Middlesex

historic county of England

Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area.[3] The county once contained the rich and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary.[4] The county was affected by the expansion of London in the 18th and 19th centuries. From 1855 the south east was administered as part of London.[5] When county councils were initially introduced in England in 1889 around 20% of the area of Middlesex, and a third of its population, was transferred to the County of London.[6]

Middlesex
Flag Coat of arms
Ancient extent of MiddlesexMiddlesex in 1889
Ancient and 1889 extent of Middlesex
Area
 • 1801/1881181,320 acres (734 km2)[1]
 • 1911148,701 acres (601.8 km2)[2]
 • 1961148,691 acres (601.7 km2)[2]
Population
 • 1801818,129[1]
 • 18812,920,485[1]
 • 19111,126,465[2]
 • 19612,234,543[2]
Density
 • 18014.5/acre
 • 188116.1/acre
 • 19117.6/acre
 • 196115/acre
History
 • OriginMiddle Saxons
 • CreatedIn antiquity
 • Succeeded by1889: to County of London
1965: Greater London and
small parts to Surrey and Hertfordshire
StatusCeremonial county (until 1965)
Administrative county (1889–1965)
Chapman codeMDX
GovernmentMiddlesex County Council (1889–1965)
 • HQsee text

Banner of arms of Middlesex County Council
Subdivisions
 • Typehundreds (ancient)

In the interwar years urban London further expanded, with the expansion of public transport,[7] and the setting up of new industries outside inner London.

After a Royal Commission on Local Government in Greater London, Middlesex was absorbed by an enlarged Greater London in 1965. Despite its disappearance as an administrative county, Middlesex is still used as an area name. It was kept as a postal county; it is an optional component of postal addresses.[8] It is still regarded by many as a meaningful area, with its own teams in County cricket, rugby and other sports and pastimes.

References change

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Table of population, 1801-1901". A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 22. 1911. Archived from the original on 2011-05-14. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Vision of Britain - Middlesex population (area and density). Retrieved on 2008-02-20.
  3. Vision of Britain - 1831 Census population. Retrieved on 2008-02-20.
  4. The Proceedings of the Old Bailey - Rural Middlesex Archived 2007-10-26 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 20 February 2008.
  5. Saint, A., Politics and the people of London: the London County Council (1889-1965), (1989)
  6. Barlow, I., Metropolitan Government, (1991)
  7. Wolmar, C., The Subterranean Railway, (2004)
  8. Royal Mail 2004, p. 9