User:Poiuytre/Original

Traditionally and culturally there are considered to be 92 counties that make up the United Kingdom. Of these, six are provinces in Northern Ireland, with the other 86 being in Great Britain: 39 in England, 34 in Scotland and 13 in Wales. It is believed that the English counties were established between the 9th and 13th centuries.^[1]

In May 2013, the British Government formally acknowledged the "continuing role" of these counties in England, including those that are no longer used for administrative purposes.^[2] In response to this, many national media outlets and newspapers said that culturally the counties were still of importance, and that many people had still not embraced any administrative changes made by the central government over the last fifty years.^[3]^[4]^[2]

Counties[edit]

Name	Alternative Name^[a]	HCN^[b]	HCC^[c]	Town	Day	Saint	Area^[d]
Aberdeenshire	Obar Dheathain	#01	ABN	Aberdeen			1950
Anglesey	Sir Fôn	#02	AGL	Llangefni		Saint Dwynwen	276
Angus	Aonghas	#03	ANG	Forfar			889
Antrim	Aontroma	#04	ANM	Antrim			1175
Argyllshire	Earra-Ghàidheal	#05	ARG	Lochgilphead			3110
Armagh	Ard Mhacha	#06	ARH	Armagh			512
Ayrshire	Inbhear Áir	#07	AYS	Ayr			1129
Banffshire	Banbh	#08	BNF	Banff			641
Bedfordshire		#09	BED	Bedford			465
Berkshire		#10	BER	Abingdon		Saint Birinus	722
Berwickshire	Bearaig	#11	BRW	Duns			457
Brecknockshire	Sir Frycheiniog	#12	BRN	Brecon			743
Buckinghamshire		#13	BUC	Buckingham			745
Buteshire	Bód	#14	BTE	Rothesay			225
Caernarfonshire	Sir Gaernarfon	#15	CRN	Caernarfon			480
Caithness	Gallaibh	#16	CTN	Wick			618
Cambridgeshire		#17	CMB	Cambridge			820
Cardiganshire	Ceredigion	#18	CRD	Cardigan			815
Carmarthenshire	Sir Gaerfyrddin	#19	CRM	Carmarthen			1095
Cheshire		#20	CHE	Chester		Saint Werburgh	1027
Clackmannanshire	Clach Mhanainn	#21	CLM	Alloa			48
Cornwall	Kernow	#22	CNW	Truro	5 March	Saint Piran	1349
Cromartyshire	Cromba	#23	CRT	Cromarty			370
Cumberland		#24	CUM	Carlisle			1516
Denbighshire	Sir Ddinbych	#25	DBH	Ruthin			640
Derbyshire		#26	DRB	Derby			1029
Devon		#27	DVN	Exeter	4 June	Saint Petroc	2405
Dorset		#28	DRS	Dorchester	1 June	Saint Wite	980
Down	Dúin	#29	DWN	Downpatrick			950
Dumfriesshire	Dún Phrís	#30	DMF	Dumfries			1063
Dunbartonshire	Dún Breatainn	#31	DUN	Dunbarton			241
Durham		#32	DRH	Durham		Saint Cuthbert	1015
Essex		#34	ESE	Chelmsford		Saint Cedd	1542
Fermanagh	Fhear Manach	#35	FRM	Enniskillen			715
Fife	Foibhe	#36	FFE	Cupar		Saint Margaret	504
Flintshire	Sir y Fflint	#37	FLT	Mold			640
Glamorgan	Morgannwg	#38	GLM	Cardiff			845
Gloucestershire		#39	GLC	Gloucester			1125
Hampshire		#40	HMP	Winchester	15 July	Saint Swithun	1622
Herefordshire		#41	HRF	Hereford			833
Hertfordshire		#42	HTF	Hertford	22 June	Saint Alban	727
Huntingdonshire		#43	HNT	Huntingdon	25 April		359
Inverness-shire	Inbhear Nis	#44	INS	Inverness			4211
Kent		#45	KNT	Maidstone		Saint Augustine	1555
Kincardineshire	An Mhaoirne	#46	KNC	Stonehaven			380
Kinross-shire	Ceann Rois	#47	KNR	Kinross			73
Kirkcudbrightshire	Cille Chuitbeirt	#48	KCB	Kirkcudbright			899
Lanarkshire	Lannraig	#49	LNK	Lanark			879
Lancashire		#50	LCS	Lancaster	27 November		1880
Leicestershire		#51	LCR	Leicester			800
Lincolnshire		#52	LNC	Lincoln	1 October	Saint Hugh	2646
Londonderry	Dhoire	#53	LDR	Coleraine			816
Merionethshire	Meirionnydd	#54	MRN	Dolgellau		Saint Cadfan	780
Middlesex		#55	MSX	Brentford	16 May		285
Midlothian	Labhaidh Láir	#56	LMT	Edinburgh			362
Monmouthshire	Sir Fynwy	#57	MNM	Monmouth		Saint Dubricius	530
Montgomeryshire	Sir Drefaldwyn	#58	MTG	Montgomery			780
Morayshire	Móireabh	#59	MOY	Elgin			476
Nairnshire	Inbhear nÁrainn	#60	NRN	Nairn			200
Norfolk		#61	NRF	Norwich			2044
Northamptonshire		#62	NHP	Northampton			984
Northumberland		#63	NHB	Alnwick			2018
Nottinghamshire		#64	NOT	Nottingham			825
Orkney	Arcaibh	#65	ORN	Kirkwall	16 April	Saint Magnus	376
Oxfordshire		#66	OXD	Oxford	19 October	Saint Frideswide	756
Peeblesshire	Na Púballan	#67	PBS	Peebles			548
Pembrokeshire	Sir Benfro	#68	PMB	Haverfordwest			655
Perthshire	Peairt	#69	PRT	Perth			2493
Radnorshire	Sir Faesyfed	#70	RDN	Presteigne			485
Renfrewshire	Rinn Friú	#71	RNF	Renfrew			245
Ross-shire	Ros	#72	RSS	Dingwall			3089
Roxburghshire	Rosbróg	#73	RXB	Jedburgh			666
Rutland		#74	RTL	Oakham			152
Selkirkshire	Salcraig	#75	SKK	Selkirk			267
Shetland	Sealtainn	#76	SHT	Lerwick	21 June		225
Shropshire		#77	SHP	Shrewsbury			1343
Somerset		#78	SMS	Taunton			1640
Staffordshire		#79	STF	Stafford			1171
Stirlingshire	Sruighlea	#80	STL	Stirling			447
Suffolk		#81	SFF	Ipswich	20 November	Saint Edmund	1489
Surrey		#82	SUR	Guildford			758
Sussex		#83	SUS	Chichester	16 June	Saint Richard	1458
Sutherland	Cataibh	#84	SRL	Dornoch			2028
Tyrone	Thír Eoghain	#85	TYN	Omagh			1260
Warwickshire		#86	WRW	Warwick			885
West Lothian	Labhaidh Thiar	#87	WLT	Linlithgow			120
Westmorland		#88	WML	Appleby			783
Wigtownshire	Baile na hUige	#89	WGT	Wigtown		Saint Ninian	487
Wiltshire		#90	WTS	Trowbridge		Saint Osmund	1370
Worcestershire		#91	WRC	Worcester			738
Yorkshire		#92	YRK	York	1 August		6066

