Counties of England

The counties of England are essential subdivisions of the country.

They serve many different roles in modern life. These roles include local government, ceremonial duties, and historical identity. Because they serve different purposes, there are three distinct ways to define a county today. First, there are 48 ceremonial counties used for the purposes of lieutenancy. Second, there are 84 metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties used for local government. Finally, there are 39 historic counties that represent the traditional divisions of the land.

To understand how these areas function, one must look at the local government structure. Most of England, excluding Greater London and the Isles of Scilly, uses these local government counties. There are six metropolitan counties and 78 non-metropolitan counties. Some of these areas use a two-tier system. This means an upper-tier county council works alongside lower-tier district councils. For example, 21 non-metropolitan counties still use this two-tier arrangement. Other areas use a unitary authority. A unitary authority is a single council that performs both county and district functions. In the non-metropolitan area, 56 counties are governed this way. Interestingly, Berkshire is a single legal county but is governed by six different unitary authorities.

The ceremonial counties serve a different purpose. These 48 areas are used for lieutenancy. A lieutenancy is a system involving a lord-lieutenant. These ceremonial counties are often groups of one or more local government counties. While a ceremonial county often shares a name with a local government county, it frequently covers a much wider area. These boundaries are used for formal duties rather than daily administration. They provide a sense of regional identity that is recognized by the state.

The history of these divisions stretches back to Anglo-Saxon times. Most historic counties were established between the 7th and 11th centuries. They began as shires or divisions of early kingdoms. These kingdoms gradually united by the 10th century to form England. In the early days, counties were used to administer justice. A sheriff was the official responsible for overseeing this process. In some special cases, known as counties palatine, the power to appoint sheriffs belonged to others. For instance, the Bishop of Durham oversaw County Durham. The Earl of Chester held this right for Cheshire.

Over time, the responsibilities of the counties grew significantly. Magistrates held sessions called quarter sessions to handle local matters. They eventually managed tasks like maintaining roads, bridges, and asylums. From the Tudor period, lord-lieutenants were appointed to oversee the militia. The militia was a military force organized by the county. In the 13th century, counties also became important for politics. They served as constituencies for electing members of parliament. Most members were known as knights of the shire.

Major legal changes reshaped the counties in the late 19th century. The Local Government Act 1888 was a turning point. It created elected county councils in 1889. These councils took over the administrative duties once held by magistrates. This act also helped fix boundary issues. Before this, boundaries were often kept through local custom rather than precise records. The Ordnance Survey had to research with locals to map them accurately. This mapping process began in 1841 and finished in 1888.

Further reforms occurred in 1965 and 1974 to modernize the system. These changes adjusted territories to match growing urban areas. Even after these shifts, counties remain vital for non-administrative reasons. They are used to organize culture, tourism, and sport. Many clubs and leagues operate on a county basis. You can even see county pride displayed through flags.

Whether for government or for tradition, the counties remain a core part of the English landscape.