How many counties are in England? From Leicestershire to Yorkshire, we unravel England’s confusing county system.
England’s intricate system of counties often causes outright bewilderment, even amongst English natives like myself. The ‘county system’ is a complex assortment of historical, ceremonial, geographical and administrative county divisions, many of which have divergent boundaries that commonly overlap one another.
It’s difficult to say where one English county begins and the next ends, and that’s before you’ve even worked out exactly how many counties there are in England. The answer largely depends on context. For example, there are a total of 48 ceremonial counties in England, based on historical divisions going back centuries. However, England can also be divided into 83 administrative counties, which are further subdivided between metropolitan and non-metropolitan divisions.
In this article, I attempt to demystify the complex county system, exploring its origins, its transformations and its present structure. As we navigate through England’s landscapes, from the moors of Yorkshire to the waterways of Norfolk, each county unfolds a unique narrative that’s contributed to England’s wider character. Keep reading, to find out how many counties there are in England.
Table of Contents
How many counties are in England?
The short answer, is there are 48 ceremonial counties in England. These are often referred to as ‘geographic’ or ‘historic’ counties.
However, for administrative purposes, England is divided into several different types of ‘county’, each with varying levels of local government control. These include unitary authorities, metropolitan boroughs and London boroughs among others. For example, there are a total of 83 ‘administrative’ counties.
The exact number often changes due to administrative restructuring, which is why the ‘ceremonial’ county is typically used as a measure of how many counties there are in England, as these do not change.
Yes, it’s confusing. Let’s look at the county system in more detail to better understand how and why it exists.
Read more: What is the United Kingdom? Everything You Need to Know.
What is England’s county system?
The ‘county’ system refers to the division of England into geographic, administrative and ceremonial units, known as counties. The county system in England can be quite complex due to the layers of history and the different types of counties that exist.
It’s also an evolving system, with changes sometimes made to the administrative structure to improve local government or to accommodate changes in population and urban development.
The major county divisions are as follows:
Ceremonial Counties
There are 48 ceremonial counties in England. They are defined by the Lieutenancies Act 1997 as counties and areas for the purposes of the lieutenancies in Great Britain, in other words, areas that a Lord-Lieutenant is appointed to. They are also known as geographic counties, and they closely (although not quite) align with historic county boundaries stretching back centuries.
A ceremonial county has a Lord Lieutenant, who is appointed as the monarch’s personal representative in the county. The Lord Lieutenant carries out ceremonial duties such as arranging visits of members of the royal family and presenting medals and awards on behalf of the sovereign.
England’s 48 ceremonial counties are as follows:
- Bedfordshire
- Berkshire
- Bristol
- Buckinghamshire
- Cambridgeshire
- Cheshire
- City of London
- Cornwall
- Cumbria
- Derbyshire
- Devon
- Dorset
- County Durham
- East Riding of Yorkshire
- East Sussex
- Essex
- Gloucestershire
- Greater London
- Greater Manchester
- Hampshire
- Herefordshire
- Hertfordshire
- Isle of Wight
- Kent
- Lancashire
- Leicestershire
- Lincolnshire
- City of London
- Merseyside
- Norfolk
- North Yorkshire
- Northamptonshire
- Northumberland
- Nottinghamshire
- Oxfordshire
- Rutland
- Shropshire
- Somerset
- South Yorkshire
- Staffordshire
- Suffolk
- Surrey
- Tyne and Wear
- Warwickshire
- West Midlands
- West Sussex
- West Yorkshire
- Wiltshire
- Worcestershire
Read more: Is England a Country? Everything You Need to Know.
Administrative Counties
This refers to subnational divisions formed for the administration of local government services. These include both Metropolitan and Non-metropolitan (or Shire) Counties. Metropolitan counties cover urban areas such as Greater Manchester, while non-metropolitan counties cover rural and small urban areas. Each has its own local government, usually a county council, which is responsible for public services like education and transportation. There are 83 administrative counties, including both Metropolitan and Non-Metropolitan counties.
The term ‘administrative county’ was introduced in 1889 and has been used in various forms since then. The current structure dates from the Local Government Act 1972 and subsequent amendments. However, the system can be quite complex, and there have been numerous changes over the years to reflect evolving needs and priorities in local governance.
