Yorkshire

Yorkshire used to be a county in Northern England, and was once the largest county, dividid into three 'Ridings' (OE thridings, 'thirds'). However, the Local Government Act of 1972 broke it into three smaller counties - North, South and West Yorkshire, as well as transferring the East (and part of the West) Riding to Humberside, and parts of the traditional county to Durham, Cumbria and Greater Manchester.

The county has varied geography from the hills and mountains of the Pennines and North Yorkshire moors, to the flatlands of the Vale of York and the fen country of the Humberhead Levels. Principal cities in Yorkshire include Leeds, Hull, Sheffield, York, and Goole, Britain' most inland seaport.

Yorkshire borders with the counties of Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cumbria, County Durham, Cleveland, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire.

Historically, the symbol of Yorkshire was the white rose. The traditional game of Yorkshire is cricket, though in recent years the county side has lagged. Similarly, Yorkshire football teams no longer occuopy their former prominent positions in the footbal leagues.

Yorkshire people are supposed to be dour and of few words, careful with money but loyal friends once their reserve has been penetrated. A traditional rhyme runs:

Yorkshire born, Yorkshire bred

Strong in't arm and thick in't head