Counties of the United Kingdom: Difference between revisions
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The [[United Kingdom]] has 92 '''counties''' or '''shires'''. The British counties are the oldest extant national divisions in the world. | The [[United Kingdom]] has 92 '''counties''' or '''shires'''. The British counties are the oldest extant national divisions in the world. | ||
Where a distinction has to be made with statutory "counties" so called for | Where a distinction has to be made with statutory "counties" so called for administrative purposes, the counties are variously known as ''historic counties'', ''traditional counties'' or ''ancient or geographical counties''<ref>Census Report, 1891 (General Register Office)</ref>. | ||
The counties have no administrative function, existing as geographical and cultural areas. Most of the counties have an existence stretching back to the | The counties have no administrative function, existing as geographical and cultural areas. Most of the counties have an existence stretching back to the Middle Ages and almost all of the English counties have been established for over a thousand years. Even the relatively young Highland shires, only 450 years old as such, have a much older existence as geographical and cultural areas. | ||
In this time many activities many activities and much social understanding and local identity has grown up intertwined with the counties, and so they have become a vital part of British and Irish culture. | In this time many activities many activities and much social understanding and local identity has grown up intertwined with the counties, and so they have become a vital part of British and Irish culture. | ||
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|<big>[[Bedfordshire]]</big>||Bedford||align="right"|465||align="right"|{{hcspop|09}}||[[Bedford]], [[Biggleswade]], [[Dunstable]], [[Leighton Buzzard]], [[Luton]], [[Sandy, Bedfordshire|Sandy]] | |<big>[[Bedfordshire]]</big>||Bedford||align="right"|465||align="right"|{{hcspop|09}}||[[Bedford]], [[Biggleswade]], [[Dunstable]], [[Leighton Buzzard]], [[Luton]], [[Sandy, Bedfordshire|Sandy]] | ||
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|<big>[[Berkshire]]</big>||Berks||align="right"|722||align="right"|{{hcspop|10}}||[[ | |<big>[[Berkshire]]</big>||Berks||align="right"|722||align="right"|{{hcspop|10}}||[[Reading]], [[Abingdon]], [[Bracknell]], [[Maidenhead]], [[Newbury, Berkshire|Newbury]], [[Windsor]], [[Wokingham]] | ||
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|<big>[[Berwickshire]]</big>||Berwick||align="right"|457||align="right"|{{hcspop|11}}||[[Greenlaw]], [[Coldstream]], [[Duns]], [[Eyemouth]], [[Lauder]] | |<big>[[Berwickshire]]</big>||Berwick||align="right"|457||align="right"|{{hcspop|11}}||[[Greenlaw]], [[Coldstream]], [[Duns]], [[Eyemouth]], [[Lauder]] | ||
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|<big>[[Devon]]</big>||Devon||align="right"|2,405||align="right"|{{hcspop|27}}||[[Exeter]], [[Plymouth]], [[Barnstaple]], [[Newton Abbot]], [[Paignton]], [[Tavistock]], [[Tiverton]], [[Torquay]] | |<big>[[Devon]]</big>||Devon||align="right"|2,405||align="right"|{{hcspop|27}}||[[Exeter]], [[Plymouth]], [[Barnstaple]], [[Newton Abbot]], [[Paignton]], [[Tavistock]], [[Tiverton]], [[Torquay]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|<big>[[Dorset]]</big>||Dorset||align="right"|980||align="right"|{{hcspop|28}}||[[ | |<big>[[Dorset]]</big>||Dorset||align="right"|980||align="right"|{{hcspop|28}}||[[Dorchester]], [[Poole]], [[Shaftesbury]], [[Sherborne]], [[Weymouth]], [[Wimborne Minster]] | ||
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|<big>[[County Down|Down]]</big>||Down||align="right"|950||align="right"|{{hcspop|29}}||[[Downpatrick]], [[Bangor, County Down|Bangor]], [[Holywood]], [[Newcastle, County Down|Newcastle]], [[Strangford]] | |<big>[[County Down|Down]]</big>||Down||align="right"|950||align="right"|{{hcspop|29}}||[[Downpatrick]], [[Bangor, County Down|Bangor]], [[Holywood]], [[Newcastle, County Down|Newcastle]], [[Strangford]] | ||
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|<big>[[Dumfriesshire]]</big>||Dumfries||align="right"|1,063||align="right"|{{hcspop|30}}||[[Dumfries]], [[Annan]], [[Gretna]], [[Langholm]], [[Lockerbie]], [[Moffat]], [[Sanquhar]] | |<big>[[Dumfriesshire]]</big>||Dumfries||align="right"|1,063||align="right"|{{hcspop|30}}||[[Dumfries]], [[Annan]], [[Gretna]], [[Langholm]], [[Lockerbie]], [[Moffat]], [[Sanquhar]] | ||
