Hereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire,
England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately 16 miles (26 km) east of the border
with Wales, 21 miles (34 km) southwest of Worcester, and 23 miles (37 km) northwest
of Gloucester. With a population of 50,400 people, it is the largest settlement in
the county.
The name "Hereford" is said to come from the Anglo Saxon "here", an army or
formation of soldiers, and the "ford", a place for crossing a river. If this is the
origin it suggests that Hereford was a place where a body of armed men forded or
crossed the Wye. The Welsh name for Hereford is Henffordd (or Henfordd).