Information AboutNorfolk |
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Norfolk (pronounced 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 . 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 densityBased on Office For National Statistics 2004 population estimates, see List Of Non-metropolitan Counties Of England By Population .. This is reflected in Norfolk's economy which is dominated by agriculture and tourism. One of England's National Park s, The Broads , lies partly within the county, and historical buildings, such as the centre of Norwich, also contribute to tourism. In a contest held by was not representative . History See Also: History of Norfolk Norfolk was settled in pre-Roman times, with ic 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 Viking s 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 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 aeronautical industry. The first development in airfields came with the First World War , there was a massive expansion during the Second World War with the growth of the Royal Air Force and the influx of the American USAAF 8th Air Force which operated from many Norfolk Airfields . During the Second World War agriculture rapidly intensified, and has remained very intensive since with the establishment of large fields for cereal and rape growing. Norfolk's low lying land and easily eroded cliffs, many of which are not chalk and clay, make it vulnerable to the sea, the most recent major event being the North Sea Flood Of 1953 . Physical geography Geologically Norfolk can be divided into three regions. In the east the county lies on weak , where the coastline suddenly changesMartin Warren, 2001. Field Guide to the Geology of North Norfolk .. 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 Conifer ous 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 Moraine s that stands next to the coast above Cromer . Being in the east, sheltered from most of the extreme weather of the temperatures of between 9.4 and 10.1 degrees Celsius (approx 50 degrees Fahrenheit ), second only to South West and South East England Met Office, 2000. Mean temperature (°C), Annual average 1971-2000 .. With between 1471 and 1885 hours of sunshine annually, it is behind only the south-coast counties and SuffolkMet Office, 2000. Sunshine duration (hours), Annual average 1971-2000 . Economy and industry 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 UKOffice for National Statistics, 2001. Regional Trends 26 ch:14.7 (PDF). Accessed 2006-01-03.. Much of Norfolk's flat and fertile land has been drained and converted to has been successful here, and farming is very intensive with large fields, and many former family run farms have been agglomerated into large farms which are highly efficient but criticised for reducing Biodiversity and employment. Politics Norfolk County Council is Conservative controlled, with 46 Conservative councillors, 22 Labour councillors, 14 Liberal Democrat councillors and two Green councillorsNorfolk County Council, 2005. County election results .. 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 . Settlements and communications Norfolk's county town and only , 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 , including a useful link to Amsterdam which offers onward flights throughout the world. Dialect and Accent The Norfolk Dialect or Broad Norfolk is the accent/dialect of people living in Norfolk, though over the modern age, a lot of the vocabulary and phrases have died out due to a number of factors such as radio, TV and people from other parts of the country coming to Norfolk, and so the speech of Norfolk is more of an Accent than Dialect though one part retained from the Norfolk dialect is the distinctive grammar of the region. For more see ''Norfolk Dialect'' People of Norfolk Here are some noticeable people who were born and/or raised in Norfolk:
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