History of local government in Yorkshire

The history of local government in Yorkshire is unique and complex. Yorkshire is the largest historic English countyVision of Britain - [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit_page.jsp?u_id=10134640&c_id=10001043 Yorkshire ancient county] ( [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/bound_map_page.jsp?first=true&u_id=10134640&c_id=10001043 historic map] )] and consists of a diverse mix of urban and rural development with a heritage in agriculture, manufacturing, and mining. [John Bartholomew, " [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/descriptions/entry_page.jsp?text_id=1823270&word=NULL Gazetteer of the British Isles] ", (1887)] After a long period of very little change, it has been subject to a number of significant reforms of local government structures in modern times, some of which were controversial.HMSO, "Aspects of Britain: Local Government", (1996)] The most significant of these was the Local Government Act 1972Arnold-Baker, C., "Local Government Act 1972", (1973)] and the 1990s UK local government reform. It currently corresponds to several counties and districts and is mostly contained within the Yorkshire and the Humber region.

Identity

The people of Yorkshire are traditionally renowned for identifying with their county, above their country of England.Major, J., " [http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=news.story.page&obj_id=11797&speeches=1 Speech to a Conservative Party rally in Brighton] ", 29 May 2001, Conservatives.com] There is a long standing and powerful view that "Yorkshire is a country on its own inside of another country" and that Yorkshire has a significantly strong regional identity. [Tomlinson, A., " [http://books.google.com/books?id=05Uc_-1de1IC&pg=PA283&lpg=PA283&dq=%22yorkshire+is+a+country+on+its+own+inside+of+another+country%22&source=web&ots=RKh6U-Ovya&sig=Bg2TgYAGRAQ0mVGOBU_b4lgtA7A Power Games: A Critical Sociology of Sport] ", (2002)]

Ancient divisions

Yorkshire originated in antiquity as the Kingdom of Jórvík. It was traditionally divided into West, North and East ridings. The term originates from Old Norse "þriðing", "third part", a legacy of the area's ninth century Scandinavian settlers. Each of the ridings was then further subdivided into smaller units called Wapentakes, which were administered by an early form of democratic representation termed a "Thing". Later the wapentakes were used as the basis for administration. In about 1823 the wapentakes were:

Changes in 1974

Local government in England was reformed in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972.Elcock, H, "Local Government", (1994)] Under the act, the ridings lost their lieutenancies and shrievalties and the administrative counties, county boroughs and their councils were abolished. The area of Yorkshire was divided between a number of metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties:Redcliffe-Maud & Wood, B., "English Local Government Reformed", (1974) ]

From 1831 to 1991 there was a rise in population density from 0.4 to 1.4 people per acre.

ee also

*History of local government in the United Kingdom

References