South Yorkshire | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 53°30′N1°20′W / 53.500°N 1.333°W | |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Constituent country | England |
Region | Yorkshire and the Humber |
Established | 1 April 1974 |
Established by | Local Government Act 1972 |
Time zone | UTC+0 (GMT) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (BST) |
UK Parliament | List of MPs |
Police | South Yorkshire Police |
Ceremonial county | |
Lord Lieutenant | Andrew Coombe |
High Sheriff | Mrs Carole O'Neill [1] (2020–21) |
Area | 1,552 km2 (599 sq mi) |
• Rank | 38th of 48 |
Population (2022) [2] | 1,392,105 |
• Rank | 10th of 48 |
Density | 897/km2 (2,320/sq mi) |
Ethnicity | 90.7% White 3.4% S.Asian 2.0% Black 1.5% Mixed 2.5% Other |
Metropolitan county | |
Government | South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority |
Mayor | Oliver Coppard (L) |
Admin HQ | Sheffield |
GSS code |
|
ITL | TLE3 |
Website | southyorkshire-ca |
Districts | |
Districts of South Yorkshire Metropolitan districts | |
Districts |
South Yorkshire is a ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It borders North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire to the north,the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north-east,Lincolnshire to the east,Nottinghamshire to the south-east,and Derbyshire to the south and west. The largest settlement is the city of Sheffield.
The county is largely urban,with an area of 1,552 km2 (599 sq mi) and a population of 1,402,918. The largest settlements after Sheffield (556,500) are the city of Doncaster (113,566),Rotherham (109,697),and Barnsley (96,888). The east and west of the county are more rural. The county is governed by four metropolitan boroughs:Barnsley,City of Doncaster,Rotherham,and City of Sheffield. They collaborate through South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.
South Yorkshire lies on the edge of the Pennines,and the west of the county contains part of the Peak District National Park. The River Don rises in these hills,and flows through Sheffield,Rotherham,and Doncaster before reaching the flat Humberhead Levels in the east of the county.
While the county of South Yorkshire was created in 1974,the history of its constituent settlements and parts goes back centuries. Prehistoric remains include a Mesolithic "house" (a circle of stones in the shape of a hut-base) dating to around 8000 BC,found at Deepcar,in the northern part of Sheffield. [3] Evidence of even earlier inhabitation in the wider region exists about 3 miles (5 km) over the county boundary at Creswell Crags in Derbyshire,where artefacts and rock art found in caves have been dated by archaeologists to the late Upper Palaeolithic period,at least 12,800 years ago. [4] The region was on the frontier of the Roman Empire during the Roman period. [5]
The main settlements of South Yorkshire grew up around the industries of mining and steel manufacturing. The main mining industry was coal which was concentrated to the north and east of the county. There were also iron deposits which were mined in the area. The rivers running off the Pennines to the west of the county supported the steel industry that is concentrated in Sheffield,Stocksbridge and Rotherham. The proximity of the iron and coal also made this an ideal place for steel manufacture.
Although Christian nonconformism was never as strong in South Yorkshire as in the mill towns of West Yorkshire,there are still many Methodist and Baptist churches in the area. Also,South Yorkshire has a relatively high number of followers of spiritualism. It is the only county that counts as a full region in the Spiritualists' National Union. [6]
The Local Government Commission for England presented draft recommendations,in December 1965,proposing a new county—York and North Midlands—roughly centred on the southern part of the West Riding of Yorkshire and northern parts of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. The review was abolished in favour of the Royal Commission on Local Government before it was able to issue a final report.
