Hereford and Worcester

Hereford and Worcester, former county, western England, bounded to the north by the counties of Shropshire and Staffordshire, and by West Midlands metropolitan county, to the east by Warwickshire, to the south by Gloucestershire, to the south-west by the Welsh county of Monmouthshire, and to the west by the Welsh county of Powys. The county was formed under the local government reorganization of 1974, by the joining together of Herefordshire and Worcestershire. On April 1, 1998, as a result of the review of local administration in England, the new unitary authority of Herefordshire was created. The new body is responsible for the provision of all local government services, including those previously provided by the county of Hereford and Worcester. Herefordshire unitary authority retains the same boundaries as the pre-1974 county of Herefordshire. The remaining half of the former county of Hereford and Worcester has reverted to its pre-1974 title and boundaries and is once again the county of Worcestershire. The area of the county was 3,926 sq km (1,515 sq mi).

The population of Hereford and Worcester was estimated in 1992 to be 680,900. The principal towns located in the former county include Worcester (2001, 93,358), Hereford (1994 estimate, 50,539), Bromsgrove (2001, 87,846), and Redditch (2001, 78,813). Other towns of note are Droitwich (1991, 20,966), Evesham (1991, 17,823), Great Malvern (1991, 31,537), Kidderminster (1991, 54,644), Ledbury (1991, 6,216), Leominster (1991, 9,543), Ross-on-Wye (1991, 9,606), and Stourport-upon-Severn (1991, 18,283).

Hereford and Worcester was administered by a county council based in County Hall, in Worcester, and by nine district councils: Bromsgrove, Hereford, Leominster, Malvern Hills, Redditch, South Herefordshire, Worcester, Wychavon, and Wyre Forest.

For land and resources, administration, population, economy, education, tourism, and places of interest, see Herefordshire and Worcestershire.