Kirklees

Kirklees is a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, England. It covers the eastern and northern parts of the county and includes Huddersfield, the largest town and administrative centre, along with Dewsbury, Batley, Cleckheaton, Mirfield, Holmfirth and several smaller communities. The borough spans urban centres, valleys and moorland, with the Pennines to the west and rural landscapes in the Holme and Colne valleys.

Kirklees was created in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 by merging several former local authorities in the West Riding of Yorkshire. It is governed by Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council, which operates a leader-and-cabinet system and is part of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, a regional body coordinating transport, planning and economic development.

The population is in the hundreds of thousands, with a diverse urban and rural mix. The economy has shifted from a historic cotton textile industry to services, retail and public administration, alongside manufacturing and light industry. The borough is home to the University of Huddersfield, Kirklees College and various schools and colleges. Cultural and tourist attractions include Holmfirth, famous as the setting of Last of the Summer Wine, and Castle Hill in Huddersfield.

Transport links include Huddersfield, Dewsbury and Mirfield railway stations and access to the M62 motorway, providing connections to Leeds, Manchester and surrounding towns. Kirklees is part of the wider West Yorkshire region and participates in regional planning and development through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.