Crawley is a town and local government district in West Sussex, England. It covers an area of 44.97 km² and has a population of 99,744 people (2001 census). It is bordered by the Sussex Local Authorities of Mid Sussex and Horsham Districts; and by the Surrey authorities of Mole Valley and Tandridge Districts, and the Borough of Reigate & Banstead. Crawley is the nearest large town to the United Kingdom's second largest airport, Gatwick, which has a major influence on the economy and development of the town. Crawley was designated as a New Town area under the New Towns Act of 1946. Its development then ballooned during the 1950s and 1960s, bringing it to a population of around 60,000. Crawley New Town was based around three communities: Crawley itself, Ifield to the west and Three Bridges to the east. The Act allowed expansion as required: and since its beginnings, the town has continued to grow, incorporating neighbouring settlements. Six square kilometres were added to the authority's area in 1983; and a further neighbourhood to the north-east of the town is planned. During the boom of the 1980s the town boasted the lowest level of unemployment in the UK.