport in Great Britain|railway network]] in the mid-19th century; and since the creation of the new town, there have been major road upgrades (including a motorway link), a [[guided bus]] transit system and the establishment of an airport which has become one of Britain's largest and busiest.

=== Road ===

The London–Brighton turnpike ran through the centre of Crawley, forming the High Street and Station Road. When Britain's major roads were classified by the British government's Ministry of Transport between 1919 and 1923,{{citation needed|date=September 2024}} it was given the number [[A23 road|A23]]. It was bypassed by a new dual carriageway in 1938<ref name="Baseline11">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/report/int163920.pdf|title=Crawley Baseline Character Assessment|date=May 2009|publisher=EDAW/[[AECOM]]|page=11|access-date=29 October 2009|archive-date=8 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608024540/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/report/int163920.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> (which forms the A23's current route through the town), and then later to the east side of the town by the [[M23 motorway]], which was opened in 1975. This connects London's orbital motorway, the [[M25 motorway|M25]], to the A23 at [[Pease Pottage]], at the southern edge of Crawley's built-up area. The original single-carriageway A23 became the A2219. The M23 has junctions in the Crawley area at the A2011/[[A264 road|A264]] (Junction 10) and Maidenbower (area of Crawley) (Junction 10A). The end of the motorway at Pease Pottage is Junction 11. The A2011, another dual-carriageway, joins the A23 in West Green and provides a link, via the A2004, to the town centre. 

The main east-west links are provided by the A2220, which follows the former route of the A264 through the town, linking the A23 directly to the A264 at [[Copthorne, West Sussex|Copthorne]], from where it then runs to [[East Grinstead]]. The A264 also connects Crawley to [[Horsham]] to the south-west.

=== Rail ===
[[File:Crawley Station 01 (07-07-2007).JPG|thumb|right|[[Crawley railway station|Crawley station]], with five storeys of offices above the ticket office and concourse area]]

The first railway line in the area was the [[Brighton Main Line]], which opened as far as [[Haywards Heath railway station|Haywards Heath]] on 12 July 1841 and reached Brighton on 21 September 1841. It ran through Three Bridges, which was then a small village east of Crawley, and [[Three Bridges railway station|a station]] was built to serve it.<ref name="VicKeithTBB4">{{Harvnb|Mitchell|Smith|1986a|p=4.}}</ref>

A line to [[Horsham railway station|Horsham]], now part of the [[Arun Valley Line]], was opened on 14 February 1848. [[Crawley railway station|A station]] was provided next to Crawley High Street from that date.<ref name="VicKeithCL4">{{cite book|last= Mitchell|first= Vic|author2=Keith Smith|title= Southern Main Lines: Crawley to Littlehampton|year= 1986|publisher=Middleton Press|location= Midhurst|isbn= 0-906520-34-7|page= 4}}</ref> A new station was constructed slightly to the east, in conjunction with the Overline House commercial development, and replaced the original station which closed on 28 July 1968. The ticket office and Up (London-bound) platform waiting areas form the ground floor of the office building.<ref name="Body75">{{Harvnb|Body|1984|p=75.}}</ref>

The urban area of Crawley is served by a total of three rail stations including [[Ifield railway station]]. Due to Crawley's expansion this station is now surrounded by the town's western areas. Opened as ''Lyons Crossing Halt'' on 1 June 1907 to serve the village of Ifield, it was soon renamed ''Ifield Halt'', dropping the "Halt" suffix in 1930.<ref name="VicKeithCL15">{{Harvnb|Mitchell|Smith|1986b|p=15.}}</ref>

Regular train services run from Crawley, and also Ifield, to [[London Victoria railway station|London Victoria]] and [[London Bridge railway station|London Bridge]] stations, [[Gatwick Airport railway station|Gatwick Airport]], [[East Croydon railway station|East Croydon]], [[Horsham railway station|Horsham]], [[Bognor Regis railway station|Bognor Regis]], [[Chichester railway station|Chichester]], [[Portsmouth Harbour railway station|Portsmouth]] and [[Southampton Central railway station|Southampton]]. Three Bridges has direct [[Govia Thameslink Railway|Thameslink]] trains to [[Bedford railway station|Bedford]] and [[Brighton railway station|Brighton]].<ref name="tt3">{{cite web|url=http://southernrailway.go-cms.co.uk/content/doc/pdf/timetable_a_157.pdf|title=West Coastway and Arun Valley: London, East Croydon, Gatwick Airport, Arun Valley & Brighton to Hove, Worthing, Littlehampton, Bognor Regis, Chichester, Portsmouth & Southampton|access-date=7 April 2008|publisher=New Southern Railway Ltd|year=2007|work=Southern timetable booklet 3 (at Southern website)|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080624191331/http://southernrailway.go-cms.co.uk/content/doc/pdf/timetable_a_157.pdf |archive-date = 24 June 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="tt2">{{cite web|url=http://southernrailway.go-cms.co.uk/content/doc/pdf/timetable_a_195.pdf|title=Brighton Main Line: London, East Croydon, Tonbridge and Redhill to Gatwick Airport, Three Bridges, Crawley and Horsham|access-date=7 April 2008|publisher=New Southern Railway Ltd|year=2007|work=Southern timetable booklet 2 (at Southern website)|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080624191335/http://southernrailway.go-cms.co.uk/content/doc/pdf/timetable_a_195.pdf |archive-date = 24 June 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Bus and Fastway ===
[[File:Metrobus in Crawley - YN54 AJV.JPG|thumb|right|A [[Metrobus (South East England)|Metrobus]] [[double-decker bus]] at Crawley bus station]]
Crawley was one of several towns where the boundaries of [[Southdown Motor Services]] and [[London Transport Executive|London Transport]] bus services met. In 1958 the companies reached an agreement which allowed them both to provide services in all parts of the town.<ref name="SouthdownDays">{{Harvnb|Kraemer-Johnson|Bishop|2005|pp=48–55}}</ref> When the [[National Bus Company (UK)|National Bus Company]] was formed in 1969, its [[London Country Bus Services]] subsidiary took responsibility for many routes, including [[Green Line Coaches]] cross-London services which operated to distant destinations such as [[Watford]], [[Luton]] and [[Amersham]]. A coach station was opened by Southdown in 1931 on the A23 at County Oak, near Lowfield Heath: it was a regular stopping point for express coaches between London and towns on the Sussex coast. This traffic started to serve Gatwick when the airport began to grow, however.<ref name="SouthdownDays"/>  When the National Bus Company was broken up, local services were provided by the new [[London Country South West|South West division]] of London Country Bus Services, which later became part of the [[Arriva]] group. [[Metrobus (South East England)|Metrobus]] acquired these routes from Arriva in March 2001, and is now Crawley's main operator.<ref name="goahead">{{cite web|url=http://www.go-ahead.com/Main.php?sFileName=NewsRelease.php&iNewsId=130&s |title=Acquisition of Crawley Depot |access-date=31 July 2007 |publisher=Go Ahead Group |year=2001 |work=Go Ahead Group website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116023202/http://www.go-ahead.com/Main.php?sFileName=NewsRelease.php&iNewsId=130&s |archive-date=16 January 2009 }}</ref> It provides local services between the neighbourhoods and town centre, and longer-distance routes to [[Horsham]], [[Redhill, Surrey|Redhill]], [[Tunbridge Wells]], [[Worthing]] and [[Brighton]].<ref name="buses">{{cite web |url=http://www.metrobus.co.uk/service_index.php |title=Timetables & Route Index |access-date=31 July 2007 |publisher=Go Ahead Group |year=2007 |work=Metrobus Website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070709064631/http://www.metrobus.co.uk/service_index.php |archive-date=9 July 2007 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

