A city near Spain was finally recognized as a British city on Monday, 180 years after an administrative error caused the city not to receive the title bestowed upon it by Queen Victoria.
Gibraltar, newly recognized by the British government, tried to become a city earlier this year, but research from the National Archives showed that Gibraltar had already been recognized as a city in 1842, according to Reuters.
“It is excellent to see official recognition given to the City of Gibraltar, a huge accolade to its rich history and dynamism,” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a statement. “This official recognition re-affirms Gibraltar’s special status in the Realms of Her Majesty, and rightly signifies the pride that Gibraltarians feel for their community and their distinctive heritage.”
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Gibraltar has been claimed by Spain, France, and Britain throughout the centuries. In 1704, it was captured by the British fleet during the war of the Spanish Succession, and in 1713, it was ceded to Britain under the Treaty of Utrecht, according to Historic UK.
In 1968, a referendum asked the people of Gibraltar whether they wanted to remain with Britain or side with Spain, with 12,762 voting to stay with Britain and just 44 people voting for Spain. In 2002, another vote was taken on the same issue, again with an overwhelming majority voting to stay with Britain.
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The biggest and most iconic part of Gibraltar is the city’s giant rock, known as the Pillars of Hercules, which measures about 426 meters high, equal to 1,398 feet, according to World Atlas. The city as a whole covers an area of 4.2 square miles, and the official language is English, with Spanish also being widely spoken by its residents, according to Visit Gibraltar.
