South West England
South West England ( German South West England ) is one of the nine regions of England and lies in the southwest of the United Kingdom. The region coincides approximately with the traditionally grouped under the term West Country counties and was originally, but defined by the British government for statistical and administrative purposes without political legitimacy. Cornwall is often excluded from this geographical- cultural assignment because of its clearly Celtic Gepräges.
History
The region coincides in large part with the historic area of Wessex (except Hampshire and Berkshire ) and includes the former Celtic kingdom of Dumnonia one, belonged to the Cornwall, Devon and parts of Somerset and Dorset. After 1974, the division took place in the counties of Avon, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire. After the administrative reform in 1996 there was a reorganization, the county Avon was abolished and the remaining counties only retained a ceremonial status.
Administrative divisions
The region includes the following counties and unitary authorities:
Population
In 2001, Southwest England had 4,928,434 inhabitants (result of the census ), of which around 3.5 million Christians, 750,000 reported no religion. The population was grown within 20 years to 12.5 percent, and had thus the strongest growth within the UK. The largest population increase was recorded in 1981 in Teignbridge with 26.3 percent. In 2003 the population exceeded the five million mark, rising to 2009 by 5.8 percent. The fastest growing area is currently Bristol, where in the metropolitan area about 10 percent of the population.
Economy
The most economically productive areas within the region are Bristol, the corridor along the M4 Motorway and South-East Dorset, all areas with the best links to London. Bristol's economy was initially influenced by maritime trade and lived in the past, mainly from the export of indigenous, mostly finished processed wool, the import of tobacco and other groceries as well as the slave trade, long time, from shipbuilding. In the 20th century originated with the aviation industry, a new branch; known examples are the company Rolls- Royce (military sector) and Bristol Aircraft Company.
As an economically weak area is considered to Cornwall. By the end of the 19th century Cornwall covered more than half the world's supply of tin. Then probably ( Tin Tin = engl. ) Is also the name of the place Tintagel back. Since the decline of mining agriculture was practiced here just yet. Cornwall has contributed only 6.5 percent to the economic strength Southwest of England in 2003 and was the Objective 1 region for funding under the regional policy of the European Union. As early as the 1990s, tourism in Cornwall became an important source of income. In 2002, about five million visitors were counted. The economic importance of tourism growth in the rest of the country. In 2001, there were 13,800 hotels with a total of 250,000 beds in South West England. Aside from leisure seekers also historically interested visitors coming into the country. Stonehenge, the most since 1986 as a World Heritage Site, and other mystical places, eg, from the legends of King Arthur, always attract international interest.