The Royal Commission's 1969 report,known as the Redcliffe-Maud Report,proposed the removal of much of the then existing system of local government. The commission described the system of administering urban and rural districts separately as outdated,noting that urban areas provided employment and services for rural dwellers,and open countryside was used by town dwellers for recreation. [7]
Redcliffe-Maud's recommendations were accepted by the Labour government in February 1970. [8] Although the Redcliffe-Maud Report was rejected by the Conservative government after the 1970 general election,there was a commitment to local government reform,and the idea of a metropolitan county of South Yorkshire.
post-1974 | pre-1974 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Metropolitan county | Metropolitan borough | County boroughs | Non-county boroughs | Urban districts | Rural districts |
South Yorkshire is an amalgamation of 32 former local government districts,including four county boroughs. | Barnsley | Barnsley | – | Cudworth •Darfield •Darton •Dearne •Dodworth •Hoyland Nether •Penistone •Royston •Wombwell •Worsbrough | Hemsworth •Penistone •Wortley (part) |
Doncaster | Doncaster | – | Adwick le Street •Bentley with Arksey •Conisbrough •Mexborough •Tickhill | Doncaster •East Retford (part) •Thorne •Worksop (part) | |
Rotherham | Rotherham | – | Maltby •Swinton •Rawmarsh •Wath upon Dearne | Kiveton Park •Rotherham | |
Sheffield | Sheffield | – | Stocksbridge | Wortley (part) |
The Local Government Act 1972 reformed local government in England by creating a system of two-tier metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties and districts throughout the country. [9] The act formally established South Yorkshire on 1 April 1974,although South Yorkshire County Council (SYCC) had been running since elections in 1973. [10] The leading article in The Times on the day the Local Government Act came into effect noted that the "new arrangement is a compromise which seeks to reconcile familiar geography which commands a certain amount of affection and loyalty,with the scale of operations on which modern planning methods can work effectively". [11]
South Yorkshire initially had a two tier structure of local government with a strategic-level county council and four districts providing most services. [12]
In 1974,as part of the South Yorkshire Structure Plan of the environment,conservation and land use,South Yorkshire County Council commissioned a public attitudes survey covering job opportunities,educational facilities,leisure opportunities,health and medical services,shopping centres and transport in the county. [13]
In 1986,throughout England the metropolitan county councils were abolished. The functions of the county council were devolved to the boroughs;joint-boards covering fire,police and public transport;and to other special joint arrangements. [14] The joint boards continue to function and include the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive. [15] The South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner also oversees South Yorkshire Police.
Although the county council was abolished,South Yorkshire remains a metropolitan and ceremonial county with a Lord Lieutenant of South Yorkshire and a High Sheriff.
South Yorkshire lies within the Sheffield City Region with Barnsley also being within the Leeds City Region,reflecting its geographical position midway between Yorkshire's two largest cities.
The metropolitan county borders Derbyshire,West Yorkshire,North Yorkshire,the East Riding of Yorkshire,Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. The terrain of the county is mostly distinguished by the Pennines and its foothills which rise in the west of the county and gradually descend into the Humberhead Levels in the east of the county. Geologically,the county lies largely on the carboniferous rocks of the Yorkshire coalfield in the outer Pennine fringes,producing a rolling landscape with hills,escarpments and broad valleys. In this landscape,there is widespread evidence of both current and former industrial activity. There are numerous mine buildings,former spoil heaps and iron and steel plants. The scenery is a mixture of built up areas,industrial land with some dereliction,and farmed open country. Ribbon developments along transport routes including canal,road and rail are prominent features of the area although some remnants of the pre industrial landscape and semi-natural vegetation still survive. [16]
The Pennines in the west of the county are mostly inside the Peak District National Park and also contain carboniferous rocks,with the underlying geology primarily being millstone grit sandstones of the Dark Peak rising from the Yorkshire coalfield and the terrain is mostly moorland plateaus and gritstone edges. [17] The inner Pennine fringes between the Dark Peak and Yorkshire coalfield are distinguished by many steep valleys,and a transition from uplands and rural landscape to lowlands and urban landscape towards the east of the county. [18] Major rivers which cross the area are the Dearne,Rother and Don. To the east,in the Doncaster area the landscape becomes flatter as the eastward dipping carboniferous rocks of the coalfield are overlain by the lacustrine deposits of the Humberhead Levels. [19]
South Yorkshire contains green belt throughout the county,surrounding its four districts to large extents. It was first drawn up from the 1950s. The western edge of the Sheffield and Barnsley districts directly form with the boundary of the Peak District National Park.
