Rotherham is a minster town in South Yorkshire, England. It is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham. Rotherham is named after the River Rother, one of two major rivers to flow through the town. Before the Industrial Revolution, traditional industries included farming, glass making and flour milling. In the late 18th and 19th centuries, Rotherham became known for its coal mining and, later, steel industries.