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This article is mainly about the English Midlands. For other uses, see Midlands (disambiguation).

Midlands can refer to the central region of any territory or nation. In Britain and Ireland, the term seems to be reserved for the "middle" in the vertical (North–South) direction—but countries oriented more E–W might use "Mid" with a horizontal meaning (i. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe. e. between East and West).

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UK and Ireland

In the UK, Scotland and England both have midland areas famous enough for the capital M (i. e. The Midlands as a name, not just a description). As used in England, if a country is not specified then "Midlands" usually refers to the English Midlands. Note that Wales has "Mid Wales" (not "The Welsh Midlands") and Ireland (the island) has its own Midlands (in the Republic). Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe.

English Midlands

The Midlands is an area of England which broadly corresponds to the early-mediaeval Kingdom of Mercia. Mercia (ˈmɝsiə was one of the kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy. The area lies between Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales, and its largest city is Birmingham. Southern England is an imprecise term used to refer to the southern Counties of England. Northern England, The North, The North of England or (less commonly The North Country refers to the parts of England north of an ill-defined line East Anglia is often used as a shorthand for the Kingdom of the East Angles. Birmingham ( ˈbɜːmɪŋəm Ber -ming-um

The name does not correspond to any current administrative area, and there is therefore no strict definition. However, it is generally considered to include the counties of Derbyshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Rutland, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, the West Midlands and Worcestershire. A county is a Land area of Regional Government within a larger State. History The area that is now Derbyshire was first visited probably briefly by humans 200000 years ago during the Aveley Interglacial as evidenced by a Middle History See also History of Gloucestershire Gloucestershire is a historic county mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in the 10th century Constitution Herefordshire was reconstituted both as a new Non-metropolitan district (effective 19th July 1996 and as a new County comprising the area of the Leicestershire (ˈlɛstəʃə(r or ˈlɛstəʃɪə(r abbreviation Leics Lincolnshire (abbreviated Lincs) is a county in the east of England. Northamptonshire (or archaically the County of Northampton; abbreviated Northants Nottinghamshire (abbreviated Notts) is an English county in the East Midlands, which borders South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire History See also History of Oxfordshire The county of Oxfordshire was formed in the early years of the 10th century and is broadly situated in the Rutland is a county of mainland England, bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire, and southeast by Shropshire (ˈʃrɒpʃɪə/ /-ʃə alternatively known as Salop or abbreviated in print only Shrops, is a county in the Staffordshire (abbreviated Staffs) is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. Geography Warwickshire is bounded to the northwest by the West Midlands Metropolitan county and Staffordshire, by Leicestershire to The West Midlands is a Metropolitan county in western central England with a population of 2591300 Worcestershire (ˈwʊstəʃə abbreviated Worcs) is a county located in the West Midlands region of central England. The 2001 census included Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire in the Midlands, though East Anglia (the collective name for these counties) is not usually considered part of the Midlands. Norfolk (ˈnɔrfək is a low-lying county in East Anglia, England, United Kingdom. Suffolk (ˈsʌfək is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. History Cambridgeshire is noted as the site of some of the earliest known Neolithic permanent settlement in the United Kingdom, along with sites at Fengate

The two Government Office Regions of West and East Midlands.
The two Government Office Regions of West and East Midlands.

The greater part of the Midlands is covered by two administrative regions of England, West Midlands and East Midlands. The region, also known as the government office region, is currently the highest tier of local government sub-national entity of England, with only one The West Midlands is an official Region of England, covering the western half of the area traditionally known as the Midlands. The East Midlands is one of the Regions of England and consists of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. However, even taken together, these regions do not fully cover the traditional Midlands, because:

(cf. The 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, which describes Gloucestershire as "west midland", Bedfordshire as "south midland", and Huntingdonshire as "east midland" counties respectively. The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1910–1911 is a 29-volume reference work that marked the beginning of the Encyclopædia Britannica Bedfordshire (abbreviated Beds) is a County in England that forms part of the East of England region. History The earliest English settlers in the district were the Gyrwas, an East Anglian tribe who early in the 6th century worked their way up the Ouse and the Cam )

The "midland" status of Cheshire is often debated. Cheshire (or archaically the County of Chester) is a county in North West England. South Cheshire has strong links with North Staffordshire (definitely in the Midlands), and North Cheshire with Merseyside and Manchester (both definitely in Northern England). In official eyes, the northward pull prevailed (perhaps because the county town, Chester, is so far north) and Cheshire is now part of the North West region. North West England is one of the nine official Regions of England.

