Westhaven
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Westhaven | |
|---|---|
City | |
 Central Westhaven from above | |
 Flag | |
| Country | Borland |
| Yend | Borish Lowlands |
| Elevation | 5 m (16 ft) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 537,000 |
| Postal code | List of postal codes
|
| Area code | 020 |
| Website | www |
Westhaven (/ˈwɛstˌheɪvən/ or ~/ˌhɑːvən/; Borish pronunciation: [ˈwɛstˌhɑːvən]) is a city in Borland. It is located by the mouth of the River Aire on the coast of the Gulf of Assonaire in the Borish Lowlands, near the border with Estmere. With a population of 537 thousand, Westhaven is the second-largest city in Borland, behind Newstead. The port of Westhaven is the primary port of Borland. It is close to Dunwich, one of the largest ports in Estmere.
The city’s history is linked to its status as a port. It was first founded as a river port on the River Aire several kilometres inland in the 8th century. In the early 9th century, it was destroyed during a Marauder raid and rebuilt closer to the coastline. Later in the 9th century, the area was under the Marauder kingdom of Dunhelm. By the end of the 10th century, the Marauder kingdom fell apart, although Marauder raids continued into the 11th century. In the Middle Ages, the city underwent a cultural shift from Hethish to Swathish and later to Estmerish. Notably, the city developed an Estmerish-speaking ruling class that became the basis of Estmerish high culture in Borland. In 1630, the Count of Dyrham moved his family’s seat to Westhaven, further cementing the city’s role in the Lowlands. During the industrial revolution, the city grew rapidly, more than tripling its population during the 19th century. It became the centre of industry and railways in southern Borland. Much of the city was destroyed during the Great War. After the War, Westhaven was the only city in the Lowlands to only narrowly vote in against Borish independence.
Today, Westhaven remains one of the primary economic centres of Borland, hosting the country’s national bank, stock exchange alongside its largest port. Within the Borish Lowlands metropolitan area, Westhaven is the main economic, political and cultural centre. Westhaven is often seen as one of the centres of the Estmerish language and culture within Borland, being the largest Estmerophone city in the country.