In September 2003 a [[guided bus]] service, [[Crawley Fastway|Fastway]], began operating between [[Bewbush, Crawley|Bewbush]] and [[Gatwick Airport]].<ref name="fastway">{{cite web|url=http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/ccm/cms-service/stream/asset/?asset_id=2383834&|title=Fastway: Phase One Service Launched|access-date=31 July 2007|publisher=West Sussex County Council|year=2003|work=Fastway, Issue 6|format=PDF|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927011702/http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/ccm/cms-service/stream/asset/?asset_id=2383834& |archive-date = 27 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> A second route, from Broadfield to the Langshott area of [[Horley]], north of Gatwick Airport, was added on 27 August 2005.<ref name="route20">{{cite web|url=http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/ccm/cms-service/stream/asset/?asset_id=2383828&|title=Fastway information and timetable from 27&nbsp;August 2005|access-date=5 September 2007|publisher=West Sussex County Council|year=2005|work=Fastway leaflet (2005) at West Sussex County Council Roads & Transport website|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927011605/http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/ccm/cms-service/stream/asset/?asset_id=2383828& |archive-date = 27 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Gatwick Airport ===
[[File:LGW North Terminal pier 5.JPG|thumb|right|Gatwick is the world's second busiest single-runway international airport.<ref name="Times_of_India">{{cite news|last1=V|first1=Manju|title=Now, Mumbai world's busiest airport with only one runway|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/now-mumbai-worlds-busiest-airport-with-only-one-runway/articleshow/58652790.cms|access-date=13 May 2017|work=The Times of India|date=13 May 2017|archive-date=13 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513081650/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/now-mumbai-worlds-busiest-airport-with-only-one-runway/articleshow/58652790.cms|url-status=live}}</ref>]]
{{main|Gatwick Airport}}
Gatwick Airport was licensed as a private airfield in August 1930.<ref name="Gwynne147">{{Harvnb|Gwynne|1990|p=147.}}</ref> It was used during the Second World War as an [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] base, and returned to civil use in 1946. There were proposals to close the airport in the late 1940s, but in 1950 the government announced that it was to be developed as London's second airport.<ref name="Gwynne160">{{Harvnb|Gwynne|1990|p=160.}}</ref> It was closed between 1956 and 1958 for rebuilding. [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Her Majesty The Queen]] reopened it on 9 June 1958. A second terminal, the North Terminal, was built in 1988.<ref name="baa">{{cite web |url=http://www.gatwickairport.com/portal/controller/dispatcher.jsp?CiID=0fcae327ea262010VgnVCM100000147e120a____&ChID=594e1fb079432010VgnVCM100000147e120a____&Ct=B2C_CT_GENERAL&CtID=448c6a4c7f1b0010VgnVCM200000357e120a____&ChPath=Home%5ELGW%5EAbout+BAA+Gatwick%5EGatwick+lowdown%5EOur+history |title=Our History |access-date=1 August 2007 |publisher=BAA plc |year=2006 |work=BAA Gatwick Airport website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928105939/http://www.gatwickairport.com/portal/controller/dispatcher.jsp?CiID=0fcae327ea262010VgnVCM100000147e120a____&ChID=594e1fb079432010VgnVCM100000147e120a____&Ct=B2C_CT_GENERAL&CtID=448c6a4c7f1b0010VgnVCM200000357e120a____&ChPath=Home%5ELGW%5EAbout+BAA+Gatwick%5EGatwick+lowdown%5EOur+history |archive-date=28 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
An agreement existed between [[BAA Limited|BAA]] and West Sussex County Council preventing the building of a second runway before 2019. Nevertheless, consultations were launched in 2002 by the [[Department for Transport]], at which proposals for additional facilities and runways were considered. It was agreed that there would be no further expansion at Gatwick unless it became impossible to meet growth targets at [[London Heathrow Airport]] within existing pollution limits.<ref name="dft">{{cite web|url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/archive/2002/fd/ |title=The future development of air transport in the UK |access-date=1 August 2007 |publisher=Department for Transport |year=2003 |work=Department for Transport website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070505001421/http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/archive/2002/fd/ |archive-date=5 May 2007 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

===Walking===
The [[Worth Way]] is a {{convert|7|mi|adj=on}} long bridleway that connects Three Bridges with the town of East Grinstead to the east, following the trackbed of the former [[Three Bridges to Tunbridge Wells Central Line|Three Bridges to Tunbridge Wells Central railway line]]. In the north of the borough the {{convert|150|mi|adj=on}} mile long [[Sussex Border Path]] runs east-west on a route approximately following Sussex's borders from [[Thorney Island (West Sussex)|Thorney Island]] to [[Rye, East Sussex|Rye]].

== Sport and leisure ==
[[File:Crawley - K2 Leisure Centre 01.JPG|thumb|right|Entrance to the K2 Leisure Centre]]
[[File:Bewbush Leisure Centre, Crawley.jpg|thumb|right|Bewbush Leisure Centre]]
[[File:Crawley - Memorial Park.JPG|thumb|right|The Memorial Gardens]]
[[Crawley Town F.C.]] is Crawley's main [[Association football|football]] team. Formed in 1896, it moved in 1949 to a ground at Town Mead adjacent to the [[West Green, West Sussex|West Green]] playing fields. Demand for land near the town centre led to the club moving in 1997 to the new [[Broadfield Stadium]], now owned by the borough council.<ref name="ctfc">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawleytownfc.net/page.php?pageid=37|title=Crawley Town Football Club – past and present|access-date=2 August 2007|year=2007|work=Crawley Town Football Club website|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070917171914/http://www.crawleytownfc.net/page.php?pageid=37|archive-date=17 September 2007}}</ref> As of the 2024/25 season, Crawley Town F.C. are playing in [[EFL League One|League One]], the third tier of English football.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/9401072.stm | title=Football - Man Utd 1-0 Crawley | work=[[BBC Sport]] | date=19 February 2011 | access-date=25 August 2019 | author=McNulty, Phil | archive-date=1 December 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201114327/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/9401072.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> Since 2018, Broadfield Stadium has also been home to [[Women's Super League]] team [[Brighton & Hove Albion W.F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]].

