East of England, in the Greater London Urban Area lies the town of Hemel Hempstead. With a population of around 89 000 people, it's one of the smaller towns in Hertfordshire. Hemel Hempstead dates back to the 8th century, when it was given a town charter by the current king – Henry VIII. In 1984 it becomes a part of the borough of Dacorum. At first, the Hempsted was called Henamsted, meaning High Hempstead. When the America colonists crossed the ocean, the settlement gave its name to Hempstead, New York. Both towns have the same origin and name.