Kirkby Stephen
| Kirkby Stephen | |
|---|---|
| Town and parish | |
A view over North Road and the Old Forge, with the parish church in the background | |
Kirkby Stephen Location in the former Eden District Kirkby Stephen Location within Cumbria | |
| Population | 1,822 (2011 census) |
| OS grid reference | NY7708 |
| Civil parish |
|
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | KIRKBY STEPHEN |
| Postcode district | CA17 |
| Dialling code | 01768 |
| Police | Cumbria |
| Fire | Cumbria |
| Ambulance | North West |
| UK Parliament | |
Kirkby Stephen (/ˈkɜːrbi/) is a market town and civil parish in Cumbria, England. It lies on the A685 and is surrounded by sparsely populated hill country, about 25 miles (40 km) from the nearest larger towns, Kendal and Penrith. The River Eden rises 6 miles (10 km) away in the peat bogs below Hugh Seat and passes the eastern edge of the town. At the 2001 census the parish had a population of 1,832. In 2011, it had a population of 1,822.
The name Kirkby derives from the Old Norse kirkju-býr meaning 'village with a church'. The Stephen part of the name is thought to derive from either the church (which may have previously been dedicated to St Stephen) or from a medieval abbot called Stephen.