[[Three Bridges F.C.]] play in the [[Isthmian League|Isthmian League South East Division]], the eighth tier of English football, while other lower-league clubs include [[Oakwood F.C.]] and Ifield Galaxy F.C. [[Crawley Rugby Club]] is based in Ifield,<ref name="crfc">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawleyrfc.co.uk/ |title=Welcome To Crawley RFC |access-date=17 March 2008 |year=2008 |work=Crawley Rugby Football Club website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080313062920/http://www.crawleyrfc.co.uk/ |archive-date=13 March 2008 }}</ref> and a golf course was constructed in 1982 at [[Tilgate Park]].<ref name="golf">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=229|title=Tilgate Forest Golf Centre|access-date=2 August 2007|year=2006|work=Crawley Borough Council website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070719123652/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=229|archive-date=19 July 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> Crawley Hockey Club plays their home matches at [[Hazelwick School]], [[Three Bridges, West Sussex|Three Bridges]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crawleyhockey.org.uk/ |title=Crawley Hockey Club home page |publisher=Crawleyhockey.org.uk |access-date=4 September 2013 |archive-date=28 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828183449/http://www.crawleyhockey.org.uk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Cricket has been played in Ifield since 1721, and Ifield Cricket Club was formed in 1804. Three Bridges Cricket Club is a founding member of the [[Sussex Cricket League]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://threebridges.play-cricket.com/ | title=Three Bridges CC | publisher=[[England and Wales Cricket Board]] | access-date=25 August 2019 | archive-date=24 August 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824214918/http://threebridges.play-cricket.com/ | url-status=live }}</ref> and in 2018 were promoted back to the Premier Division.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxz5Nzu10nE | title=Top 5 Moments of the Season 2018 (#1) | date=17 April 2019 | publisher=Three Bridges Cricket Club - [[YouTube]] | access-date=25 August 2019 | archive-date=21 April 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421202542/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxz5Nzu10nE&gl=US&hl=en | url-status=live }}</ref>

The new town's original leisure centre was in Haslett Avenue in the Three Bridges neighbourhood. Building work started in the early 1960s, and a large swimming pool opened in 1964. The site was extended to include an athletics arena by 1967, and an additional large sports hall was opened by the town mayor, Councillor Ben Clay and Prime Minister [[Harold Wilson]] in 1974.<ref name="wilson">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&ssDocName=PR1579&ssTargetNodeId=99|title=End of an era|access-date=3 August 2007|year=2005|work=Crawley Borough Council website|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928092131/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&ssDocName=PR1579&ssTargetNodeId=99|archive-date=28 September 2007}}</ref> However, the facilities became insufficient for the growing town, even though an annexe was opened in Bewbush in 1984.<ref name="leisure">{{cite web|url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/sussex/vol6/pt3/pp81-83|title=Crawley New Town: Social and cultural activities|access-date=2 August 2007|publisher=[[Victoria County History]]|year=1987|first1=A P|last1=Baggs|first2=C R J|last2=Currie|first3=C R|last3=Elrington|first4=S M|last4=Keeling|first5=A M|last5=Rowland|editor-last=Hudson|editor-first=T.P.|work=A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 6 Part 3: Bramber Rape (North-Eastern Part) including Crawley New Town|pages=81–83|via=[[British History Online]]|archive-date=7 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150107233114/https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/Sussex/vol6/pt3/pp81-83|url-status=live}}</ref> Athlete [[Zola Budd]] had been asked to take part in a 1,500-metre race as part of the opening celebrations, but her invitation was withdrawn at short notice because of concerns raised by council members about possible "political connotations and anti-apartheid demonstrators".<ref name="NYT-Budd">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/04/19/sports/sports-people-miss-budd-withdraws.html|title=Sports People; Miss Budd Withdraws|date=19 April 1984|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=30 October 2009|archive-date=16 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016221051/http://www.nytimes.com/1984/04/19/sports/sports-people-miss-budd-withdraws.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2005, Crawley Leisure Centre was closed and replaced by a new facility, the [[K2 Leisure Centre]], on the campus of [[Thomas Bennett Community College]] near the Broadfield Stadium.<ref name="K2">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=580|title=K2 Crawley|access-date=2 August 2007|year=2007|work=Crawley Borough Council website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070830014047/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=580|archive-date=30 August 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> Opened to the public on 14 November 2005,<ref name="wilson"/> and officially by [[Sebastian Coe|Lord Coe]] on 24 January 2006, the centre includes the only Olympic-sized swimming pool in [[South East England]].<ref name="Seb">{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/4640402.stm|title=Lord Coe opens K2 sports complex|access-date=3 August 2007|publisher=BBC News website|date=24 January 2006|archive-date=22 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122234119/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/southern_counties/4640402.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2008 the centre was named as a training site for the [[2012 Olympics]] in London.<ref name="Olympics">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&ssDocName=PR2164&ssTargetNodeId=99|title=K2 Crawley makes Olympic training camp guide|access-date=31 March 2008|publisher=Crawley Borough Council|date=3 March 2008|work=Crawley Borough Council website|url-status=dead|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20111115001415/http%3A//www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService%3DSS_GET_PAGE%26ssDocName%3DPR2164%26ssTargetNodeId%3D99|archive-date=15 November 2011}}</ref>

[[Crawley Development Corporation]] made little provision for the arts in the plans for the new town, and a proposed arts venue in the town centre was never built. Neighbourhood community centres and the Tilgate Forest Recreational Centre were used for some cultural activities,<ref name="leisure"/> but it was not until 1988 that the town had a dedicated theatre and arts venue, at the [[Hawth Theatre]].<ref name="hawth">{{cite web|url=https://tickets.hawth.co.uk/public/about_history.asp |title=History of the Hawth |access-date=2 August 2007 |publisher=Crawley Borough Council |year=2007 |work=The Hawth, Crawley website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070730222303/https://tickets.hawth.co.uk/public/about_history.asp |archive-date=30 July 2007 }}</ref> Crawley's earliest cinema, the Imperial Picture House on Brighton Road, lasted from 1909 until the 1940s; the Embassy Cinema on the High Street (opened in 1938) replaced it.<ref name="Cole-Misc"/><ref name="VCH-Ifield">{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=18405|title=Ifield|access-date=4 August 2007|publisher=Victoria County History|year=1987|author=Hudson, T.P. (Ed)|work=A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 6 Part 3: Bramber Rape (North-Eastern Part) including Crawley New Town|archive-date=28 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928010447/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=18405|url-status=live}}</ref> A large [[Cineworld]] cinema has since opened in the Crawley Leisure Park, which itself also includes [[ten-pin bowling]], various restaurants and bars and a fitness centre.<ref name="CLP">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=716|title=Leisure and Culture: Young People|access-date=4 August 2007|year=2006|work=Crawley Borough Council website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070925000637/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=716|archive-date=25 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Moka nightclub on Station Way opened in October 2012 and closed in 2019.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/news/what-to-expect-from-moka-1-4379448 |title=What to expect from Moka |work=Crawley Observer |date=22 October 2012 |access-date=26 August 2018 |archive-date=26 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826214420/https://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/news/what-to-expect-from-moka-1-4379448 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-27 |title=WATCH: Demolition work begins on site of former Crawley nightclub - Here is what you need to know |url=https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/people/watch-demolition-work-begins-on-popular-crawley-nightclub-4081198 |access-date=2025-01-13 |website=SussexWorld |language=en}}</ref>


