Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire has a population of around 600,00 and covers an area of 914 square miles in central England. The county town is Northampton. It is bordered by the counties of Lincoln, Rutland and Leicester, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and a small point of Cambridgeshire. It is in border contact with more counties than any other county in England.

Industry

Many industries have been re-located and encouraged in Northamptonshire since the end of the Steel making, especially around Northampton, Wellingborough and Corby. Its good links by road and rail have also encouraged many distribution companies to the area The iron and steel industry centred around Corby, has almost completely ceased. The county's reputation for the production of boots and shoes has also significantly reduced due to foreign competition. Northamptonshire retains its rural charm and has many beautiful picture-postcard villages and tourism is a key element of the economy.

Geography

The principal rivers are the Nen, the Welland, the Ouse, the Avon, the Leam and the Charwell. The landscape is very varied but is mainly undulating agricultural country, with higher hills to the extreme north along the Leicestershire border. It has a lot of beautiful agricultural landscape and many areas of woodland. It still possesses some considerable remains of its ancient forests, particularly those of Rockingham in the north-west, and of Salcey & Whittlebury in the south.

History

In Celtic times it was the territory of the Coritani. The Roman settled in the county and their roads Ermine Street and Watling Street cross the county. Later the area was part of the kingdom of Mercia until the invasion of the Danes when many settlements were created. Northamptonshire was one of the five boroughs of the Danish invasion.