England - Regions, Counties, History

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In the north, for example, the east and west are separated by the Pennines, and the estuaries of the Humber, Thames, and Severn rivers form natural barriers. 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In the north, for example, the east and west are separated by the Pennines, and the estuaries of the Humber, Thames, and Severn rivers form natural barriers. 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class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> </div> <main> <div class="md-page-wrapper"> <div id="content" class="md-content"> <div class="md-article-container template-desktop infinite-pagination"> <div class="infinite-scroll-container article last"> <article class="article-content container-lg qa-content px-0 pt-0 pb-40 py-lg-20 content md-expanded" data-topic-id="700965"> <div class="grid gx-0"> <div class="col-auto"> <div class="topic-left-rail md-article-drawer position-relative d-flex border-right-sm border-left-sm open"> <div class="drawer d-flex flex-column open"> <div class="left-rail-section-content"> <div class="topic-left-rail-header text-truncate bg-gray-50 position-relative text-right d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/England">England</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/place/England">Introduction & Quick Facts</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref44500"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England#ref44500">Land</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44501"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England#ref44501">Relief</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44502"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Drainage">Drainage</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44503"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Drainage#ref44503">Soils</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44504"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Drainage#ref44504">Climate</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44505"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Drainage#ref44505">Plant and animal life</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref44507"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/People">People</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44508"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/People#ref44508">Ethnic groups and languages</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44518"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/People#ref44518">Religion</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref225309"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/People#ref225309">Settlement patterns</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44509"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Traditional-regions">Traditional regions</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44510"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Traditional-regions#ref44510">The South West</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44511"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Traditional-regions#ref44511">The South East</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44512"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Traditional-regions#ref44512">The West Midlands</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44513"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/The-East-Midlands">The East Midlands</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44514"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/The-East-Midlands#ref44514">East Anglia</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44515"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/The-East-Midlands#ref44515">The North West</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44516"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/The-East-Midlands#ref44516">Yorkshire</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44517"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/The-East-Midlands#ref44517">The North East</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44519"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/The-East-Midlands#ref44519">Demographic trends</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref44520"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Economy">Economy</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44522"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Economy#ref44522">Agriculture, forestry, and fishing</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44523"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Economy#ref44523">Major crops</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44525"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Economy#ref44525">Livestock</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44526"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Economy#ref44526">Forestry</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44527"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Economy#ref44527">Fishing</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44521"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Resources-and-power">Resources and power</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44528"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Resources-and-power#ref44528">Manufacturing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref225310"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Resources-and-power#ref225310">Finance</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref215125"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Resources-and-power#ref215125">Services</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44529"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Resources-and-power#ref44529">Transportation</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref44530"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Government-and-society">Government and society</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref225311"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Government-and-society#ref225311">Constitutional framework</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref215126"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Government-and-society#ref215126">Local government</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref215127"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Government-and-society#ref215127">Historic counties</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref215128"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Geographic-counties">Geographic counties</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref215129"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Geographic-counties#ref215129">Administrative counties and districts</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref215130"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Geographic-counties#ref215130">Unitary authorities</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref215131"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Geographic-counties#ref215131">Metropolitan counties and districts</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref215132"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Geographic-counties#ref215132">Greater London</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref215133"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Geographic-counties#ref215133">Parishes and towns</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44532"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Justice">Justice</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref225312"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Justice#ref225312">Political process</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44534"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Justice#ref44534">Health and welfare</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref225313"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Housing">Housing</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44533"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Housing#ref44533">Education</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref44535"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Cultural-life">Cultural life</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref225314"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Cultural-life#ref225314">Daily life and social customs</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref225315"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/The-arts">The arts</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44536"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/The-arts#ref44536">Literature</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44537"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Architecture">Architecture</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44538" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Visual-arts">Visual arts</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref44539"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Visual-arts#ref44539">Sculpture</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref44540"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Visual-arts#ref44540">Painting</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref44541" class="has-children"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Performing-arts">Performing arts</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref44542"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Performing-arts#ref44542">Theatre</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref44543"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Performing-arts#ref44543">Film</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref44544"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Music">Music</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h4"><li data-target="#ref44545"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Music#ref44545">Dance</a></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44546"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Cultural-institutions">Cultural institutions</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref44547"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Cultural-institutions#ref44547">Sports and recreation</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref225316"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/Cultural-institutions#ref225316">Media and publishing</a></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref215134"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/England/History">History</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/England/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/England">Facts & Stats</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/England/images-videos">Images & Videos</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/44/344-050-94536674/Flag-England.jpg" data-href="/media/1/700965/61159" class="media-overlay-link 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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.