The two types of administrative counties in England are:
Non-metropolitan Counties (or Shire Counties)
Non-metropolitan counties are typically rural and suburban areas. Each non-metropolitan county has a county council and one or more district councils. The county council is responsible for services across the whole county, such as education, transport, and fire services, while district councils cover a smaller area and provide more local services, like rubbish collection and planning applications. Examples include Devon, Norfolk and North Yorkshire.
Non-metropolitan (Shire) Counties:
- Bedfordshire
- Berkshire
- Buckinghamshire
- Cambridgeshire
- Cheshire
- Cornwall
- County Durham
- Cumbria
- Derbyshire
- Devon
- Dorset
- East Sussex
- Essex
- Gloucestershire
- Hampshire
- Herefordshire
- Hertfordshire
- Isle of Wight
- Kent
- Lancashire
- Leicestershire
- Lincolnshire
- Norfolk
- Northamptonshire
- North Yorkshire
- Nottinghamshire
- Oxfordshire
- Shropshire
- Somerset
- Staffordshire
- Suffolk
- Surrey
- Warwickshire
- West Sussex
- Wiltshire
- Worcestershire
Read more: How Many Counties in the UK (United Kingdom)?
Metropolitan Counties
Metropolitan counties were established for the large urban and metropolitan areas in England. They originally had county councils, but these were abolished in 1986, and most of their functions were transferred to the individual metropolitan boroughs within them.
Metropolitan counties include:
- Greater Manchester
- Merseyside
- South Yorkshire
- Tyne and Wear
- West Midlands
- West Yorkshire
In addition, some parts of England are covered by unitary authorities, which are areas where there is a single tier of local government. Unitary authorities undertake the roles and responsibilities of both county and district councils. Examples include Bristol, Herefordshire, Isle of Wight and Northumberland.
Read more: How Many Cities in England? Everything You Need to Know.
Historic Counties
These are areas that were established for administration by the Normans, in many cases based on earlier Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and shires. There are 39 of these in total. The historical counties were the principal means of geographic division in England and were used in a variety of contexts such as public administration, legal proceedings and cultural or linguistic delineation.
They remained largely unchanged until the Local Government Act of 1888 which created administrative counties, many of which had boundaries differing from the historical counties.
Historical counties have no official role in public administration today. However, they continue to be recognised and used for cultural and symbolic purposes, including sports affiliations, cultural activities, and traditional ceremonies. Moreover, many people still identify strongly with their historical counties.
There are 39 historical counties in England:
- Bedfordshire
- Berkshire
- Buckinghamshire
- Cambridgeshire
- Cheshire
- Cornwall
- Cumberland
- Derbyshire
- Devon
- Dorset
- Durham
- Essex
- Gloucestershire
- Hampshire
- Herefordshire
- Hertfordshire
- Huntingdonshire
- Kent
- Lancashire
- Leicestershire
- Lincolnshire
- Middlesex
- Norfolk
- Northamptonshire
- Northumberland
- Nottinghamshire
- Oxfordshire
- Rutland
- Shropshire
- Somerset
- Staffordshire
- Suffolk
- Surrey
- Sussex
- Warwickshire
- Westmorland
- Wiltshire
- Worcestershire
- Yorkshire
It’s worth noting that some of the historical counties, such as Cumberland, Westmorland and Huntingdonshire, have largely been absorbed into other counties and no longer exist as administrative or ceremonial entities. And the county of Yorkshire is traditionally divided into three ‘ridings’ (North, East, and West).
Read more: What are the British Isles? Everything You Need to Know.
A history of England’s county system
The concept of counties in England has a long and complex history. They’ve evolved over time from feudal territories, to administrative divisions, to modern areas of local government. Here’s a brief history of the county system:
Anglo-Saxon Shires
The origins of English counties trace back to the Anglo-Saxon period, from around the 7th to the 11th centuries. The Anglo-Saxon kingdoms established shires, similar to provinces, each with a ‘shire-reeve’ or sheriff responsible for local administration and justice. These shires largely followed natural boundaries such as rivers and hills, and often had fortifications, known as burhs, which served as administrative centres. Notably, these shires weren’t uniform in size or population; instead, they tended to be areas that were practical for a sheriff to manage.
