Okehampton

Okehampton
Fore Street, Okehampton
Okehampton
Okehampton shown within Devon
Population	7,160 (2011)
OS grid reference	SX5895
• London	201 miles (323 km)
Civil parish	Okehampton
Shire county	Devon
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	OKEHAMPTON
Postcode district	EX20
Dialling code	01837
Police	Devon and Cornwall
Fire	Devon and Somerset
Ambulance	South Western
EU Parliament	South West England
UK Parliament	Torridge and West Devon
Website	http://www.okehampton. gov.uk/
List of places UK England Devon 50°44′20″N 4°00′15″W / 50.7388°N 4.0041°W / 50.7388; -4.0041Coordinates: 50°44′20″N 4°00′15″W / 50.7388°N 4.0041°W / 50.7388; -4.0041

Okehampton (/ˌoʊkˈhæmp.tən/ also /ˈoʊ.kæmp.tən/) is a town and civil parish in West Devon in the English county of Devon. It is situated at the northern edge of Dartmoor, and has an estimated population of 5,700. This increased to 7,160 at the 2011 census. Two electoral wards are based in the town (east and west). Their joint population at the same census is 7,500.

Okehampton was founded by the Saxons. The earliest written record of the settlement is from 980 AD as "Ocmundtune", meaning settlement by the Ockment, a river which runs through the town. It was recorded as a place for slaves to be freed at cross roads.

Like many towns in the West Country, Okehampton grew on the medieval wool trade. Notable buildings in the town include the 15th century chapel of St. James and Okehampton Castle, which was established by the Norman Sheriff of Devon, Baldwin FitzGilbert(d.1090).

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