Crawley is home to No6 detachment of the Sussex [[Army Cadet Force]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sussex Army Cadets |url=https://armycadets.com/county/sussex-acf/ |access-date=2023-09-10 |website=Army Cadets UK |language=en-GB}}</ref> a volunteer youth organisation, sponsored by the Ministry of Defence, which accepts cadets aged between 12 and 18 years of age.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-05-26 |title=The Ministry of Defence cadet forces |url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-cadet-forces-and-mods-youth-work |access-date=2023-09-10 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref>

Each neighbourhood has self-contained recreational areas, and there are other larger parks throughout the town. The Memorial Gardens, on the eastern side of Queen's Square, feature art displays, children's play areas and lawns, and a plaque commemorating those who died in two Second World War bombing incidents in 1943 and 1944.<ref name="Cole-Misc"/> Goffs Park in Southgate covers {{convert|50|acre|ha|0}}, and has lakes, boating ponds, a model railway and many other features.<ref name="goffs">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=254|title=Parks and Gardens: Goffs Park|access-date=9 September 2007|publisher=Crawley Borough Council|year=2007|work=Crawley Borough Council website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021182815/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=254|archive-date=21 October 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Tilgate Park|Tilgate Park and Nature Centre]] has walled gardens, lakes, large areas of woodland with footpaths and [[Rights of way in England and Wales|bridleways]], a golfing area and a collection of animals and birds.<ref name="tilgatepark">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=256&strCSS=|title=Tilgate Park and Nature Centre|access-date=9 September 2007|publisher=Crawley Borough Council|year=2007|work=Crawley Borough Council website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017033329/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=256&strCSS=|archive-date=17 October 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Heritage ==
[[File:Worth Training Centre, Turners Hill Road, Pound Hill, Crawley.JPG|thumb|The Grade II listed Worth Training Centre, Turners Hill Road, Pound Hill, Crawley]]
{{See also|Listed buildings in Crawley|Locally listed buildings in Crawley}}
Crawley Museum<ref name="museum">{{cite web|url=http://www.culture24.org.uk/se000454|title=Crawley Museum Centre|access-date=2 August 2007|year=2007|work=Culture24 website|archive-date=14 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090814011649/http://www.culture24.org.uk/se000454|url-status=live}}</ref> is based in the town centre. Stone Age and Bronze Age remains discovered in the area are on display, as well as more recent artefacts including parts of Vine Cottage, an old timber-framed building on the High Street which was once home to former ''Punch'' editor [[Mark Lemon]] and which was demolished when the ASDA development was built.<ref name="Cole-Misc"/>

Crawley has three [[Listed building|Grade I listed buildings]] ([[St Margaret's Church, Ifield|the parish church of St Margaret in Ifield]], [[St. Nicholas' Church, Worth|the parish church of St Nicholas, Worth]], and the [[Religious Society of Friends|Friends Meeting House]] in Langley Lane, Ifield), 12 [[Listed building|Grade II* listed buildings]] and 85 [[Listed building|Grade II listed buildings]].<ref name="Listed">{{cite web|title=Listed Buildings in Crawley|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/adviceguidance/int116583.pdf|access-date=6 November 2008|publisher=Crawley Borough Council|year=2008|work=Crawley Borough Council website: Listed Buildings in Crawley|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118121317/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/adviceguidance/int116583.pdf|archive-date=18 November 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>  The borough council has also awarded [[locally listed building]] status to 58 buildings.<ref name="LLB-Report">{{cite report|last=Crawley Borough Council |title=Crawley Local Building List |date=November 2010 |url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/pw/web/int175663 |format=PDF |access-date=10 February 2013 |publisher=Crawley Borough Council |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829220523/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/pw/web/int175663 |archive-date=29 August 2012 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

[[File:1902 Autocar Reg 02V 1177 in Crawley in 2018.jpg|thumb|1902 Autocar in the 2018 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, High Street, Crawley.]]

The high street becomes an annual focus of motoring heritage in November as one of the official stops on the [[London to Brighton Veteran Car Run]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/news/crowds-welcome-london-to-brighton-veteran-cars-at-crawley-1-8693581 | title=Crowds Welcome London to Brighton Veteran Cars at Crawley | work=Crawley Observer | date=5 November 2018 | access-date=10 November 2018 | archive-date=10 November 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110200017/https://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/news/crowds-welcome-london-to-brighton-veteran-cars-at-crawley-1-8693581 | url-status=live }}</ref>

== Education ==
{{See also|Schools in Crawley, West Sussex}}
[[File:Central Sussex College 01.jpg|thumb|right|upright|The main building of Central Sussex College]]
[[File:Broadfield House, Crawley (IoE Code 363333).jpg|thumb|Broadfield House, which now houses the Atelier 21 Future School]]
Maintained primary and secondary schools were reorganised in 2004 following the [[Local Education Authority]]'s decision to change the town's [[three-tier education|three-tier]] system of [[First school|first]], [[Middle school|middle]] and secondary schools to a more standard primary/secondary divide.<ref name="aot">{{cite web|url=http://webserver01.westsussex.gov.uk/wscc/Assistant%20Chief%20Exec/Communications/Press%20Releases.nsf/0/1bd371a07ce7eccc80256b410037d4c7?OpenDocument&Click=|title=Stage two consultation on age of transfer for Crawley schools|access-date=31 July 2007|publisher=West Sussex County Council|date=13 January 2002|work=Press Releases|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927011654/http://webserver01.westsussex.gov.uk/wscc/Assistant%20Chief%20Exec/Communications/Press%20Releases.nsf/0/1bd371a07ce7eccc80256b410037d4c7?OpenDocument&Click=|archive-date=27 September 2007}}</ref> Since the restructuring, Crawley has had 17 primary schools (including two [[Church of England]] and two Roman Catholic) and four pairs of [[Infant school|infant]] and [[junior School]]s. Most of these were opened in 2004; others changed their status at this date (for example, from a middle to a junior school). Secondary education is provided at one of six secondary schools:
* [[Ifield Community College]]
* [[Hazelwick School]]
* [[Holy Trinity School, Crawley|Holy Trinity Church of England School]]
* [[Oriel High School]]
* [[St Wilfrid's Catholic School, Crawley|St Wilfrid's Catholic School]]
* [[Thomas Bennett Community College]]
All six of these have a [[sixth form]], the newest opening at Oriel High in September 2008.