Norman Conquest and Feudal Counties
The Norman Conquest in 1066 led to substantial changes in English governance, but the structure of the shires largely remained. However, under the feudal system, large areas of land were given to Norman lords as counties, which they governed as ‘counts’ or ‘earls’. Some of these feudal counties corresponded to the earlier Anglo-Saxon shires, while others were new creations. The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, provides a snapshot of these territorial divisions at that time.
Administrative Counties and County Boroughs
The system remained largely unchanged until the late 19th century. In response to population growth and urbanisation during the Industrial Revolution, the government created administrative counties and county boroughs with the Local Government Act of 1888. Administrative counties were governed by county councils and covered all of England apart from the County of London and some major towns and cities, which became county boroughs with similar powers. This allowed for more effective local administration and services.
Local Government Reorganisations
The system evolved further with two major reorganisations in the 20th century. In 1965, the administrative County of London was abolished, and Greater London was established, including many of the surrounding boroughs. The rest of England was reorganised in 1974, creating metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties, and abolishing county boroughs.
The non-metropolitan counties (also called ‘shire counties’) functioned similarly to the previous administrative counties, while the metropolitan counties covered large urban areas, like Greater Manchester or West Midlands.
Further changes in the 1980s and 1990s introduced the concept of unitary authorities – areas where there’s a single tier of local government rather than a county and district level. Some of these unitary authorities were created from former metropolitan counties, while others were formed from non-metropolitan counties.
Ceremonial Counties
In addition to these administrative changes, England has 48 ceremonial counties, also known as geographic counties. These align with historic boundaries rather than current administrative ones, and they’re used for cultural and symbolic purposes rather than governance. Each ceremonial county has a Lord Lieutenant, the monarch’s representative.
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What are England’s other administrative divisions?
To further confuse things, England has multiple levels of administration outside of the county systems. Here are some of the key subdivisions:
- Regions: England is divided into nine regions. These are the highest tier of sub-national division and are primarily used for statistical purposes. They were also used for European Parliamentary elections when the UK was part of the EU.
- Counties: The county system in England has two main types, each serving different functions:
- Administrative Counties: Including 83 Metropolitan and Non-Metropolitan Counties
- Unitary Authorities: These are single-tier administrations where the county and district functions are combined. Examples include Bristol and Cornwall.
- Districts: These are a subdivision of counties, except for unitary authorities where district functions are merged with the county level. There are several types, including Boroughs, City Districts, Royal Boroughs and Non-Metropolitan Districts. They handle local matters like waste collection and planning applications.
- Civil Parishes: These are the smallest areas of civil administration in England. Not all parts of the country have them, especially in urban areas, but where they exist, they may provide local services like maintaining allotments and public clocks.
- Greater London: This has a unique status. It includes 32 London Boroughs and the City of London, which has a unique status and historical rights. Greater London is governed by the Mayor of London and the London Assembly.
- Combined Authorities: These are collaborative entities where two or more local government areas coordinate responsibilities and powers. They are often established to manage regional issues like transportation and economic development. An example is the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
- City Regions: Similar to Combined Authorities, but typically involve a core city and its surrounding areas. They usually have a directly elected mayor, known as a Metro Mayor, such as the Liverpool City Region.
Read more: How Many Counties in Scotland? Everything You Need to Know.
Is London a county?
London is not a county in the traditional sense, but it serves as a ceremonial county and is also considered a region for certain administrative purposes.
From an administrative perspective, London is divided into 32 boroughs, each of which has its own local council, plus the City of London, which has a unique status and its own governing bodies. Collectively, these 33 areas are known as Greater London.
Greater London was created in 1965 and covers the area that is generally accepted as London. It is governed by the Greater London Authority (GLA), which consists of the Mayor of London and the London Assembly.
Ceremonially, Greater London excluding the City of London is considered one county, with its own Lord Lieutenant, the monarch’s representative. The City of London, due to its special status and history, is treated as a separate ceremonial county.
So, while London isn’t a ‘county’ in the same way as other parts of England, it does have its own unique set of administrative and ceremonial structures that are roughly equivalent to a county.
Read more: London’s Blitzed and Abandoned Church
Is Cornwall a county?
