Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Luton

LUTON, a market-town of Bedfordshire, England, on the little Lea, among the Chiltern Hills, 31 miles N. N. W. of London; is the chief seat in England of the straw-plait (for hats, bonnets, etc.), an industry dating from the reign of James I., and employing 20,000 persons here and in the neighborhood; has St. Mary's Church, Plait-hall (1869), a town-hall, corn exchange, people's park, etc. Pop. about 45,000.