Yorkshire and the Humber is one of the nine official regions of England. It is used for statistics, public administration, funding, planning and regional comparison.
The region covers most of historic Yorkshire and the northern Lincolnshire authorities of North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire. Major cities and towns include Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford, Hull, York, Huddersfield, Wakefield and Doncaster.
Geography
Yorkshire and the Humber includes large urban areas, former industrial towns, coastline, national parks, agricultural land and upland landscapes.
Important landscapes include the Yorkshire Dales, the North York Moors, the Yorkshire Wolds, the Humber estuary and parts of the Pennines. The Humber Bridge links the north and south banks of the Humber.
Population
The Office for National Statistics identifies Yorkshire and the Humber as region E12000003. ONS local statistics reported a 2024 population of 5,672,962 and a median age of 40.
The region's population is concentrated in West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and the Humber area, with large rural areas in North Yorkshire and East Yorkshire.
Administrative Areas
The region includes:
- West Yorkshire.
- South Yorkshire.
- North Yorkshire.
- East Riding of Yorkshire.
- Hull.
- York.
- North Lincolnshire.
- North East Lincolnshire.
Local government is not run by a single regional council. Instead, services are provided through local authorities, combined authorities and other public bodies.
Economy
The region has an industrial history linked to textiles, coal, steel, engineering, ports, food production and railways. Leeds and Bradford grew through wool and finance. Sheffield became known for steel and cutlery. Hull developed as a port and fishing city.
The modern economy is broader, with finance, education, health, manufacturing, logistics, digital work, tourism, energy and public services all playing roles.
Culture
Yorkshire has a strong regional identity, visible in dialect, sport, food, literature and local traditions. Yorkshire pudding, cricket, rugby league, brass bands and county identity are strongly associated with the area.
The region is linked with writers and performers including the Bronte family, Ted Hughes, Alan Bennett, Judi Dench and Patrick Stewart.
Transport
The region is served by the M1, M62, A1(M), East Coast Main Line, Midland Main Line connections, TransPennine routes and regional rail networks. Leeds Bradford Airport and Humberside Airport provide air links, while Hull remains an important port.
Tourism
Tourism is built around historic cities, countryside, coast and culture. Notable sites include York Minster, Fountains Abbey, the Yorkshire Dales, the North York Moors, Scarborough, Whitby, Castle Howard, the Hepworth Wakefield and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
See Also
References
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