Scarborough, town (1991 pop. 36,665), and borough and district, North Yorkshire, NE England, on the North Sea. The town, primarily a resort, is also an important conference and retirement center. The larger borough occupies most of North Yorkshire's North Sea coast and includes the towns of Whitby and Filey. Much of the borough's countryside is included the North York Moors National Park. The area around Scarborough was recognized at an early time for its strategic location. Vestiges of a 4th-century Roman signaling station and a 12th-century castle remain. The ancient Church of St. Mary rests on the site of a Cistercian priory. The town's noted fair (13th–18th cent.) is the subject of a well-known song.
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