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[[Image:North Wessex Downs.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The North Wessex Downs, Hampshire]]

[[Image:North Wessex Downs.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The North Wessex Downs, Hampshire]]

'''Hampshire''' is a [[county]] in southern [[England]].

'''Hampshire''', officially the '''County of Southampton''', is a county on the south-coast of [[England]]. It has a population of around 2 million.  

Its main cities are the ports of [[Southampton]], and [[Portsmouth]], and the historical city of [[Winchester]].

The largest settlement is [[Southampton]] (pop. 250,000), which is also the county's namesake. The county town is the ancient cathedral city of [[Winchester]], which served as the capital of [[Wessex]] and, prior to the early 12th century, its successor the [[Kingdom of England]]. Other notable towns include [[Bournemouth]], [[Christchurch]] and [[Portsmouth]]. The [[Isle of Wight]] also forms a part of the county.

Much of England's newest [[National Park]], the [[New Forest]], lies within the West of the county and is an important site for [[biodiversity]], being one of England's last remaining areas of extensive heath and oak forest. Wild horses, called New Forest Ponies, are found in this area.  

Much of England's newest [[National Park]], the [[New Forest]], lies within the West of the county and is an important site for [[biodiversity]], being one of England's last remaining areas of extensive heath and oak forest. Wild horses, called New Forest Ponies, are found in this area.  

Hampshire lies to the south-west of London and is situated centrally on England's south coast. It borders the counties of [[Dorset]], [[Wiltshire]], [[Berkshire]], [[Surrey]] and [[Sussex]]. The [[Isle of Wight]] lies a few miles offshore and was once administratively considered part of Hampshire; however, today the island is officially a county in its own right.

For statistical purposes, much of the county forms a part of [[South East England]]. However, the Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch are under the BCP council area, and thus part of [[South West England]].

The state of [[New Hampshire]] was named after this English county.

The state of [[New Hampshire]] was named after this English county.

[[Category:United Kingdom Counties]]

[[Category:United Kingdom Counties]]