Buckinghamshire | England, Map, & Facts

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Contents </div> <span class="toc-extra-link selected link-gray-900 mt-15"> Introduction </span> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Buckinghamshire/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/Buckinghamshire">Related Topics</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Buckinghamshire/images-videos">Images</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/20/126020-050-99286C65/Vale-of-Aylesbury-background-England-Buckinghamshire.jpg" data-href="/media/1/83000/120227" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/20/126020-004-D0F4688A/Vale-of-Aylesbury-background-England-Buckinghamshire.jpg" alt="Aylesbury Vale" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/71/241571-050-4113865F/Locator-map-Buckinghamshire.jpg" data-href="/media/1/83000/282068" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/71/241571-004-3780560C/Locator-map-Buckinghamshire.jpg" alt="Buckinghamshire, England" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/72/115672-004-ECB711EB/Bridge-Marlow-River-Thames-England-Buckinghamshire.jpg" data-href="/media/1/83000/111834" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/72/115672-004-ECB711EB/Bridge-Marlow-River-Thames-England-Buckinghamshire.jpg" alt="Marlow Bridge" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/14/131814-004-D83B5363/Ascott-House-Buckinghamshire-Eng-George-Devey.jpg" data-href="/media/1/83000/128220" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/14/131814-004-D83B5363/Ascott-House-Buckinghamshire-Eng-George-Devey.jpg" alt="Devey, George: Ascott House" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/51/148951-050-A6F5B30B/Lock-Marlow-River-Thames-Wycombe-Eng-Buckinghamshire.jpg" data-href="/media/1/83000/155116" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/51/148951-004-CC685313/Lock-Marlow-River-Thames-Wycombe-Eng-Buckinghamshire.jpg" alt="Wycombe" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/49/148549-050-63AFFE73/West-Wycombe-Park-South-Bucks-Eng-Buckinghamshire.jpg" data-href="/media/1/83000/154829" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/49/148549-004-258B7D3F/West-Wycombe-Park-South-Bucks-Eng-Buckinghamshire.jpg" alt="West Wycombe Park" height="50" /> </a> </div> <button disabled 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Kress Collection, 1939.1.289, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C." width="200" height="200" /> </a> </div> <div class="card-body ilf-content"> <a class="font-weight-semi-bold d-block mb-5 font-16 ilf-title" href="/list/8-must-see-paintings-at-the-national-gallery-of-art-in-washington-dc" >8 Must-See Paintings at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <button class="drawerToggle btn position-sticky border btn-xs btn-white btn-circle rounded-sm d-none d-lg-flex " type="button" aria-label="Toggle Drawer"> <em class="material-icons font-18 text-blue" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></em> </button> </div> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="h-100 ml-0 pr-lg-0 "> <div class="h-100 grid gx-0 gx-lg-20"> <div class="h-100 col-sm"> <div class="h-100 infinite-pagination-container d-flex flex-column position-relative"> <div class="position-absolute top-0 h-100 w-100"> <div class="toc-sticky-header d-none d-lg-none bg-gray-50 px-10 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Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. </div> <div class="label mt-20 mb-10">Select Citation Style</div> <select class="js-citation-format-select form-select"> <option selected value="mla">MLA</option> <option value="apa">APA</option> <option value="chicago">Chicago Manual of Style</option> </select> <div class="citation font-serif border rounded p-15 mt-20" data-authors="The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica" data-authors-initial="The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica" data-title="Buckinghamshire" data-published-date="17 Feb. 2025" data-url="https://www.britannica.com/place/Buckinghamshire" > <div class="citation-text"></div> </div> <button class="js-copy-citation-button mt-20 btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10" > <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="file_copy"></em> <span class="js-citation-status-text">Copy Citation</span> </button> </div> </div> </div> <div> <button class="js-share-modal-button js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" data-modal="[data-topic-id=83000] .md-share-modal"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="share"></em> Share </button> <div class="md-share-modal size-lg d-none qa-share-modal"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif d-flex align-items-center pb-15 border-bottom"> <em class="material-icons text-blue mr-10" data-icon="share"></em> Share </div> <div class="label my-20">Share to social media</div> <div class="md-social-toolbar-circle d-flex align-items-start inverted" data-value="share" title="Buckinghamshire" data-url="https://www.britannica.com/place/Buckinghamshire" > <a class="social-icon facebook justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>Facebook</span></a> <a class="social-icon x justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="x" href="https://x.com/britannica" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>X</span></a> </div> <div class="label pt-20 mt-20 mb-5 border-top">URL</div> <a class="font-serif text-truncate d-inline-block" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Buckinghamshire">https://www.britannica.com/place/Buckinghamshire</a> </div> </div> </div> <div> <button class="js-feedback-modal-button js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" data-modal=".md-feedback-modal"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="message"></em> Feedback </button> </div> <div> <button class="qa-external-website-modal-button js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" data-modal="[data-topic-id=83000] .md-websites-modal"> <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 mr-5" data-icon="link"></em> External Websites </button> </div> </div> <div class="md-feedback-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom"> Feedback </div> <form method="post" action="/submission/feedback/83000"> <div class="my-20"> Corrections? 