The table below outlines many of the county's settlements,and is formatted according to their metropolitan borough.
Of these settlements above,South Yorkshire has three main urban areas:the Dearne Valley which covers Barnsley and surrounding area;the Sheffield urban area which covers Sheffield,Rotherham and surrounding area;and the Doncaster urban area which covers Doncaster and surrounding area.
Body | Headquarters | Notes |
---|---|---|
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority | Castlegate Quarter,Sheffield City Centre | Formerly Sheffield City Region Combined Authority,includes South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive |
South Yorkshire County Council | Central Offices,Barnsley | Abolished in 1986 |
South Yorkshire Joint Secretariat | Barnsley | The only metropolitan county in the UK that has established a formal joint secretariat. [20] |
South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service | Cultural Industries Quarter,Sheffield City Centre | |
South Yorkshire Police | Carbrook,Sheffield | |
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council | Barnsley Town Hall | Covers Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley |
Doncaster Council | Doncaster Civic Office | Covers City of Doncaster district |
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council | Rotherham Town Hall | Covers Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham |
Sheffield City Council | Sheffield Town Hall | Covers City of Sheffield district |
The South Yorkshire County Council was abolished and its districts effectively became unitary authorities;they are the City of Sheffield,the City of Doncaster,the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley and the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham. [21]
In 1986,throughout England the metropolitan county councils were abolished. The ceremonial county with a Lord Lieutenant of South Yorkshire and a High Sheriff was retained. The county remains defined as metropolitan,functions of the county council devolved to the boroughs with many functions administered by joint authorities (such a passenger transport executive) containing representatives of the four councils.
The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority was established in 2014 to bring the leaders of the four councils to give the county a main statutory body. It is led by the directly elected Mayor of South Yorkshire.
In the 2016 referendum on the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union,South Yorkshire voted 62% leave and 38% remain,making it one of the most heavily Leave areas in the country.
Ethnic Group | Years | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1981 estimations [22] | 1991 census [23] [24] | 2001 census [25] | 2021 census [26] | |||||
Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
White:Total | 1,291,660 | 98.1% | 1,263,799 | 97.1% | 1,204,988 | 95.1% | 1,206,059 | 87.7% |
White:British | – | – | – | – | 1,186,605 | 93.7% | 1,142,678 | 83.1% |
White:Irish | – | – | – | – | 6,655 | 0.5% | 4,930 | 0.4% |
White:Gypsy or Irish Traveller | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1,653 | 0.1% |
White:Roma | – | – | – | – | – | – | 4,156 | 0.3% |
White:Other | – | – | – | – | 11,728 | 0.9% | 52,642 | 3.8% |
Asian or Asian British:Total | 14,423 | 1.1% | 22,559 | 1.7% | 35,933 | 3% | 79,119 | 5.7% |
Asian or Asian British:Indian | 2,444 | 3,645 | 5,186 | 0.4% | 10,893 | 0.8% | ||
Asian or Asian British:Pakistani | 9,174 | 14,017 | 1.1% | 22,187 | 1.8% | 41,190 | 3.0% | |
Asian or Asian British:Bangladeshi | 675 | 1249 | 2,025 | 0.2% | 4,610 | 0.3% | ||
Asian or Asian British:Chinese | 1376 | 2241 | 3,273 | 0.3% | 9,722 | 0.7% | ||
Asian or Asian British:Other Asian | 754 | 1407 | 3,262 | 0.3% | 12,704 | 0.9% | ||
Black or Black British:Total | 7,772 | 10,517 | 10,755 | 0.9% | 33,985 | 2.5% | ||
