The demonym Adelaidean is used to denote the city and the residents of Adelaide. The traditional owners of the Adelaide region are the Kaurna. Its metropolitan area extends 20 km 12 mi from the coast to the foothills of the Mount Lofty Ranges, and stretches 96 km 60 mi from Gawler in the north to Sellicks Beach in the south.
Named in honour of Queen Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen , wife of King William IV , the city was founded in as the planned capital for the only freely settled British province in Australia.
Light's design, now listed as national heritage , set out the city centre in a grid layout known as " Light's Vision ", interspaced by wide boulevards and large public squares, and entirely surrounded by park lands.
Early colonial Adelaide was shaped by the diversity and wealth of its free settlers, in contrast to the convict history of other Australian cities. It was Australia's third-most populated city until the postwar era.
It has been noted for its leading examples of religious freedom and progressive political reforms, and became known as the " City of Churches " due to its diversity of faiths. The city has also been renowned for its automotive industry , as well as being the original host of the Australian Grand Prix in the FIA Formula One World Championship from to Today, Adelaide is known by its many festivals and sporting events, its food and wine , [ 16 ] its coastline and hills, its large defence and manufacturing sectors, and its emerging space sector, including the Australian Space Agency being headquartered here.