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/story-of-england/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">English Heritage - Story of England</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-europe/kingdom-wessex-0017010" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Ancient Origins - The Kingdom of Wessex and the Birth of England</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-title">Britannica Websites</div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-subtitle">Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.</div> <ul class="list-unstyled bps-topic-web-sites lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/England/353101" target="_blank" rel="noopener">England - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/England/274182" target="_blank" rel="noopener">England - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)</a></li> </ul> </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 by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/William-Harford-Thomas/2950" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">William Harford Thomas</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Journalist. Former Deputy Editor, <i>The Guardian, </i>London. Author of <i>Crisis in the British Press.</i></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"> William Harford Thomas</span>, <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/Peter-Kellner/5078" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Peter Kellner</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Peter Kellner is the former president of YouGov PLC and the author of <em>Democracy: 1,000 Years in Pursuit of British Liberty</em> and others.</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"> Peter Kellner</span><span class="text-gray-700 mx-5">•</span><a class="see-all border-gray-700 gtm-byline" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/England/additional-info#contributors">All</a> </div> <div class="font-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 font-12" 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 font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2024-11-23T00:00:00CST" >Nov 23, 2024</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/England/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="/news/700965/b2598adb141d529df1ed0a1beec0a450" rel="nofollow">Man City's statistics hit new low after Tottenham humiliation</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 23, 2024, 3:31 PM ET (AP) <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="/news/700965/18dd0af292ca9aa705366c52de8f2585" rel="nofollow">Guardiola signs a 2-year contract extension at Man City and eyes 'more trophies'</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 21, 2024, 6:38 PM ET (AP) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/700965/dc3fd3640acb1628cd85d43b8413fad0" rel="nofollow">Thousands of UK farmers descend on Parliament to protest a tax they say will ruin family farms</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 19, 2024, 11:46 AM ET (AP) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/700965/dce7600e0dba5de59b68bf379307ef9c" rel="nofollow">Poultry infected with bird flu found on commercial farm in England</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 17, 2024, 6:17 PM ET (AP) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="/news/700965/79b3a833485e0dd5c9ab4314a112d01f" rel="nofollow">Man and four teenagers convicted of murdering two boys in mistaken identity case</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 15, 2024, 11:51 AM ET (AP) </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="2" id="ref44509"> <span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Although England is a small and <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="homogeneous" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homogeneous" data-type="MW">homogeneous</a> country bound together by law, administration, and a <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="comprehensive" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comprehensive" data-type="MW">comprehensive</a> transport system, distinctive regional differences have arisen from the country’s geography and history. It was natural for different groups of the population to establish themselves in recognizable physical areas. In the north, for example, the east and west are separated by the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Pennines" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Pennines</a>, and the estuaries of the Humber, Thames, and Severn rivers form natural barriers. The eight traditional geographic regions—the South West, the South East (Greater London often was separated out as its own region), the West Midlands, the East Midlands, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/East-Anglia" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">East Anglia</a>, the North West, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Yorkshire-former-county-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Yorkshire</a>, and the North East—often were referred to as the standard regions of England, though they never served administrative functions. In the 1990s the government redrew and renamed some regions and established government development agencies for each.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span> <section data-level="3" id="ref44510"><h2 class="h3">The <span id="ref483708"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/South-West" class="md-crosslink ">South West</a></h2> <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="96655" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/01/76501-050-16A9EDCE/Sarsen-horseshoe-Stonehenge-III-Wiltshire-Eng.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/700965/96655"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/01/76501-050-16A9EDCE/Sarsen-horseshoe-Stonehenge-III-Wiltshire-Eng.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/01/76501-050-16A9EDCE/Sarsen-horseshoe-Stonehenge-III-Wiltshire-Eng.jpg?w=300" alt="Stonehenge" data-width="1600" data-height="832" 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/01/76501-050-16A9EDCE/Sarsen-horseshoe-Stonehenge-III-Wiltshire-Eng.jpg" data-href="/media/1/700965/96655">Stonehenge</a><span>Sarsen horseshoe of Stonehenge III, Wiltshire, 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">The South West contains the last Celtic <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="stronghold" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/stronghold" data-type="EB">stronghold</a> in England, <span id="ref483709"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Cornwall-unitary-authority-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Cornwall</a>, where a Celtic language was spoken until the 18th century. There is even a small nationalist movement, Mebyon Kernow (<span id="ref483710"></span>Sons of Cornwall), seeking to revive the old language. Although it has no political significance, the movement reflects the disenchantment of a declining area, with the exhaustion of mineral deposits toward the end of the 19th century. Cornwall and the neighbouring county of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Devon" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Devon</a> share a splendid coastline, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Dartmoor-region-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Dartmoor</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Exmoor" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Exmoor</a> national parks are in this part of the region. Farther east are the city of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Bristol-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Bristol</a> and the counties of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Dorset-county-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Dorset</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Gloucestershire" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Gloucestershire</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Somerset-county-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Somerset</a>, and <span id="ref483711"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Wiltshire" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Wiltshire</a>. The last is famous for the prehistoric stone circles at <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Stonehenge" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Stonehenge</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Avebury-archaeological-site-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Avebury</a> and for associated remains <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="dubbed" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/dubbed" data-type="EB">dubbed</a> “woodhenges.” Development in the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/manufacturing" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">manufacturing</a> sector in the 1970s and ’80s and the growth of service activities and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/tourism" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">tourism</a> in the 1990s contributed to the region’s significant population increase.