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|<big>[[Dunbartonshire]]</big>||Dunbarton||align="right"|241||align="right"|{{hcspop|31}}||[[Dumbarton]], [[ | |<big>[[Dunbartonshire]]</big>||Dunbarton||align="right"|241||align="right"|{{hcspop|31}}||[[Dumbarton]], [[Alexandria]], [[Clydebank]], [[Cumbernauld]], [[Helensburgh]], [[Kirkintilloch]] | ||
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|<big>[[County Durham|Durham]]</big>||Durham||align="right"|1,015||align="right"|{{hcspop|32}}||[[Durham]], [[Gateshead]], [[Darlington]], [[Hartlepool]], [[Stockton-on-Tees]], [[Sunderland]], [[ | |<big>[[County Durham|Durham]]</big>||Durham||align="right"|1,015||align="right"|{{hcspop|32}}||[[Durham]], [[Gateshead]], [[Darlington]], [[Hartlepool]], [[Stockton-on-Tees]], [[Sunderland]], [[Washington]] | ||
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|<big>[[East Lothian]]</big>||Haddington||align="right"|267||align="right"|{{hcspop|33}}||[[Haddington]], [[Dunbar]], [[East Linton]], [[North Berwick]], [[Tranent]] | |<big>[[East Lothian]]</big>||Haddington||align="right"|267||align="right"|{{hcspop|33}}||[[Haddington]], [[Dunbar]], [[East Linton]], [[North Berwick]], [[Tranent]] | ||
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|<big>[[Essex]]</big>||Essex||align="right"|1,542||align="right"|{{hcspop|34}}||[[Chelmsford]], [[Basildon]], [[ | |<big>[[Essex]]</big>||Essex||align="right"|1,542||align="right"|{{hcspop|34}}||[[Chelmsford]], [[Basildon]], [[Brentwood]], [[Colchester]], [[Harlow]], [[Romford]], [[Southend-on-Sea]], [[Stratford, Essex|Stratford]] | ||
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|<big>[[Fermanagh]]</big>||Fermanagh||align="right"|715||align="right"|{{hcspop|35}}||[[Enniskillen]], [[Belleek, Fermanagh|Belleek]], [[Irvinestown]] | |<big>[[Fermanagh]]</big>||Fermanagh||align="right"|715||align="right"|{{hcspop|35}}||[[Enniskillen]], [[Belleek, Fermanagh|Belleek]], [[Irvinestown]] | ||
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|<big>[[Fife]]</big>||Fife||align="right"|504||align="right"|{{hcspop|36}}||[[Cupar]], [[Dunfermline]], [[Burntisland]], [[Cowdenbeath]], [[Glenrothes]], [[Kirkcaldy]], [[St Andrews]] | |<big>[[Fife]]</big>||Fife||align="right"|504||align="right"|{{hcspop|36}}||[[Cupar]], [[Dunfermline]], [[Burntisland]], [[Cowdenbeath]], [[Glenrothes]], [[Kirkcaldy]], [[St Andrews]] | ||
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|<big>[[Flintshire]]</big>||Flint||align="right"|640||align="right"|{{hcspop|37}}||[[ | |<big>[[Flintshire]]</big>||Flint||align="right"|640||align="right"|{{hcspop|37}}||[[Mold]], [[Connah's Quay]], [[Buckley]], [[Flint]], [[Holywell]], [[Prestatyn]], [[Rhyl]], [[St Asaph]] | ||
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|<big>[[Glamorgan]]</big>||Glamorgan||align="right"|845||align="right"|{{hcspop|38}}||[[Cardiff]], [[Swansea]], [[Barry, Glamorgan|Barry]], [[Bridgend]], [[Caerphilly]], [[Merthyr Tydfil]], [[Neath]], [[Pontypridd]] | |<big>[[Glamorgan]]</big>||Glamorgan||align="right"|845||align="right"|{{hcspop|38}}||[[Cardiff]], [[Swansea]], [[Barry, Glamorgan|Barry]], [[Bridgend]], [[Caerphilly]], [[Merthyr Tydfil]], [[Neath]], [[Pontypridd]] | ||
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|<big>[[Leicestershire]]</big>||Leicester||align="right"|800||align="right"|{{hcspop|51}}||[[Leicester]], [[Coalville]], [[Hinckley]], [[Loughborough]], [[Lutterworth]], [[Melton Mowbray]] | |<big>[[Leicestershire]]</big>||Leicester||align="right"|800||align="right"|{{hcspop|51}}||[[Leicester]], [[Coalville]], [[Hinckley]], [[Loughborough]], [[Lutterworth]], [[Melton Mowbray]] | ||
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|<big>[[Lincolnshire]]</big>||Lincoln||align="right"|2,646||align="right"|{{hcspop|52}}||[[Lincoln]], [[ | |<big>[[Lincolnshire]]</big>||Lincoln||align="right"|2,646||align="right"|{{hcspop|52}}||[[Lincoln]], [[Boston]], [[Grantham]], [[Grimsby]], [[Louth, Lincolnshire|Louth]], [[Scunthorpe]], [[Skegness]], [[Stamford, Lincolnshire|Stamford]] | ||
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|<big>[[County Londonderry|Londonderry]]</big>||Londonderry||align="right"|816||align="right"|{{hcspop|53}}||[[Londonderry]], [[Coleraine]], [[Limavady]] | |<big>[[County Londonderry|Londonderry]]</big>||Londonderry||align="right"|816||align="right"|{{hcspop|53}}||[[Londonderry]], [[Coleraine]], [[Limavady]] | ||
