Concept

Wiltshire

Summary
Wiltshire (ˈwɪlt.ʃər,_-ʃɪər; abbreviated Wilts) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It borders Gloucestershire to the north, Oxfordshire and Berkshire to the east, Hampshire to the south-east, Dorset to the south, and Somerset to the west. The largest settlement is Swindon. The county has an area of and a population of 720,060. The county is mostly rural, and the centre and south-west are sparsely populated. After Swindon (183,638) the largest settlements are the city of Salisbury (41,820) and the towns of Chippenham (37,548) and Trowbridge (37,169). For administrative purposes the county is governed by two unitary authorities, Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council. Undulating chalk downlands characterise much of the county; the North Wessex Downs in the east, Salisbury Plain in the centre, and Cranbourne Chase in the south. The north-west is part of the Cotswolds, a limestone area. The county's major rivers are both called the Avon. The northern Avon enters the county in the north-west and flows in a southwesterly direction before leaving it near Bradford-on-Avon. The southern Avon rises on Salisbury Plain and flows through Salisbury and then into Hampshire. Salisbury Plain is noted for the Stonehenge and Avebury stone circles (which together are a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and other ancient landmarks. Much of the plain is a training area for the British Army. The city of Salisbury is notable for its medieval cathedral. Large country houses open to the public include Longleat (where there is also a safari park) and the National Trust's Stourhead. The county, in the 9th century written as Wiltunscir, later Wiltonshire, is named after the former county town of Wilton. History of Wiltshire Wiltshire is notable for its pre-Roman archaeology. The Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age people that occupied southern Britain built settlements on the hills and downland that cover Wiltshire. Stonehenge and Avebury are perhaps the most famous Neolithic sites in the UK.
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