Statistics[edit]

Geographical size[edit]

Total size of counties in the United Kingdom: 94102 sq./km
Average county size in the United Kingdom: 1023 sq./km
Largest county in the United Kingdom: Yorkshire at 6066 sq./km
Smallest county in the United Kingdom: Clackmannanshire at 48 sq./km

Total size of counties in England: 49927 sq./km
Average county size in England: 1280 sq./km
Largest county in England: Yorkshire at 6066 sq./km
Smallest county in England: Rutland at 152 sq./km

Total size of counties in Northern Ireland: 5428 sq./km
Average county size in Northern Ireland: 905 sq./km
Largest county in Northern Ireland: Tyrone at 1260 sq./km
Smallest county in Northern Ireland: Armagh at 512 sq./km

Total size of counties in Scotland: 29983 sq./km
Average county size in Scotland: 882 sq./km
Largest county in Scotland: Inverness-shire at 4211 sq./km
Smallest county in Scotland: Clackmannanshire at 48 sq./km

Total size of counties in Wales: 8764 sq./km
Average county size in Wales: 674 sq./km
Largest county in Wales: Carmarthenshire at 1095 sq./km
Smallest county in Wales: Anglesey at 276 sq./km

Geographical proximity[edit]

Counties with the most neighbours: Northamptonshire (9), Lanarkshire (8), Shropshire (8), Dumfriesshire (7), Inverness-shire (7), Lincolnshire (7), Yorkshire (7).
Counties with the least neighbours: Anglesey (1), Bute (1), Cornwall (1), Caithness (1), Orkney (1), Shetland (1), Cromartyshire (2), East Lothian (2), Kincardineshire (2), Nairnshire (2), Pembrokeshire (2), Wigtownshire (2).

