Cornwall

Map of the Cornwall Area

Cornwall is a county in the South West of England and is located on the peninsula west of the River Tamar. The county is 1376 square miles in area and includes the Isles of Scilly which are 28 miles offshore. The population density of the county it relatively low at 373 people per square mile with a total of 513,528 (source: Cornwall county council) across the entire area.

Cornwall is famed for its extensive and varied coastline, wild moors and mild weather. It also has a world heritage site and much Stone Age and industrial archaeology (including the historic mining sites). This means that tourism forms a large portion of the county's economy (over 24% (source: Cornwall Council tourism stats)) however regardless of this it is one of the poorest districts in the UK with 62% of the average wage for England (source: Peter Kingston, 2005. "Closed for Business". The Guardian, Tuesday May 10, 2005.) and the lowest contribution to the overall national economy per capita.

Cornwall is considered to be one of the six Celtic Nations (source: Philip Payton (1996). Cornwall. Fowey: Alexander Associates) and the modern human history of the county starts with the reoccupation of Britain subsequent to the last ice age. Post Roman rule of the county were independent Celtic chieftains and the predominant language of the area was Celtic.

The impressive coastline of the county is formed by the location of Cornwall on the tip of the south west peninsula and its consequent exposure to the prevail winds from the Atlantic Ocean. The north coast in particular is wild and encircled with erratic cliffs. The south of the coastline is stretched with golden sand beaches which are essential to the county's tourist industry.

Cornwall's only city is Truro which is the home of the county council, its largest port is Falmouth and Newquay is noted for its beaches and is a popular destination for surfing holidays.

Although modern Cornwall relies heavily on the tourist industry tin mining was historically the main activity for the economy and it only declined in the mid-19th century. Other industries include fishing and agriculture, although these too have been in decline over the last few decades. D. H. Lawrence and Virginia Woolf both lived in Cornwall and the scenery of the county inspired much of their literature. Ben Nicholson, Barbara Hepworth and Naum Gabo are among the notable artists who spent time in Cornwall and drew stimulation from its landscape. The Nobel Prize winner William Golding was born in Cornwall in St Columb Minor and Dephnew de Muarier set many of her novels there.