Lancashire

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Lancashire County in nw England, bordered by Cumbria (n), North and West Yorkshire (e), Greater Manchester and Merseyside (s), and the Irish Sea (w); the county town is Preston. Other major towns include Lancaster (the administrative centre) and Blackburn. Occupied in Roman times, it later formed part of an Anglo-Saxon kingdom. From the 16th century, textile manufacturing became important, and by the 19th century, cotton goods were vital to Lancashire's economy. In the 20th century, cotton and its other traditional industry, coal, sharply declined. It is drained by the rivers Lune and Ribble. Lowland regions are predominantly agricultural. Major attractions include the seaside resort of Blackpool and the Pennines. Area: 3064sq km (1183sq mi). Pop. (1994) 1,424,000.

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