The county town of Devon, and historically the administrative capital of the south-west peninsula. Once among the 5 largest and most important cities in England. Early industry driven by water power from the River Exe, but no major industrialisation in the later 19th century. A significant seaport (courtesy of its Ship Canal) until the age of steam. Badly damaged in an incendiary bombing raid on the High Street and surrounding areas in 1942, with feeble post-war reconstruction, but many interesting buildings remain. Now the commercial and service centre for a largely agricultural hinterland, with a population of around 110,000. Adequate facilities for tourists but not dominated by tourism; regularly voted among the top 3 cities in the UK for quality of life. http://wikitravel.org/en/Exeter