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|<big>[[Monmouthshire]]</big>||Monmouth||align="right"|530||align="right"|{{hcspop|57}}||[[Monmouth]], [[Newport, Monmouthshire|Newport]], [[Abergavenny]], [[Blackwood, Monmouthshire|Blackwood]], [[Chepstow]], [[Cwmbran]], [[Tredegar]] | |<big>[[Monmouthshire]]</big>||Monmouth||align="right"|530||align="right"|{{hcspop|57}}||[[Monmouth]], [[Newport, Monmouthshire|Newport]], [[Abergavenny]], [[Blackwood, Monmouthshire|Blackwood]], [[Chepstow]], [[Cwmbran]], [[Tredegar]] | ||
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|<big>[[Montgomeryshire]]</big>||Montgomery||align="right"|780||align="right"|{{hcspop|58}}||[[ | |<big>[[Montgomeryshire]]</big>||Montgomery||align="right"|780||align="right"|{{hcspop|58}}||[[Montgomery]], [[Llanidloes]], [[Machynlleth]], [[Newtown, Montgomeryshire|Newtown]], [[Welshpool]] | ||
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|<big>[[Morayshire]]</big>||Elgin/Moray||align="right"|476||align="right"|{{hcspop|59}}||[[ | |<big>[[Morayshire]]</big>||Elgin/Moray||align="right"|476||align="right"|{{hcspop|59}}||[[Elgin]], [[Fochabers]], [[Lossiemouth]], [[Forres]], [[Rothes]] | ||
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|<big>[[Nairnshire]]</big>||Nairn||align="right"|200||align="right"|{{hcspop|60}}||[[Nairn]], [[Auldearn]], [[Cawdor]] | |<big>[[Nairnshire]]</big>||Nairn||align="right"|200||align="right"|{{hcspop|60}}||[[Nairn]], [[Auldearn]], [[Cawdor]] | ||
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|<big>[[Tyrone]]</big>||Tyrone||align="right"|1,260||align="right"|{{hcspop|85}}||[[Omagh]], [[Cookstown]], [[Dungannon]], [[Strabane]] | |<big>[[Tyrone]]</big>||Tyrone||align="right"|1,260||align="right"|{{hcspop|85}}||[[Omagh]], [[Cookstown]], [[Dungannon]], [[Strabane]] | ||
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|<big>[[Warwickshire]]</big>||Warwick||align="right"|885||align="right"|{{hcspop|86}}||[[Warwick]], [[Birmingham]], [[Coventry]], [[Nuneaton]], [[ | |<big>[[Warwickshire]]</big>||Warwick||align="right"|885||align="right"|{{hcspop|86}}||[[Warwick]], [[Birmingham]], [[Coventry]], [[Nuneaton]], [[Rugby]], [[Solihull]], [[Stratford-upon-Avon]] | ||
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|<big>[[West Lothian]]</big>||Linlithgow||align="right"|120||align="right"|{{hcspop|87}}||[[Linlithgow]], [[Armadale, West Lothian|Armadale]], [[Bathgate]], [[Bo'ness]], [[Broxburn, West Lothian|Broxburn]], [[Livingston, West Lothian|Livingston]], [[Whitburn, West Lothian|Whitburn]] | |<big>[[West Lothian]]</big>||Linlithgow||align="right"|120||align="right"|{{hcspop|87}}||[[Linlithgow]], [[Armadale, West Lothian|Armadale]], [[Bathgate]], [[Bo'ness]], [[Broxburn, West Lothian|Broxburn]], [[Livingston, West Lothian|Livingston]], [[Whitburn, West Lothian|Whitburn]] |
Revision as of 14:59, 6 April 2011
The United Kingdom has 92 counties or shires. The British counties are the oldest extant national divisions in the world.
Where a distinction has to be made with statutory "counties" so called for administrative purposes, the counties are variously known as historic counties, traditional counties or ancient or geographical counties[1].
The counties have no administrative function, existing as geographical and cultural areas. Most of the counties have an existence stretching back to the Middle Ages and almost all of the English counties have been established for over a thousand years. Even the relatively young Highland shires, only 450 years old as such, have a much older existence as geographical and cultural areas.
In this time many activities many activities and much social understanding and local identity has grown up intertwined with the counties, and so they have become a vital part of British and Irish culture.
Until the late twentieth century, administrative functions have been carried on using the counties' boundaries or approximations to them, and so centuries of public records have been organised county by county, for which reason an understanding of the counties is vital for genealogical and historic research.
List of the counties
See also
Notes and References
- ↑ Census Report, 1891 (General Register Office)