Darlington's origins date back to its time when it was an Anglo-Saxon settlement on the banks of the River Skerne which is a tributary of the River Tees.

As with many towns and villages close to the Northern coast line Darlington was sacked and plundered by the Vikings who at some point chose to settle there and have left their legacy with many place names being of Viking origin in and around Darlington.

Around the time of the Normans Darlington became a borough and the site of major importance as market town and for hundreds of years being of importance for traders throughout the North of England.

Today Darlington is a thriving town serving a wide community within County Durham. With a population of over one hundred thousand, which is much greater than that of Durham City, however, Darlington is no longer officially part of the County of Durham except in historical terms, being now a unitary Borough.

As with most towns and Cities in England Darlington's name has gone through many changes being derived from the Anglo-Saxon Dearthington, which meant `the settlement of Deornoth's people'. Then under Norman rule its name had changed to Derlinton. Then during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries the town was generally known by the name of `Darnton' or somewhat less politely as Darnton i' the Dirt, this slang was probably due to King James of Scotland who wrote the following uncomplimentary verses during a visit in 1603, thought to be in reference to the towns un-paved streets;

The church, St Cuthbert's, or the "bonny church" which is referred to in the rhyme by King James, is still one of the most admirable features of Darlington. Built in the twelfth century by Hugh Pudsey, Prince-Bishop of Durham, it is sometimes referred to as the `Lady of the North', being one of the largest churches in the region.

There is no obvious explanation for the name Darlington except that we know the elements ing and ton are Anglo-Saxon. Ing refers to a family group or kinship and ton is an enclosed farm or homestead. Darlington's name has changed many times throughout its history, but the first recorded form of the name was Dearthington and is thought to refer to someone called Deornoth. Hence Deornoth's peoples' homestead would seem to be the correct meaning. Later Dearthington became Dearnington and subsequently Darnton or Darnton i the Dirt due to unpaved streets. Darlington, the modern form of the name is more closely related to the earlier form Dearthington which continued in use for many centuries alongside the shortened form Darnton.

Today Darlington has many unique features, including the impressive railway station, with the railways having played a part in the town's history since the railways own birth. Sadly the great industrial heritage of building railways in now dead in the whole area, but memories still live on with the railway museum and the brick steam engine at Morton Park. There is always a lot to see and plenty to do in and around the town and it has become South Durham's main shopping town with a great range of shops to suit all needs.