Newtownards is regarded as a major town, townland and civil parish within County Down, Northern Ireland. It can be found at the most northern area of Strangford Lough, 10 miles (16 km) east of Belfast, on the Ards Peninsula. Newtownards is the biggest town in the Borough of Ards. As reported by the 2001 Census, it comes with a populace of 27,821 people within 11,502 homes, placing it within the "large town" class. Around 86 percent of the population is from a Protestant history and nine percent from a Catholic background. It is regarded colloquially by residents as "Ards".