Black or Black British:African | 968 | 1,414 | 3,770 | 0.3% | 24,335 | 1.8% | ||
Black or Black British:Caribbean | 4,851 | 6,365 | 6,156 | 0.5% | 5,818 | 0.4% | ||
Black or Black British:Other Black | 1,953 | 2,738 | 829 | 0.1% | 3,832 | 0.3% | ||
Mixed:Total | – | – | – | – | 11,953 | 1% | 30,454 | 2.2% |
Mixed:White and Black Caribbean | – | – | – | – | 5,162 | 0.4% | 11,266 | 0.8% |
Mixed:White and Black African | – | – | – | – | 1,102 | 0.1% | 4,124 | 0.3% |
Mixed:White and Asian | – | – | – | – | 3,253 | 0.3% | 8,316 | 0.6% |
Mixed:Other Mixed | – | – | – | – | 2,436 | 0.2% | 6,748 | 0.5% |
Other:Total | 3,345 | 5,026 | 2,709 | 0.2% | 25,388 | 1.9% | ||
Other:Arab | – | – | – | – | 2,709 | 0.2% | 10,373 | 0.8% |
Other:Any other ethnic group | – | – | – | – | – | – | 15,015 | 1.1% |
Non-White:Total | 25,541 | 1.9% | 38,101 | 2.9% | 61,350 | 4.9% | 168,946 | 12.3% |
Total | 1,317,201 | 100% | 1,301,900 | 100% | 1,266,338 | 100% | 1,375,005 | 100% |
As one of the least prosperous areas in Western Europe,South Yorkshire has been targeted for funding from the European Regional Development Fund. This is a chart of trend of regional gross value added of South Yorkshire at current basic prices with figures in millions of British Pounds Sterling. [27]
However,the county has experienced a recent growth in the services sector. In the FDI European Cities and Regions of the Future 2022/23 Awards,Doncaster was ranked the best small city in Europe for investment.
Year | Regional Gross Value Added [28] |
---|---|
1998 | £12,820 |
2001 | £13,921 |
2004 | £17,718 |
2007 | £21,192 |
2010 | £21,512 |
2013 | £22,560 |
Key | |
Abbey/Priory/Cathedral | |
Accessible open space | |
Amusement/Theme Park | |
Castle | |
Country Park | |
English Heritage | |
Forestry Commission | |
Heritage railway | |
Historic House | |
Places of Worship | |
| Museum (free/not free) |
National Trust | |
Theatre | |
Zoo |
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan and ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It borders North Yorkshire to the north and east, South Yorkshire and Derbyshire to the south, Greater Manchester to the south-west, and Lancashire to the west. The city of Leeds is the largest settlement.
Doncaster is a city in South Yorkshire, England. Named after the River Don, it is the administrative centre of the City of Doncaster metropolitan borough, and is the second largest settlement in South Yorkshire after Sheffield. Noted for its racing and railway history, it is situated in the Don Valley on the western edge of the Humberhead Levels and east of the Pennines. It had a population of 87,455 at the 2021 census, whilst the wider metropolitan borough had a population of 308,100.
The West Riding of Yorkshire was one of three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the riding was an administrative county named County of York, West Riding. The lieutenancy at that time included the city of York and as such was named "West Riding of the County of York and the County of the City of York". The riding ceased to be used for administrative purposes in 1974, when England's local government was reformed.
Barnsley is a market town in South Yorkshire, England. It is the main settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley and the fourth largest settlement in South Yorkshire. The town's population was 96,888 in 2021, while the wider borough had a population of 244,600 in the 2021 census.
Derbyshire Dales is a local government district in Derbyshire, England. The district was created in 1974 as West Derbyshire; the name was changed to Derbyshire Dales in 1987. The council is based in the town of Matlock, and the district also includes the towns of Ashbourne, Bakewell, Darley Dale and Wirksworth, as well as numerous villages and extensive rural areas. Much of the district is within the Peak District National Park.
