Counties of the United Kingdom

The counties of the United Kingdom are subnational divisions of the

Since the early 19th century, counties have been adapted to meet new administrative and political requirements, and the word county (often with a qualifier) has been used in different senses for different purposes. In some areas of England and Wales, counties still perform the functions of modern local government. In other parts of the United Kingdom, especially within large metropolitan areas, they have been replaced with alternative unitary authorities, which are considered 'county level' authorities.^[2] Today, these have largely replaced the historic county corporate entities granted self-governance with county government powers. Today, in addition to local government counties, every part of the United Kingdom lies within the historic counties which have formed geographic and cultural units since the Middle Ages.^[3]

Additionally, there are

metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties since 2023

The ceremonial counties since 1998

Historic counties of England

Most ceremonial counties correspond to a metropolitan or non-metropolitan county that has the same name but often has reduced boundaries. The current arrangement is the result of incremental reform; from 1974 to 1996 the metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties corresponded directly with the ceremonial counties. From 1889 to 1974 areas with county councils were known as administrative counties (which excluded larger towns and cities that had independent county boroughs), and ceremonial counties were defined separately.^[7]

Scotland

In Scotland, there are 33

The 1889 legislation created

One region and various districts, created in 1975, had areas similar to those of earlier counties, and various council areas, created in 1996, are also similar. Two of the three islands areas—Orkney and Shetland—have boundaries identical to those of earlier counties.

Scotland has also

The Principal areas of Wales in 1996

The Historic counties of Wales

Further information:

Lord-Lieutenant are the preserved counties of Wales

which are, for the most part, combinations of principal areas chosen to approximate to the counties constituted in 1974.

Northern Ireland

Main articles:

Traditional counties of Ireland

There are six counties in Northern Ireland. In order of landmass these are; Tyrone, Antrim, Down, Londonderry, Fermanagh and Armagh.

The six historic counties of Northern Ireland are no longer in use for administrative purposes. Combined with the boroughs of Belfast and Derry, the counties do serve for organisational purposes within government, and often with private businesses and sporting clubs.

The counties of Northern Ireland are all within the historic province of Ulster, which includes an additional three other counties in the Republic of Ireland: Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Counties of the United Kingdom.

• List of counties of the United Kingdom
• Counties of Ireland

References

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article "County".

1. ^ Bryne, T., Local Government in Britain, (1994)
2. ^ Jones, B. et al., Politics UK, (2004)
3. ^ "United Kingdom". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Accessed 9 June 2014.
4. ^ Dandy, J.E. (1969), Watsonian vice-counties of Great Britain, vol. Publication no. 146, Ray Society, London
5. ^ Hampton, W. (1991). Local Government and Urban Politics.
6. ^ Redcliffe-Maud & Wood, B. (1974). English Local Government Reformed.
7. ^ Kingdom, J. (1991). Local Government and Politics in Britain.
8. ^ OPSI - Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994
9. ^ Boundaries of Counties and Parishes in Scotland, Hay Shennan, 1892