Lancashire
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{{Infobox England county
| name = Lancashire
| image = [[Image:Flag of Lancashire.png|200px|border|Flag of Lancashire]]<br>''Flag of Lancashire''
| motto =
| map = [[Image:EnglandLancashire.png]]
| status = [[Ceremonial counties of England|Ceremonial]] & (smaller) [[Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England|Non-metropolitan]] county
| origin = [[Historic counties of England|Historic]]
| region = [[North West England]]
| arearank = [[List of Ceremonial counties of England by Area|Ranked 17th]]
| area_km2 = 3075
| adminarearank = [[List of Administrative shire counties of England by Area|Ranked 16th]]
| adminarea_km2 = 2903
| adminhq = [[Preston]]
| iso = GB-LAN
| ons = 30
| nuts3 = UKD43
| poprank = [[List of ceremonial counties of England by population|Ranked {{English cerem counties|RNK=Lancashire}}]]
| popestdate = {{English statistics year}}
| pop = {{English cerem counties|POP=Lancashire}}
| density_km2 = {{English cerem counties|DEN=Lancashire}}
| adminpoprank = [[List of non-metropolitan counties of England by population|Ranked {{English admin counties|RNK=Lancashire}}]]
| adminpop = {{English admin counties|POP=Lancashire}}
| ethnicity = 93.4% White<br />5.3% S. Asian<Br>1.3% Other
| council = <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:arms-lancs.jpg|200px|Arms of Lancashire County Council]] --><br />Lancashire County Council<br />http://www.lancashire.gov.uk
| exec = {{English county control|CTY=Lancashire}}
| mps = *[[Janet Anderson]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]
*[[David Borrow]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]
*[[Rosie Cooper]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]
*[[Nigel Evans]] [[Conservative Party (UK)|(C)]]
*[[Mark Hendrick]] [[Labour Co-operative|(LC)]]
*[[Lindsay Hoyle]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]
*[[Joan Humble]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]
*[[Michael Jack]] [[Conservative Party (UK)|(C)]]
*[[Gordon Marsden]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]
*[[Greg Pope]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]
*[[Gordon Prentice]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]
*[[Geraldine Smith]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]
*[[Jack Straw (politician)|Jack Straw]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]
*[[Kitty Ussher]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]
*[[Ben Wallace (UK politician)|Ben Wallace]] [[Conservative Party (UK)|(C)]]
| subdivmap = [[Image:Lancashire Ceremonial Numbered.png]]
| subdivs = #[[West Lancashire]]
#[[Chorley (borough)|Chorley]]
#[[South Ribble]]
#[[Fylde (borough)|Fylde]]
#[[Preston]]
#[[Wyre]]
#[[City of Lancaster|Lancaster]]
#[[Ribble Valley]]
#[[Pendle]]
#[[Burnley (borough)|Burnley]]
#[[Rossendale]]
#[[Hyndburn]]
#[[Blackpool]] (Unitary)
#[[Blackburn with Darwen]] (Unitary)
}}
'''Lancashire''' is a [[Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England|non-metropolitan county]] of [[Historic counties of England|historic origin]] in the [[North West England|North West]] of [[England]], bounded to the west by the [[Irish Sea]]. It takes its name from the city of [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]] and is sometimes known as the '''County of Lancaster'''.<ref name=vob_lancs>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit_page.jsp?u_id=10173000 Vision of Britain] - Lancashire</ref> Its [[county council]] is based in [[Preston]], the county's administrative capital. Lancaster, however, is still considered to be the [[county town]]. Commonly, Lancashire is referred to by the abbreviation '''Lancs''', originally used by the [[Royal Mail]]. The population of the county is 1,449,700. People from the county are known as '''Lancastrians'''.
The [[history of Lancashire]] is thought to have begun with its founding in the 12th century. In the [[Domesday Book]] (1086), some of its lands had been treated as part of [[Yorkshire]]. The area in between the rivers [[River Mersey|Mersey]] and [[River Ribble|Ribble]] (referred to in the Domesday Book as "Inter Ripam et Mersham") formed part of the returns for [[Cheshire]]. Once its initial boundaries were established, it bordered [[Cumberland]], [[Westmorland]], Yorkshire, and Cheshire.
Lancashire emerged during the [[Industrial Revolution]] as a major commercial and industrial region. The county encompassed several hundred [[mill town]]s and collieries. By the 1830s, approximately 85% of all [[cotton]] manufactured worldwide was processed in Lancashire.<ref>{{cite book|title=Greater Manchester: A panorama of people and places in Manchester and its surrounding towns|page=13|last=Gibb|first=Robert|publisher=Myriad|date=2005|isbn=1-904736-86-6}}</ref> [[Accrington]], [[Blackburn]], [[Chorley]], [[Darwen]] and [[Burnley]] were major [[cotton mill]] towns during this time. [[Blackpool]] was a major centre for tourism for the inhabitants of Lancashire's mill towns, particularly during [[wakes week]].
The county was subject to a significant boundary reform in 1974,<ref name=George_D>George, D., ''Lancashire'', (1991)</ref> which removed [[Liverpool]] and [[Manchester]] with most of their surrounding conurbations to form part of the [[metropolitan counties]] of [[Merseyside]] and [[Greater Manchester]].<ref name=lga1972>Local Government Act 1972. 1972, c. 70</ref> At this time, the detached [[Furness|Furness peninsula]] was made part of [[Cumbria]]. Today the county borders Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and [[North Yorkshire|North]] and [[West Yorkshire]]. The [[Duchy of Lancaster]] exercises the right of the Crown in the area known as the '''[[County Palatine]] of Lancaster'''.
==History==
{{main|History of Lancashire}}
[[Image:EnglandLancashireTrad.png|thumb|left|The historic county boundaries]]
[[Image:Pendle hill.jpg|thumb|left|[[Pendle Hill]], a landmark in the [[Quaker history|history]] of the [[Society of Friends]].]]
The county was established in 1182<ref name=George_D /> and later than many other counties. In the [[Domesday Book]], its lands between the [[River Ribble|Ribble]] and the Mersey were known as "Inter Ripam et Mersham"<ref name=sylvesterp14> Sylvester (1980). p. 14.</ref> and were included in the returns for [[Cheshire]].<ref>Morgan (1978). pp.269c–301c,d.</ref> Although some have taken this to mean that south Lancashire was, at that time, part of Cheshire,<ref> Booth, P. cited in George, D., ''Lancashire'', (1991)</ref><ref name=sylvesterp14 /> it cannot be said clearly to have been part of Cheshire.<ref>Harris and Thacker (1987). write on page 252: {{quotation|Certainly there were links between Cheshire and south Lancashire before 1000, when Wulfric Spot held lands in both territories. Wulfric's estates remained grouped together after his death, when they were left to his brother Aelfhelm, and indeed there still seems to have been some kind of connexion in 1086, when south Lancashire was surveyed together with Cheshire by the Domesday commissioners. Nevertheless, the two territories do seem to have been distinguished from one another in some way and it is not certain that the shire-moot and the reeves referred to in the south Lancashire section of Domesday were the Cheshire ones.}}</ref><ref>Phillips and Phillips (2002). pp. 26–31.</ref><ref>Crosby, A. (1996). writes on page 31: {{quotation|The Domesday Survey (1086) included south Lancashire with Cheshire for convenience, but the Mersey, the name of which means 'boundary river' is known to have divided the kingdoms of Northumbria and Mercia and there is no doubt that this was the real boundary.}}</ref> It is also claimed that the territory to the north formed, at that time, part of the [[West Riding of Yorkshire]].<ref> Booth, P. cited in George, D., ''Lancashire'', (1991)</ref> It bordered on [[Cumberland, England|Cumberland]], [[Westmorland]], Yorkshire, and Cheshire. The county was divided into the six [[hundred (division)|hundred]]s of [[Amounderness]], [[Blackburn (hundred)|Blackburn]], [[Leyland (hundred)|Leyland]], [[Lonsdale (hundred)|Lonsdale]], [[Salford (hundred)|Salford]] and [[West Derby (hundred)|West Derby]].<ref name=lancs_ancient_divisions>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10173000&c_id=10001043 Vision of Britain] - Lancashire ancient county divisions</ref> Lonsdale was further partitioned into Lonsdale North, which was the detached part north of [[Morecambe Bay]] (also known as [[Furness]]), and Lonsdale South. The [[Red Rose of Lancaster]] is a symbol for the [[House of Lancaster]], immortalized in the verse "In the battle for England's head/[[House of York|York]] was white, Lancaster red" (referring to the 15th century [[Wars of the Roses|War of the Roses]]).
Lancashire is now much smaller than its historic extent due to a local government reform.<ref name=berrington>Berrington, E., ''Change in British Politics'', (1984)</ref> In 1889 an [[administrative counties of England|administrative county]] of Lancashire was created, covering the historic county except for [[county borough]]s such as [[Blackburn]], [[Burnley]], [[Barrow-in-Furness]], [[Preston]], [[Liverpool]], [[Manchester]].<ref name=lancs_ancient_boundaries>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/bound_map_page.jsp?first=true&u_id=10173000&c_id=10001043 Vision of Britain] - Lancashire ancient county boundaries</ref> The area covered by the Lord-Lieutenant (termed now a [[ceremonial counties of England|ceremonial county]]) continued to cover the entirety of the administrative county along with the county boroughs, and thus was expanded slightly whenever boroughs annexed areas in other neighbouring counties. Examples of this include [[Wythenshawe]] (an area of [[Manchester]] south of the [[River Mersey]] and historically in [[Cheshire]]), and southern [[Warrington]]. This area also did not cover the western part of [[Todmorden]], where the ancient border between Lancashire and [[Yorkshire]] runs through the middle of the town.
During the 20th century the county became increasingly urbanised, particularly the southern part. To the existing county boroughs of [[Barrow-in-Furness]], [[Blackburn]], [[County Borough of Bolton|Bolton]], [[Bootle]], [[Burnley]], [[Bury]], [[Liverpool]], [[Manchester]], [[County Borough of Oldham|Oldham]], [[Preston]], [[County Borough of Rochdale|Rochdale]], [[Salford]], [[St Helens, Merseyside|St Helens]] and [[County Borough of Wigan|Wigan]] were added [[Blackpool]] (1904), [[Southport]] (1905), and [[County Borough of Warrington|Warrington]] (1900). The county boroughs also had many boundary extensions. The borders around the Manchester area were particularly complicated, with narrow protrusions of the administrative county between the county boroughs - [[Lees, Greater Manchester|Lees]] urban district formed a detached part of the administrative county, between Oldham county borough and the West Riding of Yorkshire.<ref name=maudwood>Lord Redcliffe-Maud and Bruce Wood. English Local Government Reformed. (1974)</ref>
{|class="wikitable"
! colspan="3" | Lancashire in 1961
|-
| rowspan="10"| [[Image:Lancs 1961.png|300px|Lancashire in 1961 with districts shown and county boroughs marked]]
! colspan="2" | County boroughs
|-
| width="25%" | 1. [[County Borough of Burnley|Burnley]]
| width="25%" | 10. [[County Borough of Oldham|Oldham]]
|-
| 2. [[County Borough of Preston|Preston]]
| 11. [[County Borough of Wigan|Wigan]]
|-
| 3. [[County Borough of Rochdale|Rochdale]]
| 12. [[County Borough of Manchester|Manchester]]
|-
| 4. [[County Borough of Barrow-in-Furness|Barrow-in-Furness]]
| 13. [[County Borough of Salford|Salford]]
|-
| 5. [[County Borough of Blackpool|Blackpool]]
| 14. [[County Borough of Bootle|Bootle]]
|-
| 6. [[County Borough of Blackburn|Blackburn]]
| 15. [[County Borough of St Helens|St Helens]]
|-
| 7. [[County Borough of Southport|Southport]]
| 16. [[County Borough of Liverpool|Liverpool]]
|-
| 8. [[County Borough of Bury|Bury]]
| 17. [[County Borough of Warrington|Warrington]]
|-
| 9. [[County Borough of Bolton|Bolton]]
|
|-
|}
By the [[census]] of 1971 the population of Lancashire (including all its associated county boroughs) had reached 5,129,416, making it then the most populous geographic county in the UK. The administrative county of Lancashire was also the most populous of its type outside of London, with a population of 2,280,359 in 1961. On [[1 April]] [[1974]], under the [[Local Government Act 1972]], the administrative county of Lancashire was abolished, as were the county boroughs. The urbanised southern part largely became part of two new [[Metropolitan county|metropolitan counties]]. The south-western part became part of [[Merseyside]], the south-eastern part was incorporated into [[Greater Manchester]].<ref name=politics_uk>Jones, B. et al, ''Politics UK'', (2004)</ref> The new county of [[Cumbria]] took the Furness exclave.<ref name=George_D /> The boroughs of [[Liverpool]], [[Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley|Knowsley]], [[Metropolitan Borough of St Helens|St Helens]] and [[Sefton]] were entirely from Lancashire. In Greater Manchester the successor boroughs were [[Metropolitan Borough of Bury|Bury]], [[Metropolitan Borough of Bolton|Bolton]], [[Manchester]], [[Metropolitan Borough of Oldham|Oldham]] (part), [[Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale|Rochdale]], [[City of Salford|Salford]], [[Tameside]] (part), [[Trafford]] (part) and [[Metropolitan Borough of Wigan|Wigan]]. [[Warrington]] and [[Widnes]], south of the new Merseyside/Greater Manchester border, rather than become part of Greater Manchester or Merseyside were instead made part of the new non-metropolitan county of [[Cheshire]]. The urban districts of [[Barnoldswick]] and [[Earby]], the [[Bowland Rural District]] and the parishes of [[Bracewell and Brogden]] and [[Salterforth]] from the [[Skipton Rural District]] from the [[West Riding of Yorkshire]] became part of the new Lancashire.<ref name=lga1972/> One parish, [[Simonswood]], was transferred from the borough of [[Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley|Knowsley]] in Merseyside to the district of [[West Lancashire]] in 1994.<ref>[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1993/Uksi_19930691_en_1.htm OPSI] - The Cheshire, Lancashire and Merseyside (County and Metropolitan Borough Boundaries) Order 1993</ref>
[[Image:Lancashire rose.svg|thumb|right|The [[Red Rose of Lancaster]]]]
In 1998 the county borough system re-appeared in all but name, when [[Blackpool]] and [[Blackburn with Darwen]] became independent [[unitary authority area]]s. The City of [[Lancaster, Pennsylvania]], USA, founded in 1742, was named after [[Lancaster, Lancashire]]. Its neighbour city, [[York, PA]], is located about 30 miles to the west. The [[War of the Roses]] tradition continued with Lancaster using as its symbol the red rose and York the white.
Pressure groups, including [[Friends of Real Lancashire]] and the [[Association of British Counties]] advocate a return to the pre-1974 boundaries of Lancashire.
==Geography==
===Divisions and environs===
The area under the control of the county council, or [[shire county]], is divided into a number of local government districts. They are [[Burnley (borough)|Burnley]], [[Chorley (borough)|Chorley]], [[Fylde (borough)|Fylde]], [[Hyndburn]], [[City of Lancaster|Lancaster]], [[Pendle]], [[Preston]], the [[Ribble Valley]], [[Rossendale]], [[South Ribble]], [[West Lancashire]], and [[Wyre]].<ref name=vob_lancs_divisions>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10097848 Vision of Britain] - Divisions of Lancashire</ref><ref>[http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/corporate/lancashire_handbook/districts_of_lancashire/index.asp Lancashire County Council] - Lancashire districts</ref>
[[Blackpool]] and [[Blackburn with Darwen]] are [[unitary authority|unitary authorities]] which form part of the county for various functions such as [[Lord Lieutenant]] but do not come under county council control.<ref>[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1996/Uksi_19961868_en_1.htm OPSI] - The Lancashire (Boroughs of Blackburn and Blackpool) (Structural Change) Order 1996</ref> The [[Lancashire Constabulary]] covers the two unitary authorities.<ref>[http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/environment/lancashireprofile/maps/lancashiremap.asp Lancashire County Council] - Map of Lancashire (Unitary boundaries shown)</ref> The ceremonial county, the area including the unitary authorities, borders [[Cumbria]], [[North Yorkshire]], [[West Yorkshire]], [[Greater Manchester]] and [[Merseyside]], and forms part of the [[North West England]] region.<ref>[http://www.gonw.gov.uk/gonw/OurRegion/LocalAuthorities/ Government Office for the North West] - Local Authorities</ref>
===Geology, landscape and ecology===
The highest point of the ceremonial county is [[Gragareth]], near [[Whernside]], which reaches a height of 627 m (2,057 ft).<ref>[http://bubl.ac.uk/org/tacit/marilyns/chapter6.htm BUBL Information Service] - The Relative Hills of Britain</ref> However, [[Green Hill (Lancashire)|Green Hill]] near Gragareth has also been cited as the [[Peak bagging|county top]].<ref>[http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/CountyTops1974.php Administrative (1974) County Tops]</ref> The highest point within the historic boundaries is [[Coniston Old Man]] in the [[Lake District]] at 803 m (2,634 ft).<ref>[http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/CountyTopsHistoric.php Historic County Tops]</ref>
Lancashire drains west from the [[Pennines]] into the Irish Sea. Rivers in Lancashire include the [[River Ribble|Ribble]], [[River Wyre|Wyre]] and [[River Lune|Lune]]. Major tributaries of these rivers include the [[River Calder, Lancashire|Calder]], [[River Crake|Crake]], [[River Darwen|Darwen]], [[River Douglas|Douglas]], [[River Hodder|Hodder]], [[River Irwell|Irwell]], and [[River Yarrow (Lancashire)|Yarrow]].
==Politics==
{{main|Lancashire County Council}}
[[Image:Lancs-C-C-Logo.png|left|thumb|100px|Logo]]
The county council, serving the shire county, is based in County Hall in [[Preston]], built as a home for the Lancashire county administration (including the [[Quarter Sessions]] and [[Lancashire Constabulary]]) and opened on [[September 14]], [[1882]].<ref>''Opening of the new Town-Hall at Preston''. The Times. September 15, 1882.</ref>
[[Lancashire local elections|Local elections]] for 84 councillors from 84 divisions are held every four years. The council is currently controlled by the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]].<ref>[http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/council/councillors/councillorsAreas.asp Lancashire County Council] - County Councillors by Area</ref>
===Duchy of Lancaster===
The [[Duchy of Lancaster]] is one of two remaining royal duchies in the United Kingdom. It has large landholdings throughout the region and elsewhere, and operates as a property company, but also exercises the right of the Crown in the '''County Palatine of Lancaster'''.<ref>[http://www.duchyoflancaster.co.uk/output/page2.asp The Duchy of Lancaster - Boundary Map]</ref> The Duchy's website now describes the County Palatine as comprising of "the counties of Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and the Furness area of Cumbria"<ref>
[http://www.duchyoflancaster.co.uk/output/page6.asp Duchy of Lancaster website]</ref>. These new counties include areas formerly in [[Cheshire]] and [[Yorkshire]] and it is unclear as to whether this is a reference to the whole of the new counties or just the parts that comprised the Palatine prior to the 1974 boundary changes. However, in 1992 it was stated by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, [[William Waldegrave, Baron Waldegrave of North Hill|William Waldegrave]] that the "boundaries of the county palatine are the same as the county boundaries which existed prior to local government reorganisation in 1973"<ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199293/cmhansrd/1992-06-15/Writtens-2.html House of Commons Hansard debates for 15 June 1992 (2nd paragraph in "Duchy of Lancaster" section]</ref>
High Sheriffs for Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside are appointed "within the Duchy and County Palatine of Lancaster".<ref>''High Sheriffs'', The Times, March 21, 1985</ref>
The Duchy administers [[bona vacantia]] within the County Palatine, receiving the property of persons who die intestate, and where the legal ownership cannot be ascertained.
There is no separate Duke of Lancaster, the title having merged in the Crown many centuries ago - but the Duchy is administered by the Queen in Right of the Duchy of Lancaster. A separate court system for the county palatine was finally abolished by [[Courts Act 1971]]. A particular form of [[The Loyal Toast]] is still in regular local use: 'The Queen, Duke of Lancaster'.
==Economy==
Lancashire in the 19th century was a major centre of industrial activity and hence of wealth. Activities included mining and textile production (particularly [[cotton]]), though on the coast there was also fishing. Historically, the docks in [[Preston]] were an industrial port, though are now disused for commercial purposes. Lancashire was historically the location of the [[:Category:Mersey Docks|Mersey Ports]] (now on Merseyside) while [[Barrow-in-Furness]] (now in Cumbria) is famous for [[shipbuilding]].
Today Lancashire is home to firms such as [[BAE Systems]] (which has four factories in Lancashire including [[Warton Aerodrome]] and [[BAE Samlesbury]], major centres of production for the Eurofighter Typhoon and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter), [[TVR]] cars, [[Leyland Trucks]] and [[Telent]] telecoms.
===Economic output===
This is a chart of trend of regional gross value added of the non-metropolitan county of Lancashire at current basic prices [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_economy/RegionalGVA.pdf published] (pp.240-253) by ''Office for National Statistics'' with figures in millions of British Pounds Sterling.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year || Regional Gross Value Added<ref>Components may not sum to totals due to rounding</ref> || Agriculture<ref>includes hunting and forestry</ref> || Industry<ref>includes energy and construction</ref> || Services<ref>includes financial intermediation services indirectly measured</ref>
|-
| 1995 || '''13,789''' || 344 || 5,461 || 7,984
|-
| 2000 || '''16,584''' || 259 || 6,097 || 10,229
|-
| 2003 || '''19,206''' || 294 || 6,352 || 12,560
|}
==Education==
{{main|List of schools in Lancashire}}
Lancashire has a mostly comprehensive system with four state grammar schools. Not including [[sixth form college]]s, there are 77 state schools (not including Burnley's new schools) and 24 independent schools. The Clitheroe area also has secondary modern schools. Sixth form provision is limited at most schools in most districts, with only Fylde and Lancaster districts having mostly sixth forms at schools. The rest (most schools) depend on FE colleges and sixth form colleges, where they exist. South Ribble has the largest school population, with Fylde the smallest (only three schools). Burnley's schools have had a new broom and have essentially been knocked down and started again in 2006. There are many Catholic secondary schools in Lancashire.
Lancashire is home to four universities; [[Lancaster University]], [[University of Central Lancashire]], [[Edge Hill University]] and the Lancaster campus of The [[University of Cumbria]]. Additionally there are also seven colleges which offer higher education courses.
==Transport==
Lancashire has an extensive network of motorways covering the county and the [[West Coast Main Line]] provides direct rail links with [[London]] and other major cities, with stations at [[Preston railway station|Preston]] and [[Lancaster railway station|Lancaster]]. The county has [[:Category:Railway stations in Lancashire|many other railway stations]]. The county is served by [[Blackpool International Airport]], however [[Manchester Airport]] in Greater Manchester is the main airport in the region. [[Liverpool John Lennon Airport]], on Merseyside is also nearby.
[[Heysham]] and [[Fleetwood]] offer ferry services to [[Ireland]] and the [[Isle of Man]].<ref>[http://www.transportforlancashire.com/downloads/maps/Lancs_Inter-Urban_Route.pdf Transport for Lancashire] - Lancashire Inter Urban Bus and Rail Map (PDF)</ref> As part of its industrial past, Lancashire gave rise to an extensive network of canals, which extend into neighbouring counties. These include the [[Leeds and Liverpool Canal]], [[Lancaster Canal]], [[Bridgewater Canal]], [[Rochdale Canal]], [[Ashton Canal]] and [[Manchester Ship Canal]].
==Demography==
The major settlements in the ceremonial county are concentrated on the [[Fylde peninsula|Fylde]] coast (the [[Blackpool Urban Area]]), and a belt of towns running west-east along the [[M65 motorway|M65]]: [[Preston]], [[Blackburn]], [[Accrington]], [[Burnley]], [[Nelson, Lancashire|Nelson]] and [[Colne]]. South of Preston are the towns of [[Leyland, Lancashire|Leyland]] and [[Chorley]]; the three formed part of the [[Central Lancashire]] New Town designated in 1970. The north is generally sparsely populated, with [[Morecambe]] and [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]] forming a small conurbation.
==Settlements==
{{main|List of places in Lancashire}}
The table below has divided the settlements into their local authority district. Each district has a centre of administration; for some of these correlate with a district's largest town, while others are named after the geographical area.
<!---IF POPULATING THIS TABLE, PLEASE ARRANGE IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. PLEASE BE MINDFUL THAT A DISTRICT OF A SETTLEMENT ALREADY MENTIONED IS NOT APPROPRIATE TO LINK HERE - THESE SHOULD BE WITHIN THEIR SETTLEMENT'S ARTICLE--->
{| class="wikitable"
! Ceremonial county
! Administration borough/district
! Centre of administration
! Other towns, villages and settlements
|-
|rowspan=14| '''Lancashire'''
| [[Blackburn with Darwen|Blackburn with Darwen Borough]] (Unitary)
| [[Blackburn]]
| [[Belmont, Lancashire|Belmont]], [[Chapeltown, Lancashire|Chapeltown]], [[Darwen]], [[Edgworth, Lancashire|Edgworth]], [[Tockholes]]
|-
| [[Blackpool|Blackpool Borough]] (Unitary)
| [[Blackpool]]
| [[Bispham, Blackpool|Bispham]], [[Layton, Blackpool|Layton]]
|-
| [[Burnley (borough)|Burnley Borough]]
| [[Burnley]]
| [[Harle Syke]], [[Padiham]], [[Rose Grove]], [[Worsthorne]], [[Cliviger]].
|-
| [[Chorley (borough)|Chorley Borough]]
| [[Chorley]]
| [[Adlington, Lancashire|Adlington]], [[Clayton-le-Woods]], [[Coppull]], [[Croston]], [[Eccleston, Lancashire|Eccleston]], [[Euxton]], [[Whittle-le-Woods]]
|-
| [[Fylde (borough)|Fylde Borough]]
| [[Lytham St Annes]]
| [[Freckleton]], [[Kirkham, Lancashire|Kirkham]], [[Warton, Fylde|Warton]], [[Wrea Green]]
|-
| [[Hyndburn|Hyndburn Borough]]
| [[Accrington]]
| [[Altham]], [[Church, Lancashire|Church]], [[Clayton-le-Moors]], [[Great Harwood]], [[Oswaldtwistle]], [[Rishton]]
|-
| [[City of Lancaster]]
| [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]]
| [[Bolton-le-Sands]], [[Carnforth]], [[Heysham]], [[Morecambe]],
|-
| [[Pendle|Pendle Borough]]
| [[Nelson, Lancashire|Nelson]]
| [[Barnoldswick]] †, [[Barrowford]], [[Brierfield]], [[Colne]], [[Earby]] †, [[Foulridge]], [[Trawden]]
|-
| [[Preston|City of Preston]]
| [[Preston]]
| [[Barton, Preston|Barton]], [[Broughton, Lancashire|Broughton]], [[Fulwood, Lancashire|Fulwood]], [[Goosnargh]], [[Grimsargh]], [[Whittingham, Lancashire|Whittingham]]
|-
| [[Ribble Valley|Ribble Valley Borough]]
| [[Clitheroe]]
| [[Bolton-by-Bowland]], [[Chipping, Lancashire|Chipping]], [[Hurst Green, Lancashire|Hurst Green]], [[Longridge]], [[Read, Lancashire|Read]], [[Ribchester]], [[Slaidburn]], [[Whalley]], [[Wilpshire]],
|-
| [[Rossendale|Rossendale Borough]]
| [[Rawtenstall]]
| [[Bacup]], [[Chatterton, Lancashire|Chatterton]], [[Edenfield]], [[Haslingden]], [[Helmshore]], [[Whitworth, Lancashire|Whitworth]]
|-
| [[South Ribble|South Ribble Borough]]
| [[Leyland, Lancashire|Leyland]]
| [[Bamber Bridge]], [[Farington]], [[Longton, Lancashire|Longton]], [[Lostock Hall]], [[Penwortham]], [[Samlesbury]], [[Walton-le-Dale]]
|-
| [[West Lancashire|West Lancashire District]]
| [[Ormskirk]]
| [[Appley Bridge]], [[Aughton, Lancashire|Aughton]], [[Banks, Lancashire|Banks]], [[Bickerstaffe]], [[Burscough]], [[Downholland]], [[Great Altcar]], [[Halsall]], [[Lathom]], [[Parbold]], [[Rufford, Lancashire|Rufford]], [[Scarisbrick]], [[Skelmersdale]], [[Tarleton]], [[Upholland]]
|-
| [[Wyre|Wyre Borough]]
| [[Poulton-le-Fylde]]
| [[Kirkland, Lancashire|Churchtown]], [[Cleveleys]], [[Fleetwood]], [[Garstang]], [[Pilling]], [[Preesall]], [[St Michael's On Wyre]], [[Thornton, Lancashire|Thornton]]
|-
|}
:''This table does not form an extensive list of the settlements in the ceremonial county. More settlements can be found at [[:Category:Towns in Lancashire]], [[:Category:Villages in Lancashire]], and [[:Category:Parishes of Lancashire]].''
[[Image:BlackpoolTower OwlofDoom.jpg|thumb|[[Blackpool Tower]]]]
Some settlements which were historically part of the county now fall under the counties of [[West Yorkshire]], [[Cheshire]], [[Merseyside]], [[Greater Manchester]] and [[Cumbria]]:<ref name=George_D /><ref name=lga1972 /><ref name=politics_uk /><ref>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/bound_map_page.jsp?first=true&u_id=10097848&c_id=10001043 Vision of Britain] - Lancashire boundaries 1974</ref><ref name=lancs_ancient_boundaries>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/bound_map_page.jsp?first=true&u_id=10173000&c_id=10001043 Vision of Britain] - Lancashire ancient boundaries</ref><ref name=chandler>Chandler, J., ''Local Government Today'', (2001)</ref><ref name=Youngs>Youngs. Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England. Volume 2. Northern England.</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="width: auto; margin-left: 1.5em;"
! scope="row" | Greater Manchester
| [[Ashton-in-Makerfield]], [[Ashton-under-Lyne]], [[Bolton]], [[Bury]], [[Chadderton]], [[Denton, Greater Manchester|Denton]], [[Eccles, Greater Manchester|Eccles]], [[Farnworth]], [[Heywood, Greater Manchester|Heywood]], [[Horwich]], [[Hindley, Greater Manchester|Hindley]], [[Leigh, Greater Manchester|Leigh]], '''[[Manchester]]''', [[Middleton, Greater Manchester|Middleton]], [[Oldham]], [[Prestwich]], [[Radcliffe, Greater Manchester|Radcliffe]], [[Rochdale]], '''[[Salford]]''', [[Swinton and Pendlebury]], [[Tyldesley]], [[Westhoughton]], [[Wigan]]
|-
! scope="row" | Merseyside
| [[Bootle]], [[Crosby, Merseyside|Crosby]], [[Formby]], [[Huyton]], [[Kirkby]], '''[[Liverpool]]''', [[Maghull]], [[Newton-le-Willows]], [[Prescot]], [[St Helens, Merseyside|St Helens]], [[Southport]]
|-
! scope="row" | Cumbria
| [[Barrow-in-Furness]], [[Coniston, Cumbria|Coniston]], [[Dalton-in-Furness]], [[Grange-over-Sands]], [[Ulverston]]
|-
! scope="row" | Cheshire
| [[Warrington]], [[Widnes]]
|-
! scope="row" | West Yorkshire
| [[Todmorden]]
|}
Note: [[City status in the United Kingdom|Cities]] are in '''bold'''
<br>† - part of the [[West Riding of Yorkshire]] until 1974
Boundary changes to occur before 1974 include:<ref name=Youngs />
*[[Todmorden]] (split between Lancashire and Yorkshire) entirely to West Riding of Yorkshire in 1889
*[[Mossley]] (split between Lancashire, Yorkshire and Cheshire) entirely to Lancashire in 1889
*[[Stalybridge]], entirely to Cheshire in 1889
*the former county boroughs of Manchester and Warrington both extended south of the Mersey into historic Cheshire (areas such as [[Wythenshawe]] and [[Latchford]])
*correspondingly, the former county borough of Stockport extended north into historic Lancashire, including areas such as [[Reddish]] and the [[Four Heatons|Heatons]] ([[Heaton Chapel]], [[Heaton Mersey]], [[Heaton Moor]] and [[Heaton Norris]]).
==Sport==
[[Image:deepdale.jpg|thumb|The newly redeveloped [[Deepdale]] stadium, home of [[Preston North End]]]]
===Cricket===
[[Lancashire County Cricket Club]] has been one of the most successful [[county cricket]] teams, particularly in the [[one-day cricket|one-day]] game. It is home to [[England cricket team]] members [[Andrew Flintoff]], [[James Anderson (cricketer)|James Anderson]] and [[Sajid Mahmood]]. Due to changes in the county boundaries, the club's home ground, [[County Ground, Old Trafford]],<ref>[http://www.lccc.co.uk/index.php?p=contact LCCC contact details]</ref> is now outside the county of Lancashire, being in the metropolitan borough of [[Trafford]], [[Greater Manchester]].
Historically important local cricket leagues include the [[Lancashire League (cricket)|Lancashire League]] and the [[Central Lancashire League]], both of which were formed in 1892. These league clubs hire international professional players to play alongside their amateur players.
===Football===
Football in Lancashire is governed by the [[Lancashire County Football Association]]. Due to the [[County Football Associations]] being aligned roughly along [[historic counties of England|historic county boundaries]], the Lancashire County FA contains members which were founded within Lancashire as it was in the late 19th Century, but which now lie outside the county borders, such as [[Manchester United]] and [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]].
The six professional [[Football League|league]] teams based in Lancashire, as of the start of the 2008/09 season, are:
*Premier League: [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]]
*[[Football League Championship|Championship]]: [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]], [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]] and [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]]
*[[Football League Two|League Two]]: [[Accrington Stanley F.C.|Accrington Stanley]] and [[Morecambe F.C.|Morecambe]]
===Rugby===
Several successful [[rugby league]] teams are based within Lancashire:
*[[Super League (Europe)|Super League]]: [[St Helens RFC|St Helens]],
*[[Rugby League National Leagues|National League]] One:
*National League Two: [[Blackpool Panthers]].
[[Rugby union]] teams include [[Fylde rugby|Fylde]] and [[Preston Grasshoppers R.F.C.|Preston Grasshoppers]].
===Other===
Lancashire has a long history of [[catch wrestling|wrestling]], developing its own style called [[Lancashire wrestling]] with many clubs that over the years have produced many renowned wrestlers. Some of these have crossed over into the mainstream world of [[professional wrestling]], including [[Billy Riley]], [[Davey Boy Smith]], [[William Regal]] and [[Tom Billington|The Dynamite Kid]].
==Cuisine==
[[Image:Ashton Memorial upper levels.jpg|thumb|The [[Ashton Memorial]], Lancaster]]
Lancashire is widely-known for its eponymous [[Lancashire Hotpot]], a [[casserole]] dish traditionally made with [[Lamb and mutton|lamb]] and for [[Lancashire cheese]], reputed to be the best toasting [[cheese]] in the world. Other traditional foods from the area include:
*[[Bénédictine]], 80% of the worlds Benedictine is drunk in Burnley.
*[[Black peas]], also known as parched peas: popular in [[Bolton]] and [[Preston]].
*[[Black Pudding]]: long associated with the town of [[Bury]].
*[[Simnel cake|Bury Simnel]]: cross between a fruitcake and a biscuit. Eaten on Simnel or [[Lent|Mid-Lent Sunday]].
*Butter Cake - slice of bread and butter.
*Clapbread: [[oatcake]].
*[[Chorley cake]]s: from the town of [[Chorley]].
*[[Faggot (food)|Ducks]]: faggots as in savoury ducks.
*[[Eccles cake]]s: from the town of [[Eccles, Greater Manchester|Eccles]].
*Fag Pie: pie made from chopped dried figs, sugar and lard. Associated with [[Blackburn]] and [[Burnley]] where it was the highlight of ''Fag Pie Sunday'' ([[Lent|Mid-Lent Sunday]]).
*[[Fish and Chips]]: first fish and chip shop in northern England opened in [[Mossley]] near Oldham around 1863.<ref>[http://www.niagara.co.uk/fish_and_chips.htm History of fish and chips]</ref>
*Frog-i'-th'-'ole pudding: now known as [[toad in the hole]].
*[[Frumenty]]: sweet porridge. Once a popular dish at Lancashire festivals like Christmas and Easter Monday.
*[[Goosnargh]] Cakes: Small flat [[shortbread]] biscuits with coriander or [[caraway]] seeds pressed into the biscuit before baking. Traditionally baked on feast days like [[Shrove Tuesday]].
*Jannock: cake or small loaf of oatmeal. Allegedly introduced to Lancashire (possibly [[Bolton]] by [[Flemish people|Flemish]] [[weavers]].
*Nettle Porridge: a common starvation diet in Lancashire in the early 1800s. Made from boiled stinging nettles with perhaps a handful of meal.
*[[Ormskirk]] Gingerbread: local delicacy which were sold all over South Lancashire
*Pobs, Pobbies: bread and milk.
*Potato Hotpot, a variation of the Lancashire Hotpot without meat also known as ''fatherless pie''.
*Ran Dan: barley bread. Food of last resort for the poor at the end of the 18th century and beginning of the 19th century.
*[[Rag Pudding]]: Traditional Suet Pudding filled with Minced Meat and Onions.
*Sad Cake: A traditional cake, perhaps a variation of the more widely known [[Chorley]] cake, once common around [[Burnley]].
*[[Scouse (food)|Scouse]], a type of stew popular in [[Liverpool]] (historically part of Lancashire).
*[[Throdkins]]: a traditional breakfast food of [[Fylde peninsula|the Fylde]].
==Places of interest==
<div style="float:right;">
{{EngPlacesKey}}
</div>
The following are places of interest in the ceremonial county:
*[[Arnside and Silverdale AONB]] [[Image:UKAL icon.png|Accessible open space]]
*[[Astley Green Colliery Museum]], [[Tyldesley]]
*[[Astley Hall]] [[Image:HH icon.png|Historic house]]
*[[Beacon Fell Country Park, Lancashire|Beacon Fell]] [[Image:CP icon.png|Country park]]
*[[Blackburn Cathedral]] [[Image:AP Icon.PNG|Cathedral]]
*[[Blackpool Pleasure Beach]] [[Image:Themepark uk icon.JPG|15px|Theme Park]]
*[[Blackpool Tower]]
*[[Blackpool Zoo]] [[Image:Zoo icon.JPG|20px|Zoo]]
*[[British Commercial Vehicle Museum]], [[Leyland, Lancashire|Leyland]]
*[[Camelot Theme Park]] [[Image:Themepark uk icon.JPG|15px|Theme Park]]
* [[Clegg Hall]] [[Image:HH icon.png|Historic house]]
*[[Darwen Tower]]
*[[East Lancashire Railway]] [[Image:HR icon.png|Heritage railway]]
*[[Forest of Bowland]]: [[Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty]] [[Image:UKAL icon.png|Accessible open space]]
*[[Gawthorpe Hall]], [[Padiham]] [[Image:HH icon.png|Historic house]] [[Image:NTE icon.png|National Trust]]
*[[Harris Museum]] [[Image:Museum icon.png]]
*[[Helmshore Textile Museum]]
*[[Hoghton Tower]] [[Image:HH icon.png|Historic house]]
*[[Irwell Sculpture Trail]]
*[[Lancaster Castle]]
*[[Lancaster Cathedral]] [[Image:AP Icon.PNG|Cathedral]]
*[[Lathom Park Chapel]][[Image:AP Icon.PNG|Capel]], site of [[Lathom Hall]], seat of the [[Earls of Derby]]
*[[RSPB Leighton Moss|Leighton Moss]] [[nature reserve]], [[Royal Society for the Protection of Birds]]
*[[WWT Martin Mere|Martin Mere]], [[Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust]] nature reserve, [[Burscough]]
*[[Morecambe Bay]] [[Image:UKAL icon.png|Accessible open space]]
*[[Museum of Lancashire]] [[Image:Museum icon (red).png]]
*[[National Football Museum]] [[Image:Museum icon.png]]
*[[Pendle Hill]] [[Image:UKAL icon.png|Accessible open space]]
*[[Pennington Flash Country Park]][[Image:CP icon.png|Country park]]
*The [[Pennines]] [[Image:UKAL icon.png|Accessible open space]], provide great opportunity for [[Mountain Biking]]
*[[Rock Climbing]] is popular with the area having some 6,600+ routes to climb many of which are in disused [[Quarry|quarries]].
*[[Rufford Old Hall]] [[Image:HH icon.png|Historic house]] [[Image:NTE icon.png|National Trust]]
*[[Samlesbury Hall]] [[Image:HH icon.png|Historic house]]
*[[St Walburge's Church]]
*[[Stonyhurst College]] - a Manor House dating back to 1592, now an English public school, run by the [[Jesuits]]
*[[Towneley Hall]], [[Burnley]] [[Image:HH icon.png|Historic house]]
*[[West Lancashire Light Railway]] [[Image:HR icon.png|Heritage railway]]
*[[West Pennine Moors]] [[Image:UKAL icon.png|Accessible open space]]
*[[Williamson Park]] and the [[Ashton Memorial]]
*[[Witton Country Park]] [[Image:CP icon.png|Country park]]
*[[Yarrow Valley Park]] [[Image:CP icon.png|Country park]]
==Notes and References==
{{reflist|2}}
==Bibliography==
*Crosby, A. (1996). ''A History of Cheshire.'' (The Darwen County History Series.) Chichester, West Sussex, UK: Phillimore & Co. Ltd. ISBN 0850339324.
*Harris, B. E., and Thacker, A. T. (1987). ''The Victoria History of the County of Chester. (Volume 1: Physique, Prehistory, Roman, Anglo-Saxon, and Domesday).'' Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0197227619.
*Morgan, P. (1978). ''Domesday Book Cheshire: Including Lancashire, Cumbria, and North Wales''. Chichester, Sussex: Phillimore & Co. Ltd. ISBN 0850331404.
*Phillips A. D. M., and Phillips, C. B. (2002), ''A New Historical Atlas of Cheshire''. Chester, UK: Cheshire County Council and Cheshire Community Council Publications Trust. ISBN 0904532461.
*Sylvester, D. (1980). ''A History of Cheshire''. (The Darwen County History Series). (2nd Edition.) London and Chichester, Sussex: Phillimore & Co. Ltd. ISBN 0850333849.
== External links ==
*[http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/15271 Traditions of Lancashire], Volume 1 (of 2), by John Roby
*[http://www.lantern.lancashire.gov.uk/index.html Lancashire Lantern], The Lancashire Life and Times E-Resource network
*[http://www.riverhorse.tv/CATCH Website of the film 'Catch - the hold not taken', a look at the cultural significance of wrestling in Lancashire]
*[http://mario.lancashire.gov.uk/ Lancashire County Council] - MARIO (Mapping portal)
*[http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/Minimap.do? Map of Lancashire]
*[http://www.ukwebindex.co.uk/countyphotos/Lancashire/0/0/ Photographs of Lancashire]
*[http://www.lancs.ac.uk/ug/harrism4/survey.html An online survey about Lancashire dialect]
*[http://ldsociety.com/ The Lancashire Dialect Society]
*[http://www.visitlancashire.com/ Official Lancashire Tourism information]
*[http://www.lancashiremagazine.tv Lancashire Magazine TV - Internet TV channel devoted to the county of Lancashire]
<br />
{{Lancashire}}
{{NW_England}}
{{England counties}}
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