Liverpool is a large city in England, in the United Kingdom. It lies on the River Mersey in western England, near the Irish Sea. Major industrial facilities of Liverpool include flour mills, sugar refineries, and an automobile-making plant. Shipping is an important economic activity in the Liverpool area.
Liverpool was founded in 1207. It gained importance as a trade center in the 1700′s. Ships based in Liverpool carried slaves from Africa to the Caribbean region and North America in exchange for various products. During the 1800′s, trade activities in Liverpool increased sharply, and the city expanded rapidly. During World War II (1939-1945), German bombers heavily damaged the city and its docks.