Eastbourne is a large town in East Sussex, England. It lies in the south coast of England and as of 2009, the estimated population is around 97 000. It is a historical region with record of human activity since the Stone Age. Originally, it was a settlement of four small hamlets but by the 19th century these merged into one town. With the advent of the railway system, it became a seaside resort for the English population during the Victorian era and is so today.

The area has a lot of historical value. Sites within the region and its surrounding areas have been excavated to reveal artifacts from the Stone Age as well as Roman sites.

The town started to gain in popularity and grew very quickly in population in the mid 19th century with the introduction of the railway. This growth continued for a few decades during which time the royals George V and Queen Mary visited the town.

Eastbourne saw many changes during the Second World War when its fortunes changed. The town was anticipated to be in the war zone after the invasion of France. Due to its coastal location, the town was affected badly by the air raids during the war and many people took shelter away from the coastal area. During this period, the town suffered a great deal and many historical buildings were damaged or destroyed.

Today, tourism provides the town with one its biggest sources of income and employment. The town is very popular for short breaks but hotels in the area can be fully occupied during events such as the International Women’s Open tennis tournament. One of the major annual events that take place here is the 4-day international airshow, ‘Airbourne’ in association with Red Arrows.

With respect to politics, the town is mainly Conservatives or Liberal Democrat supporters and swings between these two parties. The town is made up of nine wards, which are governed by a body of councilors. The party in power traditionally elects the town mayor, who serves a ceremonial role.

In terms of demographics, the Eastbourne population is increasing and is expected to continue to do so. Eastbourne is associated with the elderly generation as it is a very popular retirement home. In the 2001 consensus, it showed that its over 60 population is larger than the average for a region with over a quarter of its population over this age. In comparison, The UK average is roughly 18 per cent. Ethnically, over 90 per cent of the population is white with a handful of minority groups. The largest minority group is made up by the Chinese population that have settled here.