City of Colchester

City of Colchester
Colchester shown within Essex
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryEngland
RegionEast of England
Non-metropolitan countyEssex
StatusNon-metropolitan district, City,
Admin HQColchester
Incorporated1 April 1974
Government
 • TypeNon-metropolitan district council
 • BodyColchester City Council
 • Leadership(No overall control)
 • MPsBernard Jenkin,
Priti Patel,
Pam Cox
Area
 • Total
128.64 sq mi (333.18 km2)
 • Rank115th (of 296)
Population
 (2024)
 • Total
200,222
 • Rank100th (of 296)
 • Density1,556.4/sq mi (600.94/km2)
Ethnicity (2021)
 • Ethnic groups
List
Religion (2021)
 • Religion
List
Time zoneUTC0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
ONS code22UG (ONS)
E07000071 (GSS)
OS grid referenceTL997254

The City of Colchester is a local government district with city status in Essex, England, named after its main settlement, Colchester. With an estimated population of 200,222 in mid-2024, it is the most populous district in Essex. The district includes the towns of West Mersea and Wivenhoe, with surrounding rural areas stretching from Dedham Vale, on the Suffolk border in the north, to Mersea Island in the Colne Estuary in the south. It borders Tendring District to the east, Maldon District to the south, Braintree District to the west and Babergh District in Suffolk to the north.