There is also a primary / secondary School called The Gatwick School, which is a Free School that opened in 2014. It currently has 4 years, R, 1, 7 and 8.<ref name="schs">{{cite web|url=http://wsgfl.westsussex.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/school-list/all-establishments---by-major-town/crawley/ |title=Educational Establishments by Major Town: Crawley |access-date=31 July 2007 |publisher=West Sussex County Council |year=2007 |work=West Sussex Grid for Learning |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927011716/http://wsgfl.westsussex.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/school-list/all-establishments---by-major-town/crawley/ |archive-date=27 September 2007 }}</ref> The schools at Ifield and Thomas Bennett are also bases for the [[Local Authority]]'s [[adult education]] programmes.<ref name="AE">{{cite web|url=http://wsgfl.westsussex.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/school-list/all-establishments---by-type/adult-education-centres/|title=Adult Educational Centres|access-date=31 July 2007|publisher=West Sussex County Council|year=2007|work=West Sussex Grid for Learning|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701222506/http://wsgfl.westsussex.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/school-list/all-establishments---by-type/adult-education-centres/|archive-date=1 July 2007}}</ref>
Pupils with [[special needs]] are educated at the two [[special school]]s in the town, each of which covers the full spectrum of needs: Manor Green Primary School and Manor Green College.

Desmond Anderson, based in [[Tilgate]] converted to Academy status in February 2017 and is now part of the University of Brighton Academies Trust.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/news/education/primary-school-converts-to-academy-status-1-7801055 |title=Primary school converts to academy status |work=Crawley Observer |date=1 February 2017 |access-date=26 August 2018 |archive-date=26 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826150209/https://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/news/education/primary-school-converts-to-academy-status-1-7801055 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Atelier 21 Future School for up to 120 pupils aged 4 to 14 years, based in [[Broadfield House, Crawley|Broadfield House]], opened on 24 August 2020.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/147911| title=Atelier 21 Future School - government listing| access-date=2 September 2020| publisher=GOV.UK| archive-date=22 January 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122234900/https://www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Establishments/Establishment/Details/147911| url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Further education]] is provided by [[Central Sussex College]]. Opened in 1958 as Crawley Technical College,<ref name="ctc">{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=18425#s5 |title=Crawley New Town:Further Education |access-date=31 July 2007 |publisher=British History Online |year=1987 |author=Hudson, T.P. (Ed) |work=A History of the County of Sussex: Volume 6 Part 3: Bramber Rape (North-Eastern Part) including Crawley New Town |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311021134/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=18425 |archive-date=11 March 2007 }}</ref> it merged with other local colleges to form the new institute in August 2005.<ref name="csc">{{cite web|url=http://www.centralsussex.ac.uk/news/newsdisplay.asp?newsid=152|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060927160249/http://www.centralsussex.ac.uk/news/newsdisplay.asp?newsid=152|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 September 2006|title=Central Sussex College – A New Era|access-date=31 July 2007|publisher=Central Sussex College|year=2005|work=Central Sussex College website}}</ref> The college also provides higher education courses in partnership with the universities at [[University of Chichester|Chichester]] and [[University of Sussex|Sussex]]. In 2004, a proposal was made for an additional campus of the [[University of Sussex]] to be created in Crawley, but as of 2008 no conclusion has been reached.<ref name="ssx">{{cite web|url=http://www.sussex.ac.uk/press_office/bulletin/16jul04/article1.shtml|title=Innovative new campus set for Crawley, not Horsham|access-date=31 July 2007|publisher=University of Sussex|date=16 June 2004|work=Bulletin|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070907101304/http://www.sussex.ac.uk/press_office/bulletin/16jul04/article1.shtml|archive-date=7 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Media ==
Crawley has three local newspapers, of which two have a long history in the area. The ''Crawley Observer'' began life in 1881 as ''Simmins Weekly Advertiser'', became the ''Sussex & Surrey Courier'' and then the ''Crawley and District Observer'', and took its current name in 1983.<ref name="news">{{cite web|url=http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/RO/MG8.2.pdf |title=Newspapers in West Sussex |access-date=31 August 2007 |publisher=West Sussex County Council |year=2003 |author=West Sussex Record Office |work=Local History Mini-guide to Sources No. 8 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119055857/http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/RO/MG8.2.pdf |archive-date=19 January 2012 }}</ref> The newspaper is now owned by [[Johnston Press]].{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} The ''Crawley News'' was first published in 1979, and later took over the operations of the older ''Crawley Advertiser'' which closed in 1982.<ref name="leisure"/> The newspaper was taken over by the [[Trinity Mirror]] group in 2015 as part of the purchase of [[Local World]]<ref name="cn">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/oct/28/trinity-mirror-local-world-deal|title=Trinity Mirror confirms £220m Local World deal|date=28 October 2015|newspaper=The Guardian|last1=Sweney|first1=Mark|access-date=26 October 2016|archive-date=25 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825234808/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/oct/28/trinity-mirror-local-world-deal|url-status=live}}</ref> but its last edition was published on 26 October 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2016/news/fourth-newspaper-closure-announced-by-trinity-mirror-in-24-hours/|title=Trinity Mirror to close Crawley News next week - Journalism News from HoldtheFrontPage|newspaper=HoldTheFrontPage|language=en-US|access-date=26 October 2016|archive-date=26 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026033411/http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2016/news/fourth-newspaper-closure-announced-by-trinity-mirror-in-24-hours/|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2008 Johnston Press launched a new weekly broadsheet newspaper called the ''Crawley Times'' based on the companies paper produced in Horsham, the ''West Sussex County Times''.<ref name="Times">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/news/Meet-Alan-Titchmarsh-with-the.4555845.jp|title=Crawley Times|access-date=4 January 2009|publisher=Johnston Press|year=2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113180222/http://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/news/Meet-Alan-Titchmarsh-with-the.4555845.jp|archive-date=13 January 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Crawley is served by the London regional versions of [[BBC London|BBC]] and [[ITV London|ITV]] television from the Crystal Palace or Reigate transmitters. Alternatively the town is also well served by [[BBC South East]] and [[ITV Meridian]] on the Heathfield transmitter and [[Freesat]]. This means the town is served by news and television programmes from both London and Tunbridge Wells (where the BBC South East Today studios are situated).<ref name="tv">{{cite web|url=http://www.ukfree.tv/askforDTT.php?postcode=RH101BZ&goto=%2Ftransmitters.php&btnG=Go|title=Transmitters|access-date=31 March 2008|publisher=UK Free TV|year=2007|work=UK Free TV website}}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

[[Radio Mercury]] began broadcasting on 20 October 1984 from [[Broadfield House, Crawley|Broadfield House]] in Broadfield.<ref name="merc">{{cite web|url=http://www.mercuryfm.co.uk/article.asp?id=557190|title=Information about Mercury FM|access-date=31 March 2008|year=2008|author=GCap Media plc|work=Mercury FM website|archive-date=22 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122234159/https://www.heart.co.uk/crawley/|url-status=live}}</ref> The station, now owned by [[Global Radio]], broadcasts as [[Heart South]] from Brighton, with the studios in Kelvin Way in Crawley closed in August 2010.{{cn|date=December 2024}} On 1 February 2011, the local [[Gold (British radio network)|Gold]] transmitter on 1521 AM closed and listeners were advised to retune to 1548 AM (Gold London) or 1323 AM (Gold Sussex).{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} Local BBC radio was provided by BBC Radio Sussex from 1983; this became part of [[BBC Southern Counties Radio]] following a merger with [[BBC Radio Surrey]] in 1994.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}} From March 2009, BBC Southern Counties Radio became [[BBC Sussex]] on 104.5FM and [[BBC Surrey]] on 104FM. Due to the positioning of their transmitters, when broadcasting separately both stations cover Crawley stories.

