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Midlands

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The Midlands is a large region located in the central part of England.

Map of the English Midlands with settlements and traditional counties
Map of the English Midlands with settlements and traditional counties

It sits south of Northern England and north of Southern England. To the east, the region lies near the North Sea. To the west, it borders Wales. The area is composed of many ceremonial counties. These include Derbyshire, Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, and Worcestershire. For statistical purposes, the region is divided into the East Midlands and the West Midlands. These two areas had a combined population of 10.9 million at the 2021 census.

Midlands counties
Midlands counties

Defining the exact boundaries of the Midlands can be difficult. There is no single, official definition for the region. Some definitions include a larger area than the statistical regions. For example, the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica listed Gloucestershire as a West Midland county. It also listed Bedfordshire as a South Midland county. Other areas like Cheshire are sometimes included. Some people use the term "Central England" to describe parts of the Midlands. This term often covers areas like Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. There are also two informal regions known as the South Midlands and the North Midlands. These informal regions vary depending on which organization is defining them.

The geography of the Midlands is mostly low-lying and flat. However, there are several important upland areas. In the west, the Shropshire Hills sit near the border with Wales. The highest point there is Brown Clee Hill, which reaches 540 meters. To the north, the Peak District offers higher ground. Its highest point is Kinder Scout at 636 meters. In the southwest, the Precambrian Malverns contain very old rocks. These rocks are approximately 680 million years old. The highest point in the Malverns is the Worcestershire Beacon at 425 meters.

Midlands counties
Midlands counties

In the east, the Lincolnshire Wolds provide some elevation in a mostly low area. Lincolnshire is also the only coastal county in the Midlands. Some parts of Lincolnshire actually sit below sea level.

The climate of the Midlands is described as temperate maritime. This means it has cold, cloudy, and wet winters. It also has comfortable, mostly dry, and sunny summers. Because it is far from the coast, it often has light winds. The region experiences both very hot and very cold weather. For example, the highest temperature ever recorded in England was 40.3°C in Lincolnshire in 2022. Conversely, the lowest temperature ever recorded in England was -27.2°C in Shropshire in 1982. These extreme temperatures show how much the weather can vary.

History has shaped the identity of the Midlands deeply. The region corresponds broadly to the early-medieval kingdom of Mercia.

Flag of Mercia (2014)
Flag of Mercia (2014)

A symbol for Mercia is the St Alban's Cross. This is a gold saltire, or diagonal cross, on a blue field. This symbol is still used today on many town coats of arms. The Midlands also became a major center during the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries. This period of intense industry led to the naming of the "Black Country." This area includes the boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell, Wolverhampton, and Walsall. These places played a vital role in the industrial growth of England.

Many large urban areas exist throughout the region. Birmingham is the largest city and is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom.

Midlands councils
Midlands councils

Other major cities include Coventry, Derby, Leicester, Nottingham, Stoke-on-Trent, Wolverhampton, and Worcester. The West Midlands urban area has a population of over 2.4 million people.

Midlands councils
Midlands councils

The region is also known for its cultural contributions. The famous poet William Shakespeare was from Warwickshire. The Midlands has produced many famous foods, such as Stilton cheese and Melton Mowbray pork pies. It is also a hub for music. For instance, the band Black Sabbath, which pioneered heavy metal, came from Birmingham.

The Midlands occupies a unique position in the North-South divide of England. It contains cultural elements from both the North and the South. Some suggest this causes the region to have an "image problem" regarding its identity. The Watford Gap in Northamptonshire is often seen as the dividing line between the north and south. Most of the Midlands population lives north of this point. Different parts of the Midlands have very different characters. Some areas, like the Shropshire Hills, are known for beautiful countryside. Other areas, like the Amber Valley, combine nature with industrial heritage. This mix of industry and nature defines the region.

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🖼️ Images & Media (5)
File:Flag of Mercia (2014).svg
Flag of Mercia (2014).svg
File:Foot-strut split.svg
Foot-strut split.svg
File:Map of the English Midlands with settlements and traditional counties.png
Map of the English Midlands with...
File:Midlands councils.png
Midlands councils.png
File:Midlands counties.png
Midlands counties.png
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