Cornwall is a ‘county’ in South West England, bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, across the River Tamar. It’s considered one of the 48 ceremonial counties of England, even if the Cornish consider it to be a separate nation!
Cornwall is known for its distinctive cultural identity and its history as a centre for tin and copper mining. The Cornish language, while not widely spoken, is recognised and protected by the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.
Additionally, Cornwall is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, along with Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man and Brittany. This recognition is due in part to its historical Celtic heritage and the continued presence of Celtic cultural features.
For administrative purposes, Cornwall functions as a unitary authority, meaning it has a single council (Cornwall Council) responsible for all local government functions within its area. This is different from many other counties in England, which are divided into districts each with their own council.
Read more: Is Cornwall a Country? Everything You Need to Know.
What’s England’s largest county?
The largest county in England in terms of area can vary depending on whether you’re referring to ceremonial counties, administrative counties, or historic counties.
- The largest ceremonial county in England is North Yorkshire, covering an area of about 3,341 square miles (8,654 square kilometres).
- The largest administrative county (considering both single-tier and two-tier structures) is also North Yorkshire. However, if only considering the non-metropolitan (two-tier) part of the county, Lincolnshire could be considered the largest.
- The largest historic county is Yorkshire, which is now divided into four separate ceremonial counties: North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, and the East Riding of Yorkshire.
Read more: How Many Counties in Northern Ireland? Everything You Need to Know.
What’s England’s smallest county?
The smallest county in England can also vary depending on whether you’re referring to ceremonial counties, administrative counties, or historic counties.
- The smallest ceremonial county in England is the Isle of Wight, covering an area of about 147 square miles (381 square kilometres).
- The smallest administrative county, considering both single-tier and two-tier structures, is Rutland, which is also a ceremonial county. It covers an area of about 151 square miles (391 square kilometres).
- The smallest historic county is Rutland, which still retains its status as a ceremonial county and a unitary authority (a type of administrative county).
What type of government does England have?
England is part of the United Kingdom, which is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy. This means that while the country has a monarch, the powers of the monarch are largely ceremonial and symbolic. The actual governance of the country is carried out by elected officials within a parliamentary system.
The Parliament of the United Kingdom is the supreme legislative body and it consists of two houses: the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
- House of Commons: This is the lower house of Parliament, and its members (Members of Parliament or MPs) are elected by the public in general elections. The leader of the party with the most seats in the House of Commons typically becomes the Prime Minister, who is the head of government. The Prime Minister chooses other government ministers, most of whom are also members of the House of Commons.
- House of Lords: This is the upper house of Parliament, and it is independent of and complements the work of the elected House of Commons. The House of Lords shares the task of making and shaping laws and checking and challenging the work of the government. The House of Lords is made up of appointed life peers, bishops, and hereditary peers elected by their own number.
As for England specifically, it does not have its own government separate from that of the United Kingdom. It is governed directly by the UK Parliament, and the UK’s Prime Minister is the de facto leader of England. However, at a local level, England is divided into various types of administrative divisions, each with its own local council or authority responsible for certain aspects of public services.
This is different from the other three countries of the United Kingdom (Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland), which have their own devolved legislatures with powers over certain areas of policy.
Is England a country?
England is considered a ‘country’. However, its status as a country is unique because it is part of the United Kingdom, a sovereign state that also includes Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
In terms of international relations, it is the United Kingdom that is recognised as the sovereign state. The UK is the entity that has a seat at the United Nations, for example, rather than England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland separately.
Within the UK, England is the largest country in terms of both population and land area. It has its own distinct culture, legal system, and educational system, which are all elements that typically define a country. However, unlike Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, England does not have its own devolved Parliament or Assembly and instead is governed directly by the UK Parliament.
So, while England is commonly referred to as a country, especially in contexts where you’re comparing or referring to the four entities that make up the UK, in a political and constitutional sense it is also part of the United Kingdom.
Are there counties in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all have counties, or similar divisions, although the systems vary from those in England and from each other. Here’s a basic overview of each:
Scotland
Historically, Scotland was divided into counties, also known as shires, similar to those in England. However, in 1975, a major reorganisation replaced the counties with regions and districts. A further reorganisation in 1996 replaced the regions and districts with a single-tier system of local government areas, called council areas.