== Twin town ==
Crawley is [[sister city|twinned]] with:
*[[Eisenhüttenstadt]], [[German Democratic Republic]], 1963–1968 <ref name="friendly">{{cite book | author=Stefan Berger, Norman LaPorte | title= Friendly Enemies: Britain and the GDR, 1949-1990 | publisher = Berghan Books | date= 2010 | isbn = 978-1-84545-697-9  | page = 115}}</ref>
*[[Dorsten]], Germany, since 1973<ref name="twin">{{cite journal | author=Ian Miller| title=Crawley Town Twinning| journal=Crawley Observer| date=24 August 2006}}</ref>
*[[Alytus]], Lithuania

== Notable people and music groups==
<gallery mode="packed" widths="110" heights="110" caption="Notable people from Crawley">
File:Erin Doherty in 2020.png|[[Erin Doherty]]
File:Robert Smith (musician) crop.jpg|[[Robert Smith (musician)|Robert Smith]]
File:Romesh Ranganathan in 2013 (cropped).jpg|[[Romesh Ranganathan|Romesh {{nowrap|Ranganathan}}]] 
File:Dan Walker 2017.png| [[Dan Walker (broadcaster)|Dan Walker]]
File:ENG-PAN (22) 2018-6-69 Gareth Southgate.jpg|[[Gareth Southgate]]
File:Daley_Thomson_2007_cropped.jpg|[[Daley Thompson]]
File:Laura Moffatt 2006-03-06.jpg|[[Laura Moffatt]]
</gallery>
*[[Simon Calder]], travel correspondent for ''[[The Independent]]'' and freelance contributor to many media channels, including BBC News, was born and raised in Crawley and attended [[Thomas Bennett Community College]].<ref name="Indy-calder-1">{{cite web |title=Simon Calder: Let the train take the blame |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/simon-calder-let-the-train-take-the-blame-9163258.html |website=The Independent |access-date=3 January 2025}}</ref>
*[[Albert Cordingley]] (1871–1939), first-class cricketer for Sussex (1901–1905) and groundskeeper of the Crawling Bowling and Tennis Clubs (1924–1934), lived in [[West Green, West Sussex|West Green]], Crawley from 1921 until his death in 1939.<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 February 1934 |title=Mr Cordingley's Recovery |pages=3 |work=West Sussex County Times and Standard}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=3 May 1945 |title=Former County Cricketer Dies |pages=2 |work=West Sussex Gazette}}</ref>
*Sir [[Charles Court]], the 21st [[Premier of Western Australia]], born in Crawley, migrated to Australia with family before his first birthday <ref name="Char">{{cite web|url= http://www.murdoch.edu.au/vco/secretariat/records/citations/court_c.pdf|title=Honorary Degree Citation: The Hon Sir Charles Walter Michael Court|work=Murdoch University website|access-date=31 March 2008|date=22 March 1995|archive-date=28 May 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080528225433/http://www.murdoch.edu.au/vco/secretariat/records/citations/court_c.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Erin Doherty]], actress, known for being [[Princess Anne]] in ''[[The Crown (TV series)|The Crown]]'' (2019), ''[[Chloe (TV series)|Chloe]]'' (2022), ''[[Reawakening]]'' (2024)<ref name="Erin">{{cite news |title= Stars of Tomorrow Erin Doherty - Actor |url= https://www.screendaily.com/features/stars-of-tomorrow-2018-erin-doherty-actor/5133181.article |publisher= screendaily.com |date= 4 October 2018 |archive-date= 28 September 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200928090345/https://www.screendaily.com/features/stars-of-tomorrow-2018-erin-doherty-actor/5133181.article |url-status= live }}</ref>
*[[John George Haigh]], the "Acid Bath Murderer", carried out some of his murders at a workshop in the West Green area.<ref name="haigh">{{cite web|url=http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/weird/haigh/invest_5.html|title=Crime Library: John George Haigh|access-date=30 August 2007|publisher=Turner Entertainment Digital Network, Inc.|year=2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070829225932/http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/weird/haigh/invest_5.html|archive-date=29 August 2007}}</ref>
*[[Caroline Haslett]], electrical pioneer, engineer and champion of women's rights. Crawley New Town Development Corp' Vice-president (1948) <ref>{{Cite web|title=Commons Chamber - Tuesday 23 May 1950 - Hansard - UK Parliament|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1950-05-23/debates/04c83ecc-2c39-4444-8e39-e92e9b42c611/CommonsChamber|access-date=29 September 2021|website=hansard.parliament.uk|language=en}}</ref> 
*[[Timothy Innes]], actor, attended [[St Wilfrid's Catholic School]], was in ''[[Harlots (TV series)|Harlots]]'' (2017), ''[[The Last Kingdom (TV series)|The Last Kingdom]]'' (2018–2022), ''[[Fallen (upcoming TV series)|Fallen]]'' (2024).<ref name="innes">{{Cite web |title=Timothy Innes |url= https://www.amazon.co.uk/prime-video/actor/Timothy-Innes/amzn1.dv.gti.1703c266-2161-41d5-b85f-e8d8b0312a15/ |access-date=4 February 2025 |publisher=amazon.co.uk}}</ref>
*[[Leadley]] (Bethan Mary Leadley), singer-songwriter, music television presenter for [[4Music]] and YouTuber.<ref name="leadley">{{cite web|url=https://www.ukfestivalguides.com/artists/bethan-leadley/|title=Artist: Bethan Leadley|publisher=ukfestivalguides.com|access-date=3 September 2020|archive-date=22 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122234146/https://www.ukfestivalguides.com/artists/bethan-leadley/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Simon Jeffes]], musician and composer was born in Crawley.<ref name="ODNB">{{cite ODNB|title=Jeffes, Simon Harry Piers|url=http://oxfordindex.oup.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/68826|year=2004 |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/68826 |accessdate=28 November 2014 |last1=MacLaine |first1=Dominic }}</ref>
*[[Mark Lemon]], first editor of [[Punch magazine|''Punch'']], High Street resident from 1858 until death in 1870. Commemorated by a [[blue plaque]] at the [[The George Hotel, Crawley|George Hotel]].<ref name="townwalk">{{cite web|url=http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/otherdocs/int037605.pdf|title=Crawley Town Walk|access-date=3 August 2007|publisher=Crawley Borough Council|year=2007|work=Crawley Borough Council website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928092215/http://www.crawley.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/otherdocs/int037605.pdf|archive-date=28 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*[[Jordan Maguire-Drew]], professional footballer for [[Grimsby Town]], born in Crawley, played for [[Oakwood F.C.]], then [[Brighton and Hove Albion]].<ref name="SW">{{Cite web |title=J. Maguire-Drew |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/jordan-maguire-drew/450392/ |access-date=20 August 2017 |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group}}</ref>