The largest Midlands conurbation, which includes the cities of Birmingham and Wolverhampton, is approximately covered by a metropolitan county (which also includes the city of Coventry), also called the West Midlands. A conurbation is an Urban area or Agglomeration comprising a number of Cities, large Towns and larger urban areas that through Population Birmingham ( ˈbɜːmɪŋəm Ber -ming-um The metropolitan counties are a type of county-level Administrative division of England. Coventry ( is a city and Metropolitan borough in the County of West Midlands in England. The West Midlands is a Metropolitan county in western central England with a population of 2591300 Thus, there are two West Midlands, a Region and a (smaller) County.

Parts of the East Midlands are also densely populated, particularly the triangle formed by the cities of Leicester, Nottingham and Derby, which also includes sizeable towns such as Loughborough and the Long Eaton–Beeston–Stapleford subconurbation. Leicester (ˈlɛstə is the largest city and Unitary authority area in the East Midlands of England, and is the traditional Nottingham ( is a city in the Ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire, England. Derby (pronounced "dar-bee" /dˈɑːbɪ/ is a city in the East Midlands of England. Loughborough (pronounced locally as either /lɘfbɘɹɘ/ "LUFF-burra" /lɘf Long Eaton is a Town in Derbyshire, England. It lies just North of the River Trent about 7 miles Southwest of Beeston is a town in Nottinghamshire, England. It is southwest of Nottingham City Centre Stapleford is a town in the County of Nottinghamshire, England some 6 miles (10km west of the centre of Nottingham.

The South Midlands is an area identified by the government for regional development purposes, consisting of Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire with northern Buckinghamshire (what is now the Milton Keynes unitary authority). The South Midlands is an area of England. The term is not widely used and it is not one of the English administative regions. Northamptonshire (or archaically the County of Northampton; abbreviated Northants Bedfordshire (abbreviated Beds) is a County in England that forms part of the East of England region. Buckinghamshire (abbreviated Bucks) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. Bedfordshire and particularly Buckinghamshire are not usually considered part of the Midlands and are in the administrative regions of the East of England and the South East respectively, a further illustration of the fluidity of the perceived boundaries of the Midlands. The East of England is one of the nine official Regions of England. South East England is one of the nine official Regions of England. Banbury in north Oxfordshire is often considered as the southern extremity of the English Midlands as it is relatively industrialised and many locals harbour an accent which is discernibly non-Southern. Banbury is a Market town located on the River Cherwell in northern Oxfordshire, England. The town also has strong links with the Birmingham–Coventry industrial zone to the north.

