Shropshire

Shropshire (/rpr/ or /rpr/; alternatively Salop;[3] abbreviated, in print only, Shrops; demonym Salopian /slopjn/)[4] is a county in the West Midlands of England, bordering
Wales to the west, Cheshire to the north, Staffordshire to the east, and Worcestershire and Herefordshire to the south. Shropshire Council was created in 2009, a unitary authority taking
over from the previous county council and five district councils. The borough of Telford and Wrekin has been a separate unitary authority since 1998 but continues to be included in the
ceremonial county.

The county's population and economy is centred on five towns: the county town of Shrewsbury, which is culturally and historically important and close to the centre of the county;[5]
Telford, a new town in the east which was constructed around a number of older towns, most notably Wellington, Dawley and Madeley, which is today the most populous;[6] and
Oswestry in the north-west, Bridgnorth just to the south of Telford, and Ludlow in the south. The county has many market towns, including Whitchurch in the north, Newport north-east
of Telford and Market Drayton in the north-east of the county.

The Ironbridge Gorge area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, covering Ironbridge, Coalbrookdale and a part of Madeley.[7] There are other historic industrial sites in the county, such as at
Shrewsbury, Broseley, Snailbeach and Highley, as well as the Shropshire Union Canal.[8]

The Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty covers about a quarter of the county, mainly in the south.[9] Shropshire is one of England's most rural and sparsely populated
counties, with a population density of 136/km2 (350/sq mi). The Wrekin is one of the most famous natural landmarks in the county,[10] though the highest hills are the Clee Hills,[11]
Stiperstones[12] and the Long Mynd.[13] Wenlock Edge is another significant geographical and geological landmark.[14] In the low-lying northwest of the county overlapping the border
with Wales is the Fenn's, Whixall and Bettisfield Mosses National Nature Reserve,[15] one of the most important and best preserved bogs in Britain. The River Severn, Great Britain's
longest river, runs through the county, exiting into Worcestershire via the Severn Valley. Shropshire is landlocked and with an area of 3,487 square kilometres (1,346 sq mi) is England's
largest inland county.[16]

The county flower is the round-leaved sundew.[17]

Contents [hide]
1 History
1.1 Etymology
1.2 County extent
2 Geography
2.1 North Shropshire
2.2 South Shropshire
2.3 Natural regions
2.4 Climate
2.5 Geology
2.6 Statistical
3 Emblems
3.1 Shropshire county flag
3.2 Shropshire coat of arms
3.3 Shropshire county flower, round-leaved sundew
3.4 Shropshire Day, 23 February
3.5 Shropshire motto, Floreat Salopia
4 Towns and villages
5 Politics
5.1 Parliamentary constituencies
5.2 Divisions and environs
5.3 Local government 19742009
5.4 2009 restructuring