North Yorkshire

Located in the North east of England, North Yorkshire is part of the ancient county of Yorkshire. It covers 3,209 square miles and has a population of around 700,000,.

Industry

The economy is mainly agricultural and sheep are raised on the upland hills. Tourism is a major sector of the local economy. There is also some light industry.

Geography

The County covers most of the lands of the traditional North Riding, the northern half of the West Riding and the northern and eastern parts of the old East Riding. North Yorkshire consists of two upland areas. The Vale of York separates the two highland areas. Contained within its boundaries are the North York Moors and most of the Yorkshire Dales National Parks.

History

Before the Romans the region was the tribal area of the Brigantes, a powerful British tribe. The Romans built there centre at Eboracum, now known as York. From the 6th century the area was invaded by the Angles, becoming part of the kingdom of Deira which together with the kingdom of Bernica, became the kingdom of Northumbria. The area around Sheffield and Leeds remained a Celtic Kingdom called Elmet for a long time but eventually it was conquered by Northumbria. Yorkshire was an important monastic centre in the Middle Ages. York flourished under the Anglians in the 8th century but the area was conquered by Danish invaders who settled in large numbers and introduced many Scandinavian words into the local dialect. William the Conqueror destroyed much of the county when he conquered England and during later rebellions. During the 15th century Wars of the Roses the county was ravaged when the two branches of the Plantagenet Kings (the houses of York & Lancaster) fought for control of the English Kingdom. During the English civil war it was damaged extensively as Parliament and the Royalists fought for control.

Popular towns include:

Arncliffe, Borrowby, Catterick, Richmond, Dalton, Sowerby, Giggleswick, Grassington, Great Ayton, Harrogate, Hebden, Helmsley, Kettlewell, Kilnsey, Kirkbymoorside, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Pickering, Northallerton, Osmotherley, Ravenscar, Richmond, Rievaulx, Ripon, Robin Hood's Bay, Scarborough, Selby, Settle, Skipton, Sowerby, Stokesley, Tadcaster, Thirsk, Whitby.

Yorkshire County Flag