County towns[edit]

Berwickshire is named after the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed in Northumberland. However, during the Anglo-Scottish Wars, Richard III of England wanted to replace James III of Scotland by putting James's brother on the throne instead. He failed to do this, but he did capture the town of Berwick in 1482. It has been a part of Northumberland and England ever since.
Kincardineshire is named after the town of Kincardine, though sometime in the Middle Ages the town and its castle ceased to exist. The only visible trace of its existence are the remains of that castle, two miles north-east of the village of Fettercairn.^[6]^[7] Around 1600, the county town was changed to Stonehaven.
Roxburghshire is named after the town of Roxburgh. In the Middle Ages the town was as important as towns such as Stirling, Edinburgh and Perth, and at one time it was David I of Scotland's capital and royal residence. However, in the Scottish Wars of Independence the town was repeatedly captured and recaptured by the Scottish and English armies. Eventually, in 1460, the town and the castle were destroyed. The town of Jedburgh was made the new county town of Roxburghshire and has been so ever since. Two miles away from the site of the old town, there is now a village that is also called Roxburgh.

Major cities[edit]

Unlike the county towns, most of the major cities in the United Kingdom grew because of industry and trade, not agriculture. Many of them also grew because they were on the banks of major rivers, but these same rivers were often used to mark out boundaries. Therefore, some cities have grown across county borders, sometimes being split by the river, even though officially the centre of a town is always in one county. The following are the twenty largest cities in the United Kingdom.^[8]

London - Middlesex

The centre of London is in Middlesex. However, due to its size most of London is actually spread across four counties and there are six counties within the M25 motorway.

On the whole Middlesex and Essex are north of the River Thames, whilst Surrey and Kent are south of the river (with there being a few anomalies such as North Woolwich and the area around Gallions Reach station and parts of Beckton Sewage Treatment Works being north of the river but in Kent). The area from Shepperton in West London, to Harefield and Northwood in North West London, across to Enfield and Potters Bar in North London (though not Barnet and Borehamwood which are in Hertfordshire), and then back down to Poplar in East London make up the county of Middlesex. Thus areas such as the City of London, Westminster, Kensington, Hammersmith, Shepherds Bush, Camden, Islington, Shoreditch, Whitechapel, Hackney, Mile End and the Isle Of Dogs are all in Middlesex. Anywhere north of the river and east of Poplar, including Stratford, Ilford and Dagenham, is in Essex.

South of the river from Rotherhithe and Bermondsey down through Dulwich and Crystal Palace to Croydon and New Addington is part of Surrey. Therefore Southwark, Lambeth, Waterloo, Clapham and the suburbs of Wimbledon, Kingston, Sutton and Epsom are all in Surrey. South East London is in Kent, including Lewisham, Beckenham, Orpington, Biggin Hill, Sidcup and Bexleyheath. As well as the four counties of Middlesex, Essex, Surrey and Kent mentioned previously, parts of Hertfordshire (e.g. Watford) and Buckinghamshire are also within the M25 motorway.

Birmingham - Warwickshire

Most of Birmingham is in Warwickshire, alongside areas north-east of the city like Erdington and Sutton Coldfield. However, to the north-west, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley, West Bromwich and the suburbs of Smethwick and Handsworth are in Staffordshire. Harborne is also in Staffordshire. From Stechford and Yardley in the east of Birmingham, in a crescent shape to Sparkhill and Moseley and then across to Quinton and up to Oldbury to the west of the city are all in Worcestershire. Halesowen and Stourbridge are also in Worcestershire.

Leeds - Yorkshire
Glasgow - Lanarkshire
Sheffield - Yorkshire

Most of Sheffield is in Yorkshire, although suburbs to the south including Totley, Bradway, Norton, Frecheville and Beighton are in Derbyshire.

