South Yorkshire

I

Introduction

South Yorkshire, non-administrative metropolitan county, northern England, bounded on the north by the counties of West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire; on the east by North Lincolnshire unitary authority and the county of Nottinghamshire; on the south by the county of Derbyshire; and on the west by Greater Manchester metropolitan county. South Yorkshire was created in 1974 from the southern part of the former West Riding of Yorkshire and a small part of north-east Derbyshire. It has a land area of 1,562 sq km (603 sq mi).

II

Land and Resources

The landscape of South Yorkshire is varied. It ranges from the limestone and millstone grit of the Pennine Hills in the west, through an undulating central area, to the marshy lowlands of the east, now drained. The eastern Pennine uplands contain important coal reserves. The River Don rises in the Pennines and flows across the south Yorkshire coalfield to Sheffield, and then north-eastwards to Doncaster, and into the River Ouse at Goole, just across the North Lincolnshire border.

South Yorkshire has a variable climate. Winters are sometimes harsh, with heavy snowfalls on the Pennines. The average annual rainfall is less than 635 mm (25 in).

III

Population and Administration

The population of South Yorkshire was estimated in 2001 at 1,266,337. The principal towns are Sheffield (2001 estimate, 513,100); Doncaster (2000 estimate, 290,100); Barnsley (2000 estimate, 228,100); and Rotherham (2000 estimate, 253,200).

An elected metropolitan county council administered South Yorkshire from 1974 until 1986, when it was abolished under the Local Government Act 1985. Since then, local government functions have been vested in four all-purpose, or unitary metropolitan district councils: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and Sheffield. The police authority is the South Yorkshire Police, whose headquarters is in Sheffield. Crown Courts sit at Sheffield and Doncaster.

IV

Education and Culture

The University of Sheffield was founded in 1905. Sheffield Hallam University was formed in 1992 from the earlier Sheffield Polytechnic. Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley, and Rotherham United are all professional football clubs based in the county. Doncaster is renowned for its racecourse, home of the classic St Leger, which has been run every September since 1776. The World Snooker Championships are held annually in Sheffield at the Crucible Theatre; the Don Valley Stadium was built on the outskirts of the city for the 1991 World Student Games as was the Ponds Forge swimming venue, which is based nearer the city centre.

Helen Sharman, the first British astronaut, was born in Sheffield. Joseph Locke, a Victorian engineer, was also born in the city, as was David Mellor, designer and cutlery manufacturer. Thorne, near Doncaster, was the birthplace of British soprano Lesley Garrett and Arthur Scargill was born near Barnsley. England goalkeeper David Seaman was born in Rotherham. Literary sisters A.S. Byatt and Margaret Drabble were born in Sheffield as were former England goalkeeper Gordon Banks and world champion featherweight boxer Naseem Hamed. Famous Yorkshire cricketers born in the region have included Fred Trueman and Darren Gough.