Notable cities and towns

External links

Alcester ( IPA /ˈɒlˌstə(ɹ/ or /ˈɔːlˌstə(ɹ/ is an old Market town of Roman origin at the junction of the River Alne and Ashbourne is a small picturesque market Town in the Derbyshire Dales, England. Ashby de la Zouch (often shortened simply to Ashby) is a small Market town and Civil parish in north west Leicestershire, England Atherstone is a town in Warwickshire, England. The town is located near the northernmost tip of Warwickshire close to the border with Staffordshire Bedworth is a market town in the Nuneaton and Bedworth district of Warwickshire, England. Birmingham ( ˈbɜːmɪŋəm Ber -ming-um Boston ( is a town and small Port in Lincolnshire, on the east coast of England. Bridgnorth is a Town in Shropshire, England, along the Severn Valley. Burton upon Trent, also known as Burton-on-Trent or simply Burton, is a large town straddling the River Trent in the east of Staffordshire, Buxton is a Spa town in Derbyshire, England. Located close to the county boundary with Cheshire to the west and Staffordshire to the south Cannock is a town in Staffordshire, England, just north of the West Midlands conurbation. Chesterfield is a historic Market town and local government district in Derbyshire, a County in England. Corby is an industrial town and a local government district located 13km north of Kettering in Northamptonshire, England. Coventry ( is a city and Metropolitan borough in the County of West Midlands in England. Derby (pronounced "dar-bee" /dˈɑːbɪ/ is a city in the East Midlands of England. Droitwich Spa is a Town in northern Worcestershire, England, on the River Salwarpe and has a population of 22585 (2001 Dudley ( is a large town in the West Midlands, England, with a population of 194919. Gainsborough is a town within the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. Grantham is a Market town within the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. Great Malvern is a Town in Worcestershire, England, positioned at the foot and partly on the sides of the Malvern Hills. Halesowen is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, in the West Midlands, England. Hereford ( ˈhɛrɨfəd is a city, Civil parish and County town of Herefordshire, England. Hinckley is a town in south-west Leicestershire, England. It has a population of 43246 (2001 census Kenilworth is a town in central Warwickshire, England. In 2001 the town had a population of 22582 (24000 est Kettering is a Town in Northamptonshire, England, UK. It is the main town within the Borough of Kettering. Kidderminster is a town in the Wyre Forest district of Worcestershire, England. Leamington Spa, properly Royal Leamington Spa, commonly Leamington (ˈlɛmɪŋtən and "Leam" to locals is a Spa town in central Leek is a Market town in the county of Staffordshire, England, on the River Churnet. Leicester (ˈlɛstə is the largest city and Unitary authority area in the East Midlands of England, and is the traditional Lichfield is a city and Civil parish in Staffordshire, England. Lincoln (ˈlɪŋkən is a Cathedral city and County town of Lincolnshire, England. Loughborough (pronounced locally as either /lɘfbɘɹɘ/ "LUFF-burra" /lɘf Lutterworth is a Market town in the Harborough district of Leicestershire, England. Mansfield is a town in Nottinghamshire, England. It is the largest town in the County, lying on the River Maun, from which the name of the town Market Harborough is a Market town in Leicestershire, England. Matlock is the County town of Derbyshire, England. It is situated at the south eastern edge of the Peak District, and is twinned Newark-on-Trent (generally shortened to Newark) is a Market town in Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands region of England. Newcastle-under-Lyme, known simply as "castle" to many local people is a Market town in Staffordshire, England, and is the principal This article is about Northampton in England for other places of the same name see Northampton (disambiguation Northampton ( is a large Market Nottingham ( is a city in the Ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire, England. Nuneaton is the largest town in the English county of Warwickshire, and the borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth. Oswestry (ˈɒzwəstɹɪ is a town and Civil parish in Shropshire, England, very close to the Welsh border Redditch is a Town and local government district in north-east Worcestershire, England. Rugby is a Market town in Warwickshire, in the West Midlands of England, on the River Avon. Rugeley is a historic Market town in the county of Staffordshire, England. Rushden is a town in England in the county of Northamptonshire. Shrewsbury ( /ˈʃruːzbri/ or /ˈʃroʊzbri/ is the County town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England Skegness is a seaside town and Civil parish within the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. Solihull (ˈsɒlɪhʌl or /ˈsəʊlihʌl/ is a large town in the West Midlands of England, with a population of 94753 This article is about the town of Stafford England For the larger local government district see Borough of Stafford. Stoke-on-Trent ( often abbreviated to Stoke) is a city in Staffordshire, England which forms a linear Conurbation almost 12 miles (19 Stone is an old market town in Staffordshire, England, situated about seven Miles north of Stafford, and around seven miles south of the Stourbridge is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, in the West Midlands of England. Stratford-upon-Avon (ˌstrætfɚd əpɒn ˈɛɪvən is a Market town and Civil parish in south Warwickshire, England. Sutton Coldfield ( is a town within the City of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England Tamworth is a Town and local government district in Staffordshire, England, located 14 miles (22 km north-east of Birmingham Telford ( ˈtɛlfɚd is a large new town in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England, Walsall ( is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. Warwick (ˈwɒrɪk worrick (silent w in middle is the County town of Warwickshire, England. Wellingborough is a Town in Northamptonshire, England situated some eleven miles from the county town of Northampton and eight miles south West Bromwich ( is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands, England Worcester (ˈwʊstə is a city and County town of Worcestershire, in the West Midlands of England.

Dictionary

midlands

-noun

  1. Plural form of midland: the respective middles of states.
  2. Form of midland: the middle of a state.

Midlands

-proper noun

  1. (UK) A loosely-defined area of England; corresponding to the central horizontal band of England.
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