Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, 32 miles (51 km) southeast of London. The River Medway runs through centre of the town. Traditionally Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural county of Kent, known as the Garden of England. Conservative Ann Widdecombe is MP for Maidstone & The Weald. There is evidence of a settlement in the area dating back to the Stone Age. In 2001, the town had a population of 75,000.