There are 32 council areas in Scotland today, including:
- Aberdeen City
- Aberdeenshire
- Angus
- Argyll and Bute
- City of Edinburgh
- Clackmannanshire
- Dumfries and Galloway
- Dundee City
- East Ayrshire
- East Dunbartonshire
- East Lothian
- East Renfrewshire
- Falkirk
- Fife
- Glasgow City
- Highland
- Inverclyde
- Midlothian
- Moray
- Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles)
- North Ayrshire
- North Lanarkshire
- Orkney Islands
- Perth and Kinross
- Renfrewshire
- Scottish Borders
- Shetland Islands
- South Ayrshire
- South Lanarkshire
- Stirling
- West Dunbartonshire
- West Lothian
Wales
Wales also has a history of being divided into counties. The traditional counties of Wales, like those of England and Scotland, date back centuries. In 1974, these were replaced by a system of eight new counties. Then, in 1996, these were replaced by a system of unitary authorities, which function as both county and district councils.
There are 22 unitary authorities in Wales:
- Blaenau Gwent
- Bridgend (Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr)
- Caerphilly (Caerffili)
- Cardiff (Caerdydd)
- Carmarthenshire (Sir Gaerfyrddin)
- Ceredigion
- Conwy
- Denbighshire (Sir Ddinbych)
- Flintshire (Sir y Fflint)
- Gwynedd
- Isle of Anglesey (Ynys Môn)
- Merthyr Tydfil (Merthyr Tudful)
- Monmouthshire (Sir Fynwy)
- Neath Port Talbot (Castell-nedd Port Talbot)
- Newport (Casnewydd)
- Pembrokeshire (Sir Benfro)
- Powys
- Rhondda Cynon Taf
- Swansea (Abertawe)
- Torfaen (Tor-faen)
- Vale of Glamorgan (Bro Morgannwg)
- Wrexham (Wrecsam)
Read more: Is Wales a Country? Everything You Need to Know.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland has been divided into six counties since the 19th century. These are Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry (also known as Derry), and Tyrone. However, for local government purposes, these counties were replaced in 1973 by 26 districts. A reorganisation in 2015 reduced this number to 11 districts. The historical county boundaries are still used for some purposes, such as cultural activities and sporting rivalries, but do not serve an administrative function.
So, how many counties are there in the United Kingdom?
So, if you’re counting ‘counties’ in the broadest sense of the word, there are 48 in England, 22 in Wales, and 6 traditional ones in Northern Ireland, for a total of 76. However, this doesn’t take into account Scotland’s 32 council areas, nor does it include Northern Ireland’s 11 local government districts. Take these into account, and you have a total of 113!
Read more: How Many Counties in Wales? Everything You Need to Know.
FAQ: How many counties are there in England?
Here’s an FAQ on the topic of how many counties there are in England:
Q1: How many counties are there in England?
A: There are 48 ceremonial counties in England.
Q2: What is a ceremonial county?
A: A ceremonial county is an area with a Lord Lieutenant, who is the monarch’s personal representative in the county. While they have no administrative function, ceremonial counties are often used as geographic boundaries for a variety of public and private organisations, and for cultural or ceremonial purposes.
Q:3 Are there different types of counties in England?
A: Yes, England also has administrative counties, metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties. These classifications are used for local government administration, and their boundaries sometimes differ from those of the ceremonial counties.
Q4: What are some examples of ceremonial counties?
A: Examples of ceremonial counties include Berkshire, Cumbria, East Sussex, Norfolk and West Yorkshire, among others.
Q5: What is the difference between a ceremonial county and an administrative county?
A: The main difference is their purpose. Ceremonial counties are geographic divisions with a Lord Lieutenant representing the monarch, while administrative counties are used for local government administration.
Q6: What are metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties?
A: Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties are types of administrative counties. Metropolitan counties were created for large urban areas, while non-metropolitan counties, also known as ‘shire’ counties, typically cover rural and small urban areas.
Q7: Can the number of counties change?
A: Yes, the number and boundaries of counties in England can change due to local government reorganisation.
Q8: Where can I find the most current information about English counties?
A: For the most current and detailed information about the counties of England, you should refer to resources from the UK government or the Office for National Statistics.
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