County Durham

Is located in north-east England and the county town is Durham.It covers an area of 2,676 km² and has a Population of around 872,000.

The remote and sparsely populated dales and moors of the Pennines characterise the interior, while nearer the coast the county is highly settled and was once dominated by the coal mining industry.

Geography

The county traditionally extends to the south bank of the River Tyne and includes Sunderland, South Shields, and Gateshead. It shares border with the counties of Northumberland, Cumberland, Westmorland and Yorkshire. The eastern boundary is the North Sea. The modern unitary authorities of Hartlepool, Darlington, and the northern part of Stockton-on-Tees are part of the traditional County Durham.

Major Towns

Barnard Castle, Easington, Ferryhill, Hartlepool, Billingham, Chester-le-Street, Consett, Darlington, Durham, Eaglescliffe, Bishop Auckland, Newton Aycliffe, Peterlee, Seaham, Sedgefield, Spennymoor, Stanley, Stockton-on-Tees, Willington.

History

The palatinate of Durham arose from the grant of land made by King Egfrith of Northumbria to St Cuthbert on his election to the see of Lindisfarne in 684. The local Danish King Guthred, endowed it with the whole district between the Tyne and the Wear, stretching west as far as Watling Street. This grant was later confirmed by King Alfred the Great of Wessex.

County Durham Flag