a municipal and parliamentary borough and market-town of Ireland, county of Londonderry, on the Bann, 4 miles from its mouth, and 145 miles N. of Dublin. The town stands upon both sides of the river, which is here crossed by a very handsome stone bridge of three arches 288 feet in length by 32 m. breadth. The principal part stands on the east bank, and consists of a central square called the "Diamond," and several diverging streets; the portion on the west side is called the Waterside or Killowen. It has two parish churches, two Roman Catholic chapels, town-hall, market-house, endowed school, national model school, savings-bank, gas-works, and work-house.

The linen trade has been long extensively carried on here, particularly a fine description known as "Coleraines." Soap, candles, and leather are also manufactured; and the salmon and eel fisheries are actively prosecuted. It returns one member to parliament. Constituency (1853) 246. Population (1851) 5920. The mouth of the river, which was obstructed by a bar, has of late years been so much improved that vessels of 200 tons can now discharge at the quay of Coleraine. A government survey has just been completed (1854), with a view of still further improving the navigation of the river. The principal trade is carried on through Port Rush, at the mouth of the Bann, where the harbour is formed by two moles, with an entrance of 200 feet wide, an area of 8 acres, and a depth of from 15 to 20 feet at the wharfs. In 1852, 551 vessels of 114,156 tons entered the port. Gross custom duties collected, L.5080.