Nottinghamshire

Nottinghamshire is a ceremonial and historic county in the East Midlands of England. It is bordered by South Yorkshire to the north, Derbyshire to the west, Leicestershire to the south, and Lincolnshire to the east. The county town and largest city is Nottingham, which operates as a unitary authority separate from the Nottinghamshire County Council. The rest of the county is divided into seven districts: Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Broxtowe, Gedling, Mansfield, Newark and Sherwood, and Rushcliffe.

Geography and places: The western edge lies in the foothills of the Peak District, and the River Trent forms part of the eastern boundary and flows through the county. The countryside ranges from rolling farmland to historic forests, notably Sherwood Forest near Nottingham.

History: The area has long been settled and was part of Mercia in the Anglo-Saxon era. Nottinghamshire features in the Robin Hood legend, with Sherwood Forest as a cultural symbol. The county developed textile and hosiery industries in Nottingham, and from the 19th century a coal-mining region around Mansfield and Worksop. In recent decades Nottinghamshire has diversified into services, manufacturing and logistics.

Education and economy: The two major universities, the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University, are based in Nottingham. The county’s economy is mixed, with education, health, manufacturing and retail as important sectors. Tourism reflects the county’s historic towns, castles and the Sherwood Forest landscape.

Population: The ceremonial county has a population of around one million, with Nottingham as the principal urban centre.