West Yorkshire:

West Yorkshire County Council was abolished in 1986, and so its districts (the metropolitan boroughs) are now effectively unitary authorities. However, the metropolitan county, which covers an area of 2,029 square kilometres (783 sq mi), continues to exist in law, and as a geographic frame of reference.^[2]^[3]^[4]

Divisions and environs

History

It was formed as a metropolitan county in 1974, by the Local Government Act 1972, and corresponds roughly to the core of the historic West Riding of Yorkshire and the county boroughs of Bradford, Dewsbury, Halifax Huddersfield, Leeds, and Wakefield. The Wakefield district's industrial heritage is significantly different from most of the rest of the county in that coal-mining was a large employer whilst textiles was not a particularly large industry (except in Ossett, where the two industries were both important).

West Yorkshire Metropolitan County Council inherited the use of West Riding County Hall at Wakefield, opened in 1898, from the West Riding County Council in 1974. Since 1987 it has been the headquarters of Wakefield City Council.^[5]

It initially had a two-tier structure of local government with a strategic-level county council and five districts providing most services.^[6] In 1986, throughout England the metropolitan county councils were abolished. The functions of the county council were devolved to the boroughs; joint-boards covering fire, police and public transport; and to other special joint arrangements.^[7] Organisations such as west yorkshire police Authority and West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive continue to operate on this basis.

Geography

The county borders, going anticlockwise from the west: Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Derbyshire, South Yorkshire and North Yorkshire. It lies almost entirely on rocks of carboniferous age which form the southern Pennine fringes in the west^[8] and the Yorkshire coalfield further eastwards.^[9] In the extreme east of the metropolitan county there are younger deposits of magnesian limestone.^[10] The Bradford and Calderdale areas are dominated by the scenery of the eastern slopes of the Pennines, dropping from upland in the west down to the east, and dissected by numerous steep-sided valleys. There is a close conjunction of large scale industry, urban areas and transport routes with open countryside. The dense network of roads, canals and railways and urban development, confined by valleys creates dramatic interplay of views between settlements and the surrounding hillsides.

The carboniferous rocks of the Yorkshire coalfield further east have produced a rolling landscape with hills, escarpments and broad valleys. In this landscape there is widespread evidence of both current and former industrial activity. There are numerous derelict or converted mine buildings and recently landscaped former spoil heaps. The scenery is a mixture of built up areas, industrial land with some dereliction, and farmed open country. Ribbon developments along transport routes including canal, road and rail are prominent features of the area although some remnants of the pre industrial landscape and semi-natural vegetation still survive. However, many areas are affected by urban fringe pressures creating fragmented and downgraded landscapes and ever present are urban influences from major cities, smaller industrial towns and former mining villages.

In the magnesian limestone belt to the east of the Leeds and Wakefield areas is an elevated ridge with smoothly rolling scenery, dissected by dry valleys. Here, there is a large number of country houses and estates with parkland, estate woodlands, plantations and game coverts.

Politics

In Parliament, all but two of West Yorkshire's M.P.s are Labour. At local level, the councils are generally divided, apart from the Wakefield district, which has long been one of the safest Labour councils in the country.

There are currently plans for a tram system in West Yorkshire, but those for a Leeds Supertram were rejected by the government in 2005.

Economy

This is a chart of regional gross value added for West Yorkshire at current basic prices with figures in millions of British Pounds Sterling.^[11]

Cities, towns and villages

The table below outlines many of the county's settlements, and is formatted according to their metropolitan borough.

Main Settlements

City of Bradford

Bradford is Yorkshire's third most populous city, following Leeds and Sheffield. The City of Bradford metropolitan borough comprises Bradford itself and smaller outlying settlements. Bradford has a population of 293,717, whilst the wider metropolitan borough has a population of 493,100. Bradford suffers widespread deprivation in certain areas of the city, which was represented in the film Rita, Sue and Bob Too, which was set primarily in the cities Buttershaw area. The city is home to many immigrants from South Asia. In the past racial tension has caused unrest, bringing about the widespread Manningham and Bradford riots.

Shipley is a market town within the City of Bradford. The town has grown towards Bradford, making them effectively joined on. Shipley is noteworthy for its brutalist market hall. Shipley has a population of 28,487. In Shipley is a World Heritage Site: the village of Saltaire, which was planned by the industrialist Sir Titus Salt to house the workforce at his mill. Salt built the mill beside the Leeds and Liverpool Canal for the manufacture of alpaca and woollen cloth. Salts Mill is no longer used for textile production, but now contains the 1853 Gallery, dedicated to the work of David Hockney, along with a variety of shops, restaurants and local businesses, including Pace Micro Technology. Shipley is served by Shipley railway station which is a large railway station situated on a triangular railway junction. Saltaire is served by Saltaire railway station.

Keighley (pronunciation (help·info); IPA /ˈkiːθli/ "Keeth-ly") is a town and civil parish within the City of Bradford. It is situated 11 miles (17.7 km) northwest of Bradford and is at the confluence of the River Aire and the River Worth. The town, which is part of the Brontë Country, has a population of 51,429 (2001 Census), making it the third largest civil parish in England.^[16] Keighley railway station is on the Airedale Line. The town's industries have typically been in textiles, particularly wool and cotton processing. In addition to the manufacture of textiles there were several large factories making textile machinery. Two of these were Dean, Smith & Grace and Prince, Smith & Stell. The former operated as a world-class manufacturer of CNC machine tools, particularly precision lathes, until 2008. The population grew from less than 6,000 in 1800 to more than 60,000 in 1850 during a boom spurred by these industries. Throughout the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s Keighley gained a large influx of South Asian immigrants. Keighley is notable for the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.

