Non-metropolitan county

Non-metropolitan county
  • Also known as:
  • Shire county
Non-metropolitan counties
CategoryCounties
LocationEngland
Found inRegions
Combined authority areas
Created byLocal Government Act 1972
Created
  • 1 April 1974
Number78 (as of 1 April 2023)
Possible types
  •   Two-tier (21)
  •   Single-tier unitary authority (56)[a]
  •   Royal county of 6 single-tier unitary authorities (1)
Possible status
Populations300,000–1.4 million
Subdivisions

A non-metropolitan county, or colloquially, shire county, is a subdivision of England used for local government.[1]

The non-metropolitan counties were originally created in 1974 as part of a reform of local government in England and Wales, and were the top tier of a two-tier system of counties and districts. 21 non-metropolitan counties still use a two-tier system; 56 are unitary authorities, in which the functions of a county and district council have been combined in a single body. Berkshire has a unique structure.

Non-metropolitan counties cover the majority of England with the exception of Greater London, the Isles of Scilly, and the six metropolitan counties: Greater Manchester, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear, West Midlands and West Yorkshire.

The non-metropolitan counties are all part of ceremonial counties. Some ceremonial counties, such as Norfolk, contain a single non-metropolitan county, but many contain more than one and it is also common for ceremonial counties and non-metropolitan counties to share a name. Lancashire, for example, contains the non-metropolitan counties of Lancashire, Blackpool, and Blackburn with Darwen.


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  1. ^ "A Beginners Guide to UK Geography (2023)". Open Geography Portal. Office for National Statistics. 24 August 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023. The 25 non-metropolitan (shire) counties form the upper tier of the two-tier local government structure found in many parts of England. The lower tier of the structure is the non-metropolitan districts.

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