Dorset
**Geography and Landmarks**:
– Dorset is a ceremonial county in South West England with an area of 2,653km² and a population of 772,268.
– The county’s varied landscape includes chalk downs, limestone ridges, and clay valleys.
– Dorset’s coastline is part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, featuring landmarks like Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door, and Chesil Beach.
– Notable geological features include the Isle of Portland, Cranbourne Chase, and Lewesdon Hill.
– The county has a rich history dating back to Mesolithic hunters, Neolithic settlers, and Roman and Saxon influences.
**History and Modern History**:
– Dorset’s history includes the establishment of hill forts by the Durotriges tribe in the Iron Age and Roman occupation in AD43.
– The county saw events like the Dissolution of the monasteries, English Civil War, and the Clubmen uprising in 1645.
– Corfe Castle, a significant landmark, fell to Parliamentarians in 1646.
– The Tolpuddle Martyrs’ protest in 1834 marked the birth of the modern trade union movement.
– Dorset’s economic development, from farming to tourism, has shaped its modern landscape.
**Physical Geography and Climate**:
– Dorset’s diverse geology includes chalk, clay, sand, and gravels, with Portland and Purbeck stone as important building materials.
– The county features limestone ridges, chalk hills, vales, and flood plains.
– Dorset’s climate is characterized by warm summers and mild winters, with higher winter temperatures than the rest of the UK.
– The county receives 1,541 to 1,885 hours of sunshine annually and has an average annual temperature range of 9.8 to 12°C.
– The coastal area, part of the Jurassic Coast, offers unique landforms and high conservation value.
**Population and Economy**:
– Dorset had a population of 744,041 in the 2011 Census, with a high proportion of older residents and a lower proportion of young people.
– The county’s economy, largely driven by farming historically, has shifted towards tourism as a significant revenue-earning sector.
– Major employers in Dorset include BAE Systems, Sunseeker International, and J.P. Morgan.
– Dorset’s gross value added (GVA) in 2003 was £4,673 million, with the tertiary sector contributing 75.53%.
– Tourism, with around 37,500 employees, plays a crucial role in Dorset’s economic development.
**Politics and Local Government**:
– Dorset is divided into eight Parliamentary constituencies, all traditionally held by the Conservative Party.
– The county has two unitary authorities: Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole (BCP) Council, and Dorset Council, established in 2019 through a merger.
– BCP Council governs the major conurbation, while Dorset Council serves rural areas.
– Both authorities have elections every four years, with a total of 158 councillors across 85 wards.
– The political landscape and local governance structures shape decision-making and representation in Dorset.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorset