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A '''county''', otherwise known in Britain as a shire, is a unit of local government that exists in most, and historically, all English speaking countries of the world. The first shires were the ancient divisions of the kingdom of [[Wessex]], and this system was expanded to the whole of [[England]] when the kings of Wessex became kings of [[England]] in the 10th century. Towards the end of the [[Medieval]] period the system was further expanded to [[Wales]], [[Scotland]], and [[Ireland]]. With the growth of the [[British Empire]] the system was expanded to [[America]], [[Canada]], [[Australia]], and [[New Zealand]].

A '''county''', otherwise known as a shire, is a unit of local government that exists in most, and historically, all English speaking countries of the world. The first shires were the ancient divisions of the kingdom of [[Wessex]], and this system was expanded to the whole of [[England]] when the kings of Wessex became kings of [[England]] in the 10th century. Towards the end of the [[Medieval]] period the system was further expanded to [[Wales]], [[Scotland]], and [[Ireland]]. With the growth of the [[British Empire]] the system was expanded to [[America]], [[Canada]], [[Australia]], and [[New Zealand]].

Traditionally, the chief officer of a county was a [[sheriff]], a word that comes from the [[Old English]] "shire-reeve" (a "reeve" was a general name for an administrative officer). Arguably the most famous sheriff in history was the Sheriff of [[Nottingham]] from the [[Robin Hood]] legends. This office still survives in modern times, though administrative practice has gradually diverged and whereas in the USA a sheriff is nowadays a chief of police, in the UK he is a council officer responsible for enforcing court orders.

Traditionally, the chief officer of a county was a [[sheriff]], a word that comes from the [[Old English]] "shire-reeve" (a "reeve" was a general name for an administrative officer). Arguably the most famous sheriff in history was the Sheriff of [[Nottingham]] from the [[Robin Hood]] legends. This office still survives in modern times, though administrative practice has gradually diverged and whereas in the USA a sheriff is nowadays a chief of police, in the UK he is a council officer responsible for enforcing court orders.