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Is Cardiff in Glamorgan?
Cardiff is geographically in Glamorgan, its historic county, but the current council area extends into Monmouthshire, demonstrating the distinction between geographic and…
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What actually changed in Scotland in 1975?
On 16 May 1975 Scotland’s local-government system was replaced by regions, districts and islands areas. The reform changed councils and local-government areas,…
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Why does legislation use the word “county” for things that are not the ancient geographic counties?
Legislation can define “county” for specific legal purposes, thus distinguishing it from geographic counties. Understanding this requires careful reading of the statutory…
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Dragon or Wyvern? Why Somerset’s Emblem Is a Dragon – and Wessex’s Is a Wyvern
Somerset’s emblem is a red dragon, not a wyvern. The distinction lies in English heraldry, where dragons have four legs while wyverns…
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RealCounties begins mapping official statistics by geographic county
RealCounties has begun mapping official statistics by geographic county, using census data to show how stable county geography can support long-term comparison.
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The historic counties of Ireland: what changed – and what didn’t
Ireland has 32 historic counties, six in Northern Ireland and 26 in the Republic, shaped over centuries but still significant for cultural…
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Are historic counties “official” or “legal”? What those words actually mean
What do “official” and “legal” mean when applied to historic counties? This explainer separates statutory definitions from official recognition and geographic status.
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Cumbria, Cumberland, Westmorland, Lancashire and Yorkshire explained
Cumbria was the name of a local-government area from 1974 to 2023 and remains the name of a lieutenancy area. The geographic…
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Geography
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Foundations
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Census work, official sources, Ordnance Survey evidence, statistics and RealCounties mapping developments.
Identity
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County days, flags, boundary signs, heritage, celebrations, sport and cultural identity.
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