Bradford - Yorkshire
Edinburgh - Midlothian
Liverpool - Lancashire

East and north of the River Mersey is Lancashire, all the way down to Widnes and Warrington. The Wirral, and Runcorn are in Cheshire.

Manchester - Lancashire

All of Manchester is in Lancashire, with the border between it and Cheshire taking roughly the same route as the southern section of the M60 motorway. Thus Sale, Wythenshawe, Cheadle, Stockport, Hyde and most of Stalybridge are in Cheshire.

Bristol - Gloucestershire

The old route of the River Avon marks the border between Gloucestershire and Somerset. Thus Spike Island, Redcliffe and Temple Meads are in Somerset.

Wakefield - Yorkshire
Cardiff - Glamorgan

All of Cardiff is in Glamorgan except anywhere east of the Rhymney River in eastern Cardiff, including Rumney, St Mellons and, much further away, the city of Newport, which are all in Monmouthshire.

Coventry - Warwickshire
Nottingham - Nottinghamshire
Leicester - Leicestershire
Sunderland - Durham
Belfast - Antrim

Parts of east and south Belfast are in Down.

Newcastle - Northumberland

The route of the River Tyne marks the northern border between Northumberland and Durham. Gateshead, Hebburn, Jarrow and on the coast South Shields, are all in Durham.

Brighton - Sussex
Hull - Yorkshire

Notes[edit]

^ In Cornish, Irish Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic or Welsh.
^ Historic County Number.^[5]
^ Historic County Code.^[5]
^ Measured in square miles.

References[edit]

External links[edit]

[5] In Cornish, Irish Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic or Welsh.

[7] Historic County Number.^[5]

[8] Historic County Code.^[5]

[9] Measured in square miles.

[1] Historic Counties Trust - Standard PDF

[Tory-2] Conservative Home - Put Historic Counties Back On Map

[3] Daily Mail - Return of Westmorland

[4] The Independent - Eric Pickles's Championing Of Traditional English Counties

[historiccountiestrust1-6] Historic Counties Trust - Key Facts

[10] Mearnscraft - Kincardine

[11] Flickr - Photos of Kincardine Castle remains

[12] UK Cities - Populations

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[a]

[b]

[c]

[d]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[5]

v t e Traditional counties of the United Kingdom
England (39)	Bedfordshire T Berkshire T S Buckinghamshire F T Cambridgeshire T Cheshire F T S Cornwall F T D S Cumberland F T Derbyshire F T Devon F T D S Dorset F T D S Durham T S Essex F T S Gloucestershire F T Hampshire T Herefordshire T Hertfordshire F T S Huntingdonshire F T D Kent F T S Lancashire F T D Leicestershire T Lincolnshire F T D S Middlesex F T D Norfolk T Northamptonshire T Northumberland F T Nottinghamshire F T Oxfordshire F T D S Rutland T Shropshire F T Somerset F T Staffordshire T Suffolk T S Surrey T Sussex F T D S Warwickshire T Westmorland F T Wiltshire F T S Worcestershire F T Yorkshire F T D
Northern Ireland (6)	Antrim F T Armagh F T Down F T Fermanagh F T Londonderry F T Tyrone F T
Scotland (34)	Aberdeenshire T Angus T Argyllshire T Ayrshire T Banffshire T Berwickshire T Buteshire T Caithness T Clackmannanshire T Cromartyshire T Dumfrieshire T Dunbartonshire T East Lothian T S Fife T S Inverness-shire T Kincardineshire T Kinross-shire T Kirkcudbrightshire T Lanarkshire T Midlothian T Morayshire T Nairnshire T Orkney F T D S Peeblesshire T Perthshire T Renfrewshire T Ross-shire T Roxburghshire T Selkirkshire T Shetland F T D S Stirlingshire T Sutherland T West Lothian T Wigtownshire T S
Wales (13)	Anglesey F T S Brecknockshire T Caernarfonshire F T Cardiganshire T Carmarthenshire T Denbighshire T Flintshire F T Glamorgan F T Merionethshire T S Monmouthshire F T S Montgomeryshire F T Pembrokeshire F T Radnorshire T
F: Flag, T: County town, D: Day, S: Saint