West Yorkshire

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A metropolitan county in England which corresponds roughly to the core of the West Riding of the traditional county of Yorkshire. It covers an area of 2,029 sq km and has a population of around 2,108,000.

Geography

It borders on Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Derbyshire, North Yorkshire and South Yorkshire. It is composed of the districts of Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, and Wakefield.

History

It was formed in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972. Its county council was abolished in 1986 making its metropolitan boroughs de facto unitary authorities, although the county still exists in law and ceremonially. During the Early Middle Ages, between approximately the 5th century and early 7th century AD, it is believed to have been an independent Celtic kingdom called Elmet, covering a broad area of what is now the West Riding of Yorkshire. Although its precise boundaries are unclear, it appears to have been bordered by the River Sheaf in the south and the River Wharfe in the east. Elmet was invaded and conquered by Northumbria in the autumn of 616. The only remains of this kingdom, are the defensive earthworks in and around Barwick-in-Elmet, the names of other villages in the area ( e.g. Sherburn-in-Elmet) and in the celtic roots of many of the local place names. The parliamentary constituency is also called Elmet.

Towns and Villages

Ackworth, Allerton Bywater, Baildon, Bailiff Bridge, Batley, Beeston, Bingley, Birkby, Boston Spa, Bradford, Brighouse, Castleford, Cleckheaton, Copley, Cragg Vale, Cullingworth, Denby Dale, Dewsbury, Elland, Emley, Esholt, Fairburn Ings, Ferrybridge, Fitzwilliam, Garforth, Golcar, Gomersal, Greetland, Guiseley, Halifax, Harewood, Hartshead, Hartshead Moor,Haworth, Hebden Bridge, Heckmondwike, Hemsworth, Heptonstall, Holmfirth, Honley, Horbury, Horsforth, Huddersfield, Ilkley, Keighley, Kippax, Kirkburton, Kirkstall, Knottingley, Ledsham, Ledston, Leeds, Linthwaite, Marsden, Meltham, Mirfield, Morley, Mytholmroyd, New Mill, Newmillerdam, New Farnley, Nostell, Oakworth, Ossett, Oxenhope, Otley, Oulton, Pontefract, Pudsey, Queensbury, Rastrick, Riddlesden, Ripponden, Rothwell, Saltaire, Sandal, Scammonden Scarcroft, Scholes, Shelley, Shepley, Shibden, Shipley, Silsden, Slaithwaite, Sowerby Bridge, Stanbury, Temple Newsam, Thornbury, Thornton, Thornhill, Todmorden, Tong, Wakefield, Walton, West Bretton, Wetherby, Whitkirk, Wilsden & Yeadon.

West Yorkshire County Flag