North East Derbyshire is a local government district in Derbyshire, England. The council is based in the large village of Wingerworth. The district also includes the towns of Dronfield and Clay Cross as well as numerous villages and surrounding rural areas.
The Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham is a metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. It is named after its main settlement of Rotherham. The wider borough spans a larger area and covers the outlying towns of Maltby, Swinton, Wath-upon-Dearne, Dinnington. As well as the villages of Rawmarsh and Laughton. A large valley spans the entire borough and is referred to as the "Rother Valley".
The City of Doncaster is a metropolitan borough with city status in South Yorkshire, England. It is named after its principal settlement, Doncaster, and includes the surrounding suburbs of Doncaster as well as numerous towns and villages. The district has large amounts of countryside; at 219 square miles (570 km2), it is the largest metropolitan borough in England by area.
The Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley is a metropolitan borough in South Yorkshire, England; the main settlement is Barnsley and other notable towns include Penistone, Wombwell and Hoyland.
The Redcliffe-Maud Report was published in 1969 by the Royal Commission on Local Government in England, under the chairmanship of Lord Redcliffe-Maud. Although the commission's proposals were broadly accepted by the Labour government, they were set aside by the Conservative government elected in 1970.
Sheffield is a geographically diverse city in England. It nestles in the eastern foothills of the Pennines and the confluence of five rivers: Don, Sheaf, Rivelin, Loxley and Porter. As such, much of the city is built on hillsides, with views into the city centre or out to the countryside. The city is roughly one third urban, one third rural and one third in the Peak District. At its lowest point the city stands just 29 metres above sea level at Blackburn Meadows on the Rotherham border, rising up to over 500 m in some parts of the city to a peak of 548m at High Stones on the Derbyshire border; however, 89% of the housing in the city is between 100 and 200 metres above sea level. Over 95% of the population resides in the main urban area.
The Local Government Commission for England was established by the Local Government Act 1958 to review the organisation of local government, and make "such proposals as are hereinafter authorised for effecting changes appearing to the Commissions desirable in the interests of effective and convenient local government". Most of the commission's proposals failed to reach consensus and were not implemented, and the body was dissolved in 1967.
The A6195 road runs through the Dearne Valley in South Yorkshire, England.
Scouting in Yorkshire and the Humber is largely represented by the Scout Association of the United Kingdom and some Groups of traditional Scouting including the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association.
The South Yorkshire County Council (SYCC) — also known as South Yorkshire Metropolitan County Council — was the top-tier local government authority for the metropolitan county of South Yorkshire from 1 April 1974 to 31 March 1986. A strategic authority, with responsibilities for roads, public transport, planning, emergency services and waste disposal, it was composed of 100 directly elected members drawn from the four metropolitan boroughs of South Yorkshire: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.
The South Yorkshire Forest was a partnership initiative of the twelve Community Forests in England, started in 1991. The programme aimed to create attractive landscapes in the South Yorkshire area through improvement and regeneration of woodlands, wetlands, farmland, meadows, industrial sites and residential areas. Member organisations of the South Yorkshire Forest Partnership included the Forestry Commission, Natural England and the four local authorities of South Yorkshire: Sheffield City Council, Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council and Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.
The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority is the combined authority for South Yorkshire in England, with powers over transport, economic development and regeneration. It covers a total area of 3,484 km2 (1,345 sq mi) with a population of 1.8 million. The four metropolitan boroughs of South Yorkshire – Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster and Barnsley – are full members of the authority, while the Derbyshire Dales, North East Derbyshire, Chesterfield and Bolsover districts of Derbyshire, and the Bassetlaw district of Nottinghamshire, are non-constituent members.
The Borough of Chesterfield is a non-metropolitan district with borough status in Derbyshire, England. It is named after the town of Chesterfield, its largest settlement, and also contains the town of Staveley and the large village of Brimington. In 2022 it had a population of 104,110.
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