West Midlands
The
West Midlands is an area of central
England. It has several specific meanings.
Main article West Midlands (region)The name 'West Midlands' is used in reference to the western half of the
Midlands as opposed to the
East Midlands. The area has official recognition as one of the
regions of England.
The core area of the West Midlands region consists of the counties of:
*
Herefordshire*
Shropshire*
Staffordshire*
Warwickshire*
West Midlands county*
WorcestershireInformally the West Midlands is sometimes taken as including
Cheshire to the north, and
Gloucestershire to the south. But these do not form part of the official region.
Main article West Midlands (county)Confusingly the name of 'West Midlands' is also used in reference to the
metropolitan county of
West Midlands.
The county covers a much smaller area than the region, and includes the cities of
Birmingham,
Coventry and
Wolverhampton, and also
Solihull and the towns of the
Black Country.
The West Midlands county was created in
1974 by the
Local Government Act 1972. In
1986 its
county council was abolished by the government of
Margaret Thatcher. However the county still exists as a legal entity, and is still used by some organisations such as the
West Midlands Police and
West Midlands Fire Service.
Main article West Midlands conurbationThe West Midlands conurbation, (officially the
West Midlands Urban Area) is the name of the large
conurbation at the heart of the region, containing the cities of
Birmingham and
Wolverhampton,
Solihull and the area known as the
Black Country, including small parts of
Staffordshire,
Warwickshire and
Worcestershire.
*The
West Midlands constituency of the
European Parliament.
