Norfolk

From Open Encyclopedia

For alternative meanings see: Norfolk (disambiguation)

Norfolk
Image:EnglandNorfolk.png
Geography
Status:	Ceremonial & Non-metropolitan county
Region:	East of England
Area: - Total - Admin. council	Ranked 5th 5,371 km² Ranked 5th
Admin HQ:	Norwich
ISO 3166-2:	GB-NFK
ONS code:	33
NUTS 3:	UKH13
Demographics
Population: - Total (2004 est.) - Density - Admin. Council	Ranked 25th 816,500 152 / km² Ranked 7th
Ethnicity:	98.5% White
Politics
Image:Arms-norfolk.jpg Norfolk County Council http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/
Executive:	Conservative
Members of Parliament
Richard Bacon, Henry Bellingham, Charles Clarke, Christopher Fraser, Ian Gibson, Norman Lamb, Keith Simpson, Anthony Wright
Districts
Image:NorfolkNumbered.png Norwich South Norfolk Great Yarmouth Broadland North Norfolk King's Lynn and West Norfolk Breckland

Norfolk (pronounced IPA: /'nɔ:fək/) is a low-lying county in East Anglia in the east of southern England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and with Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast, including The Wash. The county town is Norwich, located at 52°37′59″N, 1°17′38″E. Norfolk is the fifth largest ceremonial county in England, with an area of 5,371 sq km (2,074 sq mi).

Of the 34 non-metropolitan English counties, Norfolk is the seventh most populous, with a population of 816,500. However, as a largely rural county it has a low population density, 152 people per square kilometre, making it 25th highest by population density<ref>Based on Office for National Statistics 2004 population estimates, see List of non-metropolitan counties of England by population.</ref>. This is reflected in Norfolk's economy which is dominated by agriculture and tourism. One of England's National Parks, The Broads, lies partly within the county, and historical buildings, such as the centre of Norwich, also contribute to tourism.

1 History
2 Physical geography
3 Economy and industry
4 Politics
5 Settlements and communications
6 See also
7 External links
8 References

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History

Main article: History of Norfolk

Norfolk was settled in pre-Roman times, with neolithic camps along the higher land in the west where flints could be quarried<ref>John Barwell, n.d. "A History of Norfolk."</ref>. A Brythonic tribe, the Iceni, inhabited the county from the first century BCE, to the end of the first century CE. The Iceni revolted against the Roman invasion in 47 CE, and again in 60CE led by Boudica. The crushing of the second rebellion opened the county to the Romans. During the Roman era roads and ports were constructed throughout the county and farming took place.

Situated on the east coast, Norfolk was vulnerable to invasions from Scandinavia and northern Europe, and forts were built to defend against the Angles and Saxons. By the 5th century the Angles, for whom East Anglia and England itself are named, had established control of the region and later became the "north folk" and the "south folk", hence, "Norfolk" and "Suffolk". Norfolk, and several adjacent areas, became the kingdom of East Anglia, later merging with Mercia and then Wessex. The influence of the Early English settlers can be seen in the many "thorpes", "tons" and "hams" of placenames. In the 9th century the region again came under attack, this time from Vikings who killed the king, Edmund the Martyr. In the centuries before the Norman Conquest the wetlands of the east of the county began to be converted to farmland, and settlements grew in these areas. Migration into East Anglia must have been high, as by the time of the Conquest and Domesday Book survey, it was one of the most densely populated parts of the British Isles.

During the high and late middle ages the county developed arable agriculture and woolen industries. The economy was in decline by the time of the Black Death, which decimated the population in 1349. By the 16th century Norwich had grown to become the second largest city in England, but in 1665 the Great Plague again killed around one third of the population<ref>Anon, 2002. Norfolk History.</ref>. During the English Civil War Norfolk was largely Parliamentarian. The economy and agriculture of the region declined somewhat, and during the industrial revolution Norfolk developed little industry and was a late addition to the railway network. In the 20th century the county developed an aeronautic industry and several airfields starting during World War I but developed rapidly in World War II. During the second war agriculture rapidly intensified, and has remained very intensive since. Norfolk's low lying land and easily eroded rock make it vulnerable to the sea, the most recent major event being the North Sea flood of 1953.

