a municipal borough, river port, and market-town of England, county of Kent, on the right bank of the Thames, 22 miles below London, with which it is connected by railway. Gravesend is chiefly indebted for its prosperity to its intercourse with London; and since the establishment of steamboat and railway communication with that metropolis, it has been gradually increasing in Gravina size and importance. It occupies a pleasant and healthy situation, with good accommodation for bathing; and from the heights above the town, especially that called Windmill Hill, extended views of the river with its windings and shipping are obtained. During the summer season it is much resorted to by the middle classes of London, many of whom have houses here to which they come daily or weekly at the close of business. The crowds of visitors that come here on Sunday in fine weather are very great. The town occupies an acclivity rising from the river; the older and lower part of it is irregularly built, with narrow and inconvenient streets, but the upper and newer portion is well and regularly built, and has several handsome streets, squares, and terraces. The town-hall is a neat and conspicuous Doric edifice, erected in 1836. The church, which stands near the centre of the town is a neat brick building. It has several other churches and chapels, a free grammar-school, literary institution, market-house, custom-house, theatre, concert-room, bazaars, baths, &c. It has several piers, two of which, the town-pier and the terrace-pier, are very handsome and convenient structures, mostly of iron. East of the town is a battery, nearly facing Tilbury Fort on the Essex side. Gravesend is the boundary of the port of London. In the vicinity are extensive market gardens. The borough is governed by a mayor, 6 aldermen, and 18 councillors. It includes the two parishes of Gravesend and Milton, and extends along the river for a mile and a-half, and two miles inland in the southern part. Pop. (1851) 16,633.