Ilkley is a spa town and civil parish. Ilkley civil parish includes the adjacent village of Ben Rhydding and is a ward within the City of Bradford. Approximately 12 miles (19.3 km) north of Bradford, the town lies mainly on the south bank of the River Wharfe in Wharfedale, one of the Yorkshire Dales. The parish has a population of 13,828.^[17] Ilkley's main industry is tourism. The town centre is characterised by Victorian architecture, wide streets and floral displays. Ilkley Moor, to the south of the town, is the subject of a folk song, often described as the unofficial anthem of Yorkshire, "On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at". The song's words are written in Yorkshire dialect, its title translated as "On Ilkley Moor without a hat."

Bingley is a market town in the City of Bradford. It is situated on the River Aire and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. The town has a population of 28,817 according to the 2001 Census. Central Bingley is served by Bingley railway station and North Bingley is served by Crossflatts railway station. In 2004 the Bingley Relief Road opened. The £47.9 million road stretches from Crossflatts to Cottingley, threading through Bingley between the railway & the canal. One of the most expensive parts of the construction was moving a 150 yard stretch of the canal. The construction involved the removal of Treacle Cock Alley pedestrian tunnel and the Tin Bridge, which have been replaced by the Three Rise Bridge, and the Britannia Bridge

Calderdale

Halifax is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale, in West Yorkshire, England, with a population of 82,056 in the 2001 Census.^[18] It is well-known as a centre of England's woollen manufacture from the 15th century onward, originally dealing through the Halifax Piece Hall. Internationally famous for its Mackintosh chocolate and toffee (now owned by Nestlé), the Halifax Building Society and Shibden Hall. While Halifax and the Calder valley are generally affluent, Halifax has deprived areas such as Mixenden and Ovenden.

Kirklees

Huddersfield (pronunciation - hudders-feeld (help·info)) is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, 10.3 miles (16.6 km) south of Bradford, the nearest city, however Leeds' greater size means that it is a more of a commercial centre near to Huddersfield. Huddersfield is near the confluence of the River Colne and the River Holme. According to the 2001 Census it was the 10th largest town in the UK and with a total resident population of 146,234. It is the largest urban area in the metropolitan borough of Kirklees and the administrative centre of the borough. The town is well known for its important role in the Industrial Revolution, the birthplace of rugby league and for being the birthplace of the late British Prime Minister Harold Wilson. Huddersfield is situated on the M62 motorway, providing motorway links with both Leeds and Manchester. Huddersfield has much renouned Victorian architecture, and Huddersfield railway station is a grade one listed building. Huddersfield has rail links to Leeds, Manchester, Oldham, Bradford and Dewsbury. Huddersfield bus station is notable for its 1960s architecture.

Dewsbury is a market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England. It is to the west of Wakefield, and lies by the River Calder and the Calder and Hebble Navigation. After undergoing a period of major growth in the 19th century as a mill town, Dewsbury went through a period of decline. More recently there has been rapid and ongoing redevelopment of derelict mills into luxury apartments and other projects concerned with regenerating run-down or deprived areas. According to the 2001 census the Dewsbury urban sub-area had a population of 54,341. Dewsbury is the largest town in the Heavy Woollen District, which forms a conurbation of small mill towns. Dewsbury has grown into neighbouring towns such as Batley and Heckmondwike and they often collectively get refered to as Dewsbury.

City of Leeds

Leeds is Yorkshire's largest city. The inner city areas of Leeds have a population of 443,247. Leeds developed along the River Aire, and its main growth came through the industrial revolution. Leeds has a mixed economy of Manufacturing and Service based businesses. Leeds is served by Leeds Bradford International Airport. Leeds is one of the UK's most important financial cities and is a long established centre for commerce. Leeds is situated on many motorways and has a mainline railway station (Leeds City Station) which is the busiest outside of London. By metropoliton district Leeds is the UK's third largest city, by inner city population it is the forth. Leeds has many sporting teams including Leeds United, Leeds Rhinos, Hunslet Hawks and is home to Yorkshire County Cricket Club.

Wetherby is one of two market towns within the City of Leeds, the inner town area has a population of 10562 (2001), while the Wetherby ward has a population of 22000. Wetherby is situated on the River Wharfe. Wetherby's position on the A58 and the A1(M) make it a popular commuter town for Leeds. The town has a sizable manufacturing base at the Sandbeck Industrial Estate and the nearby Thorp Arch Trading Estate. Employers here include Goldenfry Foods and The British Library. Wetherby is notable for Wetherby Racecourse as well as its prisons (HMYOI Wetherby and HMP Wealstun). Wetherby's market is on a Thursday.

City of Wakefield

Wakefield lies at the heart of the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, England. Located by the River Calder, it had a population of 76,886 in 2001. Wakefield was dubbed the "Merrie City" in the Middle Ages. This name is still used to describe the drinking culture in the city. The traditional industries in the city where Coal Mining and Manufacturing, however as the traditional administrative centre of the West Riding of Yorkshire, Wakefield has always had a service element to its economy. Wakefield Prison is one of Britains highest security prison, housing many of Britains most dangerous and notorious prisoners. Wakefield Westgate railway station is situated on the mainline between Leeds and London Kings Cross. The M62 motorway and the M1 motorway pass by the city. Wakefield is West Yorkshire's oldest city.