*[[Alan Minter]], boxer won bronze at [[1972 Summer Olympics|1972 Munich Olympics]] at [[light middleweight]], 1980 was undisputed world [[middleweight]] champion.<ref name="Cole-Misc"/><ref name="minter">{{cite web|url=http://crawleyboxingclub.co.uk/about/club-history|title=Crawley Boxing Club History|publisher=crawleyboxingclub.co.uk|access-date=31 August 2020|archive-date=18 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218052301/http://www.crawleyboxingclub.co.uk/about/club-history|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Ross Minter]], boxer, (son of Alan), was British Boxing Board of Control English Welterweight boxing champion 2005.<ref name="ross">{{Cite web|title=Champions Evening at the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek |url=https://anightinmyshoes.com/champions-evening-october-15/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819215810/https://anightinmyshoes.com/champions-evening-october-15/ |url-status=dead |access-date=19 August 2021|publisher=anightinmyshoes.com |archive-date=19 August 2021}}</ref>
*[[Laura Moffatt]], British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Crawley from 1997 until 2010.<ref name="moff">{{cite web|url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/6707367.nhs-chief-hands-over-at-hospital/|title=NHS chief hands over at hospital - Moffatt MP former nurse|publisher=theargus.co.uk|date=14 February 2005|access-date=31 August 2020|archive-date=22 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122234241/https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/6707367.nhs-chief-hands-over-at-hospital/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Kevin Muscat]], Crawley born footballer, played for [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]] (1994–2006), had nine-year spell in UK, playing for four different clubs <ref name="kevin">{{Cite news|url= http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/world/players/7828/|title=Kevin Muscat|access-date=30 August 2007|work=CNN/Sports Illustrated (an AOL Time Warner company)|year=2001|archive-date=28 February 2004|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20040228003058/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/world/players/7828/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*[[Natasha Pyne]], actress, known for ''[[The Taming of the Shrew (1967 film)|The Taming of the Shrew]]'' (1967), ''[[The Breaking of Bumbo]]'' (1970) and ''[[Father, Dear Father (film)|Father, Dear Father]]'' (1973).<ref name="filmow">{{cite news |title= Natasha Pyne |url= https://filmow.com/natasha-pyne-a166329/ |publisher= filmow.com |access-date= 31 August 2020 |archive-date= 12 December 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131212184557/http://filmow.com/natasha-pyne-a166329/ |url-status= live }}</ref><ref name="hub">{{cite news|title=Natasha Pyne|url=http://www.classicmoviehub.com/bio/natasha-pyne/|publisher=classicmoviehub.com|access-date=31 August 2020|archive-date=18 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118064717/http://www.classicmoviehub.com/bio/natasha-pyne/|url-status=live}}</ref> 
[[File:The Prime Minister at St George's Park with Gareth Southgate on October 10, 2023.jpg|thumb|Rishi Sunak at St George's Park with Gareth Southgate and Harry Kane on October 10, 2023]]
*[[Romesh Ranganathan]], comedian and television personality, was a maths teacher at [[Hazelwick School]] and lives in the town.<ref name="CObs-4838227">{{cite news|url=https://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/news/maths-teacher-swaps-classroom-for-comedy-and-wins-top-award-1-4838227|title=Maths teacher swaps classroom for comedy and wins top award|date=4 March 2013|work=Crawley Observer|publisher=[[Johnston Press|Johnston Publishing Ltd]]|access-date=22 February 2018|archive-date=22 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222225911/https://www.crawleyobserver.co.uk/news/maths-teacher-swaps-classroom-for-comedy-and-wins-top-award-1-4838227|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Grace Saif]], actress, known for ''[[Doctors (2000 TV series)|Doctors]]'' (2000) and the [[Netflix]] show ''[[13 Reasons Why]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hazelwick School|date=2020|title=Hazelwick School Newsletter|url=https://www.hazelwick.org/attachments/download.asp?file=255&type=pdf#4|access-date=|website=Hazelwick School}}</ref> 
*[[Gareth Southgate]],  former [[England national football team|England football player]], former [[England national football team manager|England manager]] (2016-2024), reached [[2018 FIFA World Cup]] semi-final and two [[UEFA European Championship|Euro]] finals, losing both.<ref name="BBC-44360546">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44360546|title=World Cup: The real Gareth Southgate, by those who know him best|last=Shemilt|first=Stephan|work=BBC News|date=10 June 2018|access-date=11 June 2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180610231109/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44360546|archive-date=10 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="gareth">{{cite web|url= http://archive.theargus.co.uk/1999/11/12/196562.html |title=Southgate plans a party |access-date=30 August 2007 |publisher=Newsquest Media Group |date=12 November 1999 |work=[[The Argus (Brighton)|The Argus]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929105604/http://archive.theargus.co.uk/1999/11/12/196562.html |archive-date=29 September 2007 }}</ref>
*[[Daley Thompson]], athlete, winner of two Decathlon Olympic gold medals, trained in Crawley for the Olympics in [[1980 Summer Olympics|1980]] and [[1984 Summer Olympics|1984]].<ref name="Daley">{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/vo050721/debtext/50721-27.htm|title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 21&nbsp;Jul 2005 (pt 27)|access-date=17 March 2008|publisher=The Information Policy Division, Office of Public Sector Information|date=21 July 2005|work=United Kingdom Parliament website: Hansard (House of Commons Daily Debates)|archive-date=27 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627081658/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/vo050721/debtext/50721-27.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Theresa Tomlinson]] (born 1946), writer for children and young adults, was born in Crawley.<ref name="goodr">{{cite news |title= Theresa Tomlinson Goodreads author |url= https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/528122.Theresa_Tomlinson |publisher= goodreads.com |date= 29 April 2020 |access-date= 31 August 2020 |archive-date= 23 September 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200923204120/https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/528122.Theresa_Tomlinson |url-status= live }}</ref> 
*[[Peter Vaughan]], actor, ''[[Straw Dogs (1971 film)|Straw Dogs]]'' (1971), Grouty in ''[[Porridge (1974 TV series)|Porridge]]'' (1979) and Maester Aemon Targaryen in ''[[Game of Thrones]]'' (2011–2015).<ref name="sky">{{cite news |title= Game of Thrones and Porridge star Peter Vaughan dies at 93 |url= https://news.sky.com/story/game-of-thrones-and-porridge-star-peter-vaughan-dies-at-93-10685398 |publisher= news.sky.com |date= 6 December 2016 |access-date= 31 August 2020 |archive-date= 31 October 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201031153512/https://news.sky.com/story/game-of-thrones-and-porridge-star-peter-vaughan-dies-at-93-10685398 |url-status= live }}</ref> 
