Northamptonshire

(nɔːˈθæmptənˌʃɪə; -ʃə; nɔːθˈhæmp-) n (Placename) a county of central England: agriculture, food processing, engineering, and footwear industries. Administrative centre: Northampton. Pop: 642 700 (2003 est). Area: 2367 sq km (914 sq miles). Abbreviation: Northants

North•amp•ton•shire

(nɔrˈθæmp tənˌʃɪər, -ʃər, nɔrθˈhæmp-)

n. a county in central England. 587,100; 914 sq. mi. (2365 sq. km). Also called Northampton.

Thesaurus

Noun

Northamptonshire - a county is central EnglandEngland - a division of the United KingdomNorthampton - the principal city of NorthamptonshireNaseby - a village in western Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire

(nôrthămp`tənshĭr) or

Northants

(nôrth-hănts`), county (1991 pop. 568,900), 914 sq mi (2,367 sq km), central England. The county seat is NorthamptonNorthampton,
city (1991 pop. 154,172) and district, Northamptonshire, central England, on the Nene River. The city of Northampton is the county seat. Shoemaking has long been the chief industry; engineering is second (roller bearings, earth-moving equipment, and motor vehicle
..... Click the link for more information. . The county comprises seven districts: South Northamptonshire, Northampton, Daventry, Wellingborough, Kettering, Corby, and East Northamptonshire. The terrain is undulating agricultural country, devoted to pasture and forests. The principal river is the Nene. The iron and steel industry, which flourished on the basis of local ore from the start of the 20th cent., has dwindled in significance. The county's specialization in boot and shoe production has also withered in the face of competition. The Roman roads Ermine Street and Watling StreetWatling Street
, important ancient road in England, built by the Romans in the course of their military occupation. It ran from London generally north to the intersection with the Fosse Way, c.
..... Click the link for more information. crossed the county. In Anglo-Saxon times the area was part of the kingdom of MerciaMercia
, one of the kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon England, consisting generally of the region of the Midlands. It was settled by Angles c.500, probably first along the Trent valley.
..... Click the link for more information. and was probably organized as a shire in Danish times. In 1974, Northamptonshire was reorganized as a nonmetropolitan county.