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High Wycombe, (previously Chepping Wycombe or Chipping Wycombe as late as 1911) is a town in South Buckinghamshire, England. It is 29 miles west-north-west of London; this figure is engraved on the Corn Market building in the centre of the town. According to the 2001 census the High Wycombe urban area had a population of 118,229, making it the largest town in the shire county of Buckinghamshire now that Milton Keynes is a unitary authority, and the second largest in the ceremonial county.
High Wycombe is mostly an unparished area in the Wycombe district. Part of the urban area constitutes a civil parish of Chepping Wycombe, which had a population of 14,455 according to the 2001 census - this parish represents that part of the ancient parish of Chepping Wycombe which was outside the former municipal borough of Wycombe.
Wycombe is a combination of industrial and market town. There has been a market held in the High Street since Medieval times. There is also a craft market found in the Octagon shopping centre.
The town has always had a presence of industry, which in the 17th century exceeded the market town and now Wycombe remains more industrial in character. An interesting and individual custom of High Wycombe is that it is the only place in the world that weighs its Mayors[citation needed].
Although situated in the county of Buckinghamshire which is one of the most affluent parts of the country Wycombe contains some considerably deprived areas.
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