Lancs

Lancs is the common abbreviation for Lancashire, a historic and ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Cumbria to the north, the Irish Sea to the west, and by several other counties to the south and east. The county town is Lancaster, and major urban centres include Preston, Blackpool, Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Chorley, and Lancaster.

The county features a mix of coastal plains along the Fylde coast, river valleys such as those of the Ribble and Lune, and upland areas including the Forest of Bowland, which is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The landscape supports farming, coastal tourism, and small to mid-sized industries, with distinct towns developing around textiles, engineering, and later manufacturing during the Industrial Revolution.

Historically, Lancashire formed as a county in medieval England. Its name derives from Lancaster, the county town, and from the surrounding land settled around the River Lune. The county played a significant role in industrial expansion in the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly in textiles and engineering. In modern local government, Lancashire is a ceremonial county that comprises a non-metropolitan county with several districts, together with two unitary authorities, Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen, which operate separately from the two-tier system.

Economy today is diverse, with services, manufacturing, logistics, and tourism contributing to growth. Higher education is represented by institutions such as the University of Lancaster and the University of Central Lancashire in Preston. The county is known for seaside resorts along the coast, historic towns, and a distinct regional identity within the North West of England.