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span></section> <section data-level="3" id="ref44511"><h2 class="h3">The <span id="ref483712"></span>South East</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The South East, centred on London, has a population and wealth to match many nation-states. This is the dominant area of England and the most rapidly growing one, although planning controls such as <span id="ref483714"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/greenbelt-urban-planning" class="md-crosslink ">greenbelts</a> have restricted the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/urban-sprawl" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">urban sprawl</a> of <span id="ref483713"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/London" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">London</a> since the mid-20th century. While fully one-third of the South East is still devoted to farming or horticulture, the region as a whole also has an extensive range of manufacturing industry. With improvements in the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="transportation" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/transportation" data-type="EB">transportation</a> systems, however, nuclear and space research facilities, retailing, advertising, high-technology industries, and some services have moved to areas outside London, including <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Surrey-county-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Surrey</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Buckinghamshire" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Buckinghamshire</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Hertfordshire" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Hertfordshire</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">With its theatres, concert halls, museums, and art galleries, London is the cultural capital of the country. It is the administrative headquarters of not only government but also many of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Great-Britain-island-Europe" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Britain’s</a> industrial, financial, and commercial undertakings. Moreover, it is the focus of the national transport system, acting as a hub for the United Kingdom’s international and domestic air traffic and its mainline railway network. At <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Tilbury" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Tilbury</a>, 26 miles (42 km) downstream from London proper, the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/London-Docklands" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Port of London</a> Authority oversees the largest and commercially most important port facilities in Britain. Whether the people of the South East feel a regional identity is questionable. <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Sussex-historical-county-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Sussex</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Bedfordshire" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Bedfordshire</a> or <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Oxfordshire" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Oxfordshire</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Hampshire-county-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Hampshire</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Kent-county-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Kent</a> have nothing much in common apart from being within the magnetic pull of London. Loyalties are more specifically to towns, such as <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Saint-Albans-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">St. Albans</a> or <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Brighton-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Brighton</a>, and within London there is a sense of belonging more to localities—such as Chelsea or Hampstead, which acquire something of the character of urban villages—than to the metropolis as a whole.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span></section> <section data-level="3" id="ref44512"><h2 class="h3">The West <span id="ref483715"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Midlands" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Midlands</a></h2> <span class="marker PREMOD5 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="14556" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/66/4466-004-A817221C/Royal-Shakespeare-Theatre-Stratford-upon-Avon-England-Warwickshire.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/700965/14556"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/66/4466-004-A817221C/Royal-Shakespeare-Theatre-Stratford-upon-Avon-England-Warwickshire.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/66/4466-004-A817221C/Royal-Shakespeare-Theatre-Stratford-upon-Avon-England-Warwickshire.jpg?w=300" alt="Royal Shakespeare Theatre" data-width="310" data-height="300" 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/66/4466-004-A817221C/Royal-Shakespeare-Theatre-Stratford-upon-Avon-England-Warwickshire.jpg" data-href="/media/1/700965/14556">Royal Shakespeare Theatre</a><span>Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, 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">Regional characteristics are stronger outside the South East. The West Midlands region, <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="comprising" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comprising" data-type="MW">comprising</a> the historic counties of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Herefordshire" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Herefordshire</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Worcestershire-county-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Worcestershire</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Shropshire-county-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Shropshire</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Staffordshire" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Staffordshire</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Warwickshire" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Warwickshire</a>, has given its name to the metropolitan county of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/West-Midlands" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">West Midlands</a>, which includes the cities of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Birmingham-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Birmingham</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Coventry-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Coventry</a> and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Black-Country" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Black Country</a> (an urban area whose name reflects the coating of grime and soot afflicting the buildings of the region). With a history dating to the beginnings of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Industrial-Revolution" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Industrial Revolution</a>, the West Midland towns gained a reputation for being ugly but prosperous. However, the decline of heavy industry during the late 20th century took its toll on employment and prosperity in the region. Not exclusively an industrial area, the West Midlands includes Shakespeare country around <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Stratford-on-Avon" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Stratford-upon-Avon</a>, the fruit orchards of the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="Vale" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/Vale" data-type="EB">Vale</a> of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Evesham" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Evesham</a>, and the hill country on the Welsh border.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-read-more-module" href="/topic/education/National-education-under-enlightened-rulers#ref302986" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/02/233702-050-94172E64/Students-classroom-atheistic-activity-Salavdor-Bahia-Brazail-2018.jpg" alt="a classroom in Brazil" class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-navy-dark">More From Britannica</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">education: England</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span></section> </section><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":4,"pagesTotal":19,"pageId":700965,"pageLength":738,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.130.14"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.130.14' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"C","adLeg":"C","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"STATE_PAGINATED","gisted":false,"pageNumber":4,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} </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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England - Regions, Counties, History | Britannica