Preston is a city and non-metropolitan district of Lancashire, in North West England. It is located on the north of the River Ribble, and became a city in 2002, becoming England's 50th city in the 50th year of Queen Elizabeth's reign. Preston has a population of around 131,900, and lies at the centre of the wider Preston sub-area, which has a population of 185,000, and Central Lancashire, with a population of 335,000.