Cheshire

Cheshire is a ceremonial and historic county in the North West of England. It includes the Wirral Peninsula on the western side and urban and rural areas such as Chester, Warrington, Macclesfield, Crewe, and Northwich. For local government, the area is divided into two unitary authorities: Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester, within the ceremonial county.

Geography and landscape: The county sits largely on the fertile Cheshire Plain, with rolling farmland and low hills in the east. The River Dee and the River Mersey flow through Cheshire, and the Wirral coast lies to the west along the Mersey estuary. The area contains historic towns, nature reserves around the Mersey, and an upland fringe near Macclesfield Forest.

History and governance: Cheshire has roots as a historic county palatine, with powers historically exercised by the Earls of Chester. In modern administration, the two unitary authorities were established in 2009; the ceremonial county remains a geographic and cultural region rather than a single administrative unit.

Economy and culture: Cheshire has a mixed economy with manufacturing, logistics, and agriculture. The county is known for salt mining in Winsford and Northwich, and for dairy farming and apple orchards on the Cheshire Plain. Cheshire Cheese is a traditional English cheese. Notable landmarks include Chester Cathedral, the walled city of Chester, and Chester Zoo. The name also features in literature via the Cheshire Cat from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.