Haverfordwest is the county town of Pembrokeshire in Wales. It acts as the county's primary commercial and administrative centre. Haverfordwest is the most heavily populated urban area in Pembrokeshire. Nevertheless, in accordance with the 2011 Census, the town has a permanent population of around 12042 people, which is a slim reduction from the 13367 residents recorded in the 2001 Census. The town has been English-speaking for centuries, yet given that the town markets traded the goods of Welsh farmers to the north and east, there has always been a substantial Welsh-speaking influence and the air of a 'frontier' town. The residential area of Prendergast seems to have emerged as an extramural Welsh dormitory, dating from the times when all farming trade had to travel through the district, and the fearful Normans before the destruction of Anglo-Norman power in 1136 aimed to avoid Welshmen bearing arms from entering within the castle walls after nightfall. In accordance with its status as a sub local hub-town, Haverfordwest continues to act as Pembrokeshire's primary commercial and retail centre. Recent years have seen the development of the river-side shopping centre. More recently still there has been considerable retail development in the residential area of Withybush on the borders of the town, with the opening of a number of big commercial chain stores. Haverfordwest is about 6 miles (10 kilometres) miles east of the village of Broad Haven, part of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and Britain's only coastal national park, which brings in thousands of travelers every year. The closest border of the park is at Hanton Bridge 1.5 miles (2.4 km) southeast. The town is also home to a variety of football, rugby, cricket and kayaking clubs. For all of your home refurbishments, make sure to identify respected specialists in Haverfordwest to make certain of quality.