Walsall is an industrial town in the West Midlands of England, it is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Walsall is a part of the West Midlands conurbation and a part of the Black Country.

Walsall is a medium sized, industrial town in the English Midlands, and is the administrative headquarters of the Walsall Metropolitan Borough. In 2002 the town had a population of 178,600. with nearly 250,000 living in the surrounding borough. Neighbouring towns in the borough include Willenhall, Bloxwich and Aldridge.

The name Walsall is thought to have derived from the words "Walh halh", meaning Valley of the foreigners (referring to the Celts). By the first part of the 13th Century A.D. Walsall was a small market town, with the weekly market being introduced in 1220 AD. The Mayor of Walsall was created as a political position in the 14th Century.

Queen Mary's Grammar School opened in Walsall in 1554, the 450th anniversary was commemorated by the School achieving Language College status, and the date 2004 being added to the crest, next to 1554.

The industrial revolution changed the town from a village of 2,000 in the 16th century to a town of over 86,000 in approximately 200 years. It is a local story, although perhaps not accurate, that Walsall declined a railway line, which was later given to Birmingham, now England's second city. Walsall finally recieved a railway line in 1847, 48 years after canals reached the town.

Walsall has had many industries, from coal mining to metal working, but in the late 19th century the coal mines ran dry and Walsall became internationally famous for the Leather trade. Walsall still manufactures the Queen's handbags, and Walsall leather products have been found as far afield as Italy, which prompted some embarressment when a husband gave one to his wife as a present after a business trip, when she realised she immediately assumed that the handbag had been bought when the husband returned. Apart from leather goods, other industries in Walsall include: Iron and brass founding, limestone quarrying, small hardware, plastics, electronics, chemicals, and aircraft parts.

The local council is presently Conservative controlled. The Mayor is a conservative councillor by the name of Mike Bird. Walsall has three Members of Parliament in the constituencies Walsall North, Walsall South, and Aldridge / Brownhills . The member for Walsall North is currently David Winnick M.P. (Labour) and Rt. Hon. Bruce George, M.P. (Labour) is the member for Walsall South. Bruce George is also chair of the Defence select committee, a member of H.R.H.'s most honourable privy council, and was leader of the international team overseeing the recent elections in Ukraine.

The Walsall Memorial Gardens and Arboretum opened in 1952, and hold the second biggest Illuminations in the country, as they purchase their lights second hand from Blackpool. Walsall was made a Metropolital Borough in 1974, and a museum to the leather trade opened in 1988 by Princess Anne. The most recent development in Walsall has been the new Art gallery, opened by Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II in 2000, and the construction of a new retail park. Plans also exist to suppliment the town's bus and rail links with a tram link to West Bromwich.

Walsall Leather Museum is one of its key attractions, as is the New Art Gallery, commissioned for the millennium, and of national significance. The Walsall Arboretum is another popular feature, notably for its illuminations.

Walsall's football club, Walsall FC (The Sadders), was founded in 1887 when Walsall Town FC and Walsall Swifts FC merged. They won their first game against the now legendary Aston Villa. The club are currently in 16th Position of the Coca-Cola Football league one, after being relegated last season.

The shopping possibilities in Walsall are varied, with many electrical goods stores, and every mobile phone chain in the country being represented. There are all of the clothes shops you would expect in a large town, which avoids the need to visit Birmingham for most items.

Nightlife in the town, however, is rather one sided. There are seemingly no provisions whatsoever for people who do not enjoy dance or rnb music. The most popular club is without a doubt WS1, which is full of sixth form or college students every thursday night. It has previously held the honour of being voted the best club in the West Midlands.

Pork scratchings are the most famous local snack, although they are not universally popular throughout the rest of the UK. Traditionally, these are made by deep frying pork rind (pork fat), and then adding salt. Walsall's heart-attack rate is one of the highest in the UK.

A local landmark is Barr Beacon.

The writer Jerome K. Jerome was born in Walsall, as was Noddy Holder the lead singer of the rock band Slade, the Coronation Street actress Sue Nicholls and the Radio 2 presenter Alex Lester. Also from Walsall was the exciting 1930s Northamptonshire batsman Fred Bakewell. Sister Dora, another local, is honoured by a status in the centre of town, next to the legendary Concrete Hippo. The town has multiple pieces of public art.

• Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council
• Walsall Art Gallery (Flash)
• Walsall Leather Museum
• Queen Mary's Grammar School
• Queen Mary's High School