county town of Kent, England

Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town, linking it with Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town’s trade as the centre of the agricultural county of Kent, known as the Garden of England. There is evidence of a settlement in the area dating back to beyond the Stone Age. The town is in the borough of Maidstone. In 2011, the town had a population of 113,137, about 73 per cent of the population of the borough. Maidstone’s economy has changed over the years from being involved in heavy industry, to more light industry and service industries. Other nearby areas include Bearsted.