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Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). </div> <div class="type-menu"> <label for="feedback-type" class="label mb-10">Feedback Type</label> <select id="feedback-type" class="form-select mb-30" name="feedbackTypeId" required> <option value="" selected="selected">Select a type (Required)</option> <option value="1">Factual Correction</option> <option value="2">Spelling/Grammar Correction</option> <option value="3">Link Correction</option> <option value="4">Additional Information</option> <option value="5">Other</option> </select> </div> <label for="feedback" class="label mb-10">Your Feedback</label> <textarea id="feedback" class="form-control mb-30" name="feedback" maxlength="3000" rows="7" required></textarea> <button class="btn btn-blue" type="submit">Submit Feedback</button> </form> <div class="success-messaging d-none mt-30"> <div class="title">Thank you for your feedback</div> <p>Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-websites-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom font-weight-bold"> External Websites </div> <div class="pb-20"> <ul class="list-unstyled mt-20 lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.visitbuckinghamshire.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Official Tourism Site of Buckinghamshire, England, United Kingdom</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1820-1832/constituencies/buckinghamshire" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">History of Parliament Online - Buckinghamshire county, England, United Kingdom</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toc-header-marker"></div> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 js-header-ai-ask-button d-none btn-sm btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 mr-0 mr-lg-10 ml-5 ml-sm-10 ml-lg-0 p-10"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> <div class="md-byline module-spacing "> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written and fact-checked by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2025-02-17T00:00:00CST" >Feb 17, 2025</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Buckinghamshire/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="bg-gray-50 p-15 rounded module-spacing recent-news d-flex flex-column float-false"> <div> <h2 class="font-weight-bold font-14 m-0 d-inline"> News <span class="text-gray-600">•</span> </h2> <div class="recent-news-item first-recent-news-item d-inline"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c79dp3rpnxqo" rel="nofollow">Four Buckinghamshire libraries to tell disabled people's stories</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Feb. 16, 2025, 7:28 PM ET (BBC) <button class="btn btn-link d-inline p-0 font-12 js-toggle-recent-news"> <span class="text-gray-500">...</span><span>(Show more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </div> <div class="rest-of-recent-news-items"> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm27p0me3n5o" rel="nofollow">Duke of Burgundy butterfly 'expanding' in Buckinghamshire</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Feb. 7, 2025, 9:35 PM ET (BBC) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdd9e6y8562o" rel="nofollow">Is new film studio a good use of Buckinghamshire green belt land?</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Jan. 21, 2025, 4:28 AM ET (BBC) </span> </div> <button class="js-toggle-recent-news d-flex btn btn-unstyled font-14 pr-10 rounded-sm mt-10" aria-label="Toggle additional news items"> Show less <em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_less"></em> </button> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref65313"></span>Buckinghamshire</strong>, administrative, geographic, and historic <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/county" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">county</a> of southern <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">England</a>. It stretches from the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Thames" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">River Thames</a> in the south and the outskirts of London in the southeast across the ridge of chalk upland known as the <span id="ref65314"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Chiltern-Hills" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Chiltern Hills</a>, thence across the fertile Vale of Aylesbury and a low sandy ridge to the valley of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Ouse-eastern-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">River Ouse</a> (or Great Ouse) in the north.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="282068" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/71/241571-050-4113865F/Locator-map-Buckinghamshire.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/83000/282068"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/71/241571-050-4113865F/Locator-map-Buckinghamshire.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/71/241571-050-4113865F/Locator-map-Buckinghamshire.jpg?w=300" alt="Buckinghamshire, England" data-width="2000" data-height="2000" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/71/241571-050-4113865F/Locator-map-Buckinghamshire.jpg" data-href="/media/1/83000/282068">Buckinghamshire, England</a><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Within that region, the administrative, geographic, and historic counties <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="encompass" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encompass" data-type="MW">encompass</a> slightly different areas. The administrative county <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="comprises" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comprises" data-type="MW">comprises</a> four districts: <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Aylesbury-Vale" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Aylesbury Vale</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Chiltern-district-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Chiltern</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/South-Bucks" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">South Bucks</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Wycombe" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Wycombe</a>. The geographic county also includes the unitary authority of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Milton-Keynes" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Milton Keynes</a>. The historic county <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="encompasses" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encompasses" data-type="MW">encompasses</a> the entire geographic county as well as the unitary authority of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Slough-Berkshire-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Slough</a>, the part of the unitary authority of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Windsor-and-Maidenhead" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Windsor and Maidenhead</a> that is north of the Thames, and the town of Linslade, which lies in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/South-Bedfordshire" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">South Bedfordshire</a> district in the administrative county of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Bedfordshire" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Bedfordshire</a>. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Aylesbury-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Aylesbury</a> is the county town (seat).</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Landscapes are varied, and prior to the 20th century the historic county was deeply rural. The modern growth of London has, with the help of excellent road and rail links with the city, dominated the southernmost third of the county and created long ribbons of suburban development in the valleys of the Chiltern Hills. Commuter rail services extend to Aylesbury and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/High-Wycombe" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">High Wycombe</a>, which are some of London’s wealthiest <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="suburbs" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/suburbs" data-type="EB">suburbs</a>.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/another-great-british-vocabulary-quiz-innit" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/20/254320-131-65DA7509/English-language-school-promotion.jpg" alt="English language school promotion illustration. Silhouette of a man advertises or sells shouts in a megaphone and emerging from the flag of the United Kingdom (Union Jack)." class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">Another Great British Vocabulary Quiz, Innit?</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The historic county of Buckinghamshire was affected by each phase of English settlement from the Neolithic to the Saxon, and under the latter’s rule it was part of the kingdom of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Mercia" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Mercia</a>, resisted Danish invasion from the east, and became prosperous. The Chiltern Hills were heavily forested, however, and clearance of the woodland was completed only in the early 17th century. A principal feature of the period that followed was the creation of great estates with magnificent houses, e.g., Cliveden, now owned by the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/National-Trust" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">National Trust</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Stowe-estate-Buckinghamshire-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Stowe</a>, converted into a school. Access to London was a factor in that development and has continued to be responsible for <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/population-growth" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">population growth</a> in the county.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><span id="ref530507"></span>Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury is internationally known for its <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="treatment" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/treatment" data-type="EB">treatment</a> of spinal-cord injuries and has hosted the World Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair Games—the forerunner of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/sports/Paralympic-Games" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Paralympic Games</a>—since 1948. The town of Olney, in north Buckinghamshire, was the home of the 18th-century poet <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-Cowper" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">William Cowper.</a></p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="111834" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/72/115672-004-ECB711EB/Bridge-Marlow-River-Thames-England-Buckinghamshire.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/83000/111834"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/72/115672-004-ECB711EB/Bridge-Marlow-River-Thames-England-Buckinghamshire.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/72/115672-004-ECB711EB/Bridge-Marlow-River-Thames-England-Buckinghamshire.jpg?w=300" alt="Marlow Bridge" data-width="550" data-height="320" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/72/115672-004-ECB711EB/Bridge-Marlow-River-Thames-England-Buckinghamshire.jpg" data-href="/media/1/83000/111834">Marlow Bridge</a><span>Bridge over the River Thames at Marlow, Buckinghamshire, England.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Industry in the historic county was, until after <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-II" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">World War II</a>, represented by printing and light manufacturing at Aylesbury, furniture at High Wycombe, diversified manufacturing at Slough, and railway workshops at Wolverton. Since the late 20th century, however, remarkable new growth has been registered in the northernmost tip of the county, where the former small towns of Bletchley, Newport Pagnell, and Wolverton have been absorbed by the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/new-urbanology" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">new town</a> of Milton Keynes, created in 1967. That new development attracted industry and research institutions, and in 1971 it became the headquarters of Great Britain’s <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Open-University-British-education" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Open University</a>. Meanwhile, suburban residential development continued in the southern part of the geographic county. Area, administrative county, 604 square miles (1,565 square km); geographic county, 724 square miles (1,876 square km). Pop. (2001) administrative county, 479,026; geographic county, 676,083; (2011) administrative county, 505,283; geographic county, 754,014.</p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="md-signature"><a href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</a></span> <span class="md-signature">This article was most recently revised and updated by <a href="/editor/Kenneth-Pletcher/6746">Kenneth Pletcher</a>.</span><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":1,"pageId":83000,"pageLength":522,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.133.9"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.133.9' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"C","adLeg":"C","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"MEDIUM","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":true} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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