*[[Dan Walker (broadcaster)|Dan Walker]], BBC breakfast presenter, former sports presenter, born and raised in Crawley.<ref name="my">{{cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi-gEIpRt6o |title=Dan Walker - My Crawley |publisher= Crawley TV (Youtube)|date=2016}}</ref>
*[[The Cure]] were formed in Crawley in 1976 by [[Robert Smith (musician)|Robert Smith]], [[Michael Dempsey]] and [[Lol Tolhurst]], all of whom attended St Wilfrid's RC School.<ref name="cure">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A444980|title=BBC h2g2: The Cure|access-date=30 August 2007|publisher=BBC|date=12 August 2005|archive-date=18 December 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071218105203/http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A444980|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[The Feeling]]'s drummer [[Paul Stewart (musician)|Paul Stewart]], guitarist [[Kevin Jeremiah]] and keyboard player [[Ciaran Jeremiah]] were also at St Wilfrid's.<ref name="feeling">{{cite news|title=Feeling Their Way to Number One |url=http://www.thisiscrawley.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=252665&command=displayContent&sourceNode=252664&contentPK=19921336&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch |work=Crawley News |publisher=East Surrey and Sussex News and Media |location=Reigate, Surrey |issn=0961-480X |page=10 |date=20 February 2008 |access-date=20 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030102035/http://www.thisiscrawley.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=252665&command=displayContent&sourceNode=252664&contentPK=19921336&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch |archive-date=30 October 2015 }}</ref>
*[[Brett Marvin and the Thunderbolts]] were formed in Crawley in 1968 at the Thomas Bennett School.<ref name="bret">{{Cite web|url=http://www.thisissussex.co.uk/Father-Crawley-s-music-scene-dies-age-70/story-16106594-detail/story.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505123441/http://www.thisissussex.co.uk/Father-Crawley-s-music-scene-dies-age-70/story-16106594-detail/story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 May 2013|title=Jim Pitts dies|website=Thisissussex.co.uk|accessdate=16 October 2019}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|West Sussex}}
* [[List of places of worship in Crawley]]
* [[Urban planning]]
* [[West Sussex]]
* [[St. Nicholas' Church, Worth|Worth Church]]
* [[City Place Gatwick]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Bibliography ==
{{refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite book |last=Bastable |first=Roger |title=Crawley |series=Then & Now |publisher=Tempus Publishing |location=Stroud |isbn=978-0-7524-3063-8 |oclc=53242919 |year=2004 }}
* {{cite report |title=New Towns Act 1946: Reports of the Aycliffe, Crawley, Harlow, Hatfield, Hemel Hempstead, Peterlee, Stevenage and Welwyn Garden City Development Corporations for period ending 31 March 1949. [[Crawley Development Corporation]]: Second Annual Report |last=Bennett |first=Thomas P. |author-link=Thomas Bennett (architect) |year=1949 |publisher=[[Office of Public Sector Information|Her Majesty's Stationery Office]] |oclc=52186166 }}
* {{cite book |last=Body |first=Geoffrey |title=Railways of the Southern Region |series=PSL Field Guide |publisher=Patrick Stephens |location=Cambridge |isbn=978-0-85059-664-9 |oclc=11496293 |year=1984 }}
* {{cite book |last=Cole |first=Belinda |title=Crawley: A History and Celebration of the Town |publisher=Frith Book Company |location=Salisbury |isbn=978-1-904938-19-4 |oclc=59137480 |year=2004a }}
* {{cite book |last=Cole |first=Belinda |title=Crawley: An Illustrated Miscellany |publisher=Frith Book Company |location=Salisbury |isbn=978-1-904938-74-3 |oclc=59137646 |year=2004b }}
* {{cite book |last=Crawley Borough Council |title=Crawley: Official Guide |year=1997 |publisher=Local Authority Publishing Co Ltd |location=Wallington }}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Gray |editor-first=Fred |title=Crawley: Old Town, New Town |series=Occasional Papers (University of Sussex, Centre for Continuing Education), no. 18 |publisher=[[University of Sussex]] |location=Falmer |isbn=978-0-904242-21-8 |oclc=16599642  |year=1983 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Green |first1=Jeffrey |first2=Peter |last2=Allen |title=Crawley New Town in old photographs |publisher=Alan Sutton Publishing |location=Stroud |isbn=978-0-7509-0472-8 |oclc=30026985 |year=1993 }}
* {{cite book |last=Gwynne |first=Peter |title=A History of Crawley |publisher=Phillimore & Company |location=Chichester |isbn=978-0-85033-718-1 |oclc= 59815249 |year=1990 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Kraemer-Johnson |first1=Glyn |last2=Bishop |first2=John |title=Southdown Days |publisher=Ian Allan Publishing |location=Hersham |isbn=978-0-7110-3077-0 |oclc=60837945 |year=2005 }}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Lowerson |editor-first=John |title=Crawley: Victorian New Town |series=Occasional Papers (University of Sussex, Centre for Continuing Education), no. 12 |publisher=[[University of Sussex]] |location=Falmer |year=1980 |isbn=978-0-904242-14-0 |oclc=16563480 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Mitchell |first1=Vic |first2=Keith |last2=Smith |title=Three Bridges to Brighton |series=Southern Main Lines |publisher=Middleton Press |location=Midhurst |isbn=978-0-906520-35-2 |oclc=60024136 |year=1986a}}
* {{cite book |last1=Mitchell |first1=Vic |first2=Keith |last2=Smith |title=Crawley to Littlehampton |series=Southern Main Lines |publisher=Middleton Press |location=Midhurst |isbn=978-0-906520-34-5 |oclc=60024134 |year=1986b }}
* {{cite book|author=s.n.|title=Pigot's Directory of Sussex|url=http://www.historicaldirectories.org/hd/pageviewer.asp?pnum=31&zoom=&dn=WSC13002tif&fn=|year=1839|publisher=Pigot & Co|location=London and Manchester|id=WSC13002|author-link=Sine nomine|access-date=31 March 2008|archive-date=11 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611094707/http://www.historicaldirectories.org/hd/pageviewer.asp?pnum=31&zoom=&dn=WSC13002tif&fn=|url-status=live}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
* [https://crawley.gov.uk/ Crawley Borough Council]
{{Crawley}}
{{West Sussex}}
{{SE England}}
{{London commuter belt}}
{{good article}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Crawley| ]]
[[Category:Towns in West Sussex]]
[[Category:Planned communities in England]]
[[Category:Non-metropolitan districts of West Sussex]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 5th century]]
[[Category:Planned communities established in the 1940s]]
[[Category:Unparished areas in West Sussex]]
[[Category:Boroughs in England]]
[[Category:Former civil parishes in West Sussex]]