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Physical geography

Geologically Norfolk can be divided into three regions. In the east the county lies on weak pliocene (1.8-5.3mya) rocks which form low, flat land easily eroded by the sea. Fossils in these rocks document over a million years of climate fluctuations. To the west is a stronger band of Chalk (70-100mya) which dips to the north and in places has an unique red colour<ref>Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Services, 2005. An Introduction to the Geology of Norfolk.</ref>. The chalk is part of the Southern England Chalk Formation which is also found in Salisbury Plain, the South Downs and Isle of Wight, though in Norfolk it doesn't form as high hills as to the south. In the far west of county the landscape is again low, flat and wet, around The Wash, an large inlet eroded into the weak rock<ref>Geology Map of Norfolk.</ref>. The transition between the eastern and western geology can be seen clearly at Weybourne, where the coastline suddenly changes<ref>Martin Warren, 2001. Field Guide to the Geology of North Norfolk.</ref>.

Much of Norfolk, like surrounding East Anglian counties, is flat and close to sea level. The Norfolk Broads are an important wetland habitat and tourist attraction, part of The Broads National Park. Another important habitat is Thetford Forest Park, a coniferous forest and heathland park. Some of the county, like neighbouring Cambridgeshire, is used for intensive arable agriculture and is crossed by artificial drainage canals.

The highest point of the county is Beacon Hill at 105m. It is the highest point of the Cromer Ridge, a ridge of old glacial moraines that stands next to the coast above Cromer.

Being in the east, sheltered from most of the extreme weather of the Atlantic, Norfolk has amoungst the lowest rainfall in the UK, at 466-641mm (18-25in)<ref>Met Office, 2000. Rainfall amount (mm), Annual average 1971-2000.</ref>. The area has mean temperatures of between 9.4 and 10.1 degrees celsius (approx 50 degrees fahrenheit), second only to South West and South East England<ref>Met Office, 2000. Mean temperature (°C), Annual average 1971-2000.</ref>. With between 1471 and 1885 hours of sunshine annually, it is behind only the south-coast counties and Suffolk<ref>Met Office, 2000. Sunshine duration (hours), Annual average 1971-2000.</ref>

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Economy and industry

Image:Wells-next-the-Sea 1.jpg Image:The Wensum under trees.JPG Image:NorwichRCC.JPG In 1998 Norfolk had a Gross Domestic Product of £9,319 million, making it 1.5% of England's economy and 1.25% of the United Kingdom's economy. The GDP per head was £11,825, compared to £13,635 for East Anglia, $12,845 for England and £12,438 for the United Kingdom. In 1999-2000 the county has an unemployment rate of 5.6%, compared to 5.8% for England and 6.0% for the UK<ref>Office for National Statistics, 2001. Regional Trends 26 ch:14.7 (PDF). Accessed 2006-01-03.</ref>.

Much of Norfolk's flat and fertile land has been drained and converted to arable land. Over 20% of employment in the county is in the agriculture and food industries<ref>Invest in Norfolk, Agriculture and Food.</ref>. Agribusiness has been succesfull here, and farming is very intensive with large fields, and many former familiy run farms have been agglomerated into large farms which are highly efficient but criticised for reducing biodiversity and employment.

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Politics

Norfolk County Council is Conservative controlled, with 46 Conservative councillors, 22 Labour councillors, 14 Liberal Democrat councillors and two Green councillors<ref>Norfolk County Council, 2005. County election results.</ref>. There was 63% turnout at the most recent local election.

In the House of Commons Norfolk is represented by four Conservative MPs, three Labour MPs and one Liberal Democrat. Labour represent the more urban areas of Norwich and Great Yarmouth. The present Home Secretary, Charles Clarke, represents Norwich South.

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Settlements and communications

Norfolk's county town and only city is Norwich, one of the largest settlements in England during the Norman era. Norwich is home to Norfolk's only university, the University of East Anglia, and is the county's main business and culture centre. Other principal towns include the port-town of King's Lynn and the seaside resort and broads gateway town of Great Yarmouth. There are also several market towns: Aylsham, Downham Market, Fakenham, Holt, Swaffham, Thetford and Wymondham. For a full list of villages, towns and cities, see the article List of places in Norfolk.

Norfolk is one of only four non-metropolitan counties in England which does not have a motorway. The A11 connects Norfolk to Cambridge and London and the A47 runs west to the East Midlands. The Great Eastern Main Line is a major railway from London Liverpool Street Station to Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk. The only airport in the county is Norwich International Airport, which offers flights within Europe.