Staffordshire facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Staffordshire
Ceremonial county
The Sherbrook Valley in Cannock Chase; a bottle kiln in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent; and Lichfield Cathedral
Staffordshire within England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Constituent country	England
Region	West Midlands
Established	Ancient
Time zone	UTC±00:00 (Greenwich Mean Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+01:00 (British Summer Time)
Members of Parliament	List of MPs
Police	Staffordshire Police
Ceremonial county Lord Lieutenant Ian Dudson High Sheriff Charles Jewitt of Admaston (2020-21) Area 2,713 km2 (1,047 sq mi)  • Ranked 18th of 48 Population (2005 est.) 1,055,000  • Ranked 14th of 48 Density 388/km2 (1,000/sq mi) Ethnicity 97.0% White 1.7% S.Asian 1.3% Other Non-metropolitan county County council Staffordshire County Council Executive Labour Admin HQ Stafford Area 2,620 km2 (1,010 sq mi)  • Ranked of 26 Population 816,700  • Ranked 8th of 26 Density 311/km2 (810/sq mi) ISO 3166-2 GB-STS ONS code 41 GSS code E10000028 ITL UKG24 Districts Districts of Staffordshire   Unitary   County council area Districts Stoke-on-Trent Newcastle-under-Lyme Staffordshire Moorlands Stafford East Staffordshire South Staffordshire Cannock Chase Lichfield Tamworth

Staffordshire (often called Staffs.) is a county in the West Midlands of England. It is a "landlocked" county, meaning it has no coast. Staffordshire shares borders with several other counties. These include Cheshire to the north-west and Derbyshire and Leicestershire to the east. To the south-east, it borders Warwickshire, and to the south, it borders the West Midlands county and Worcestershire. Finally, it borders Shropshire to the west.

The largest city in Staffordshire is Stoke-on-Trent. The main town, which is the county town, is Stafford. The county covers about 2,713 square kilometers and has over 1.1 million people. Besides Stoke-on-Trent, other large towns include Tamworth, Newcastle-under-Lyme, and Burton upon Trent.

Staffordshire has varied landscapes. The northern and southern parts are hilly. The northern area includes part of the Peak District National Park. In the south, you'll find Cannock Chase, a beautiful natural area. The River Trent flows through most of the county.

This area has a long history. People lived here in the Iron Age and during Roman times. The Angles settled here in the 6th century. Staffordshire became a county in the early 10th century, with Stafford as its capital. During the Industrial Revolution, the county grew quickly. It became famous for its pottery, which is still made in Stoke-on-Trent today.

History of Staffordshire

An old map of Stafford from 1577

The flag of the historic county of Staffordshire

Staffordshire has a rich history. Long ago, it was divided into five main areas called "hundreds." These were Cuttlestone, Offlow, Pirehill, Seisdon, and Totmonslow.

The county's borders have changed over time. In 1889, a new administrative county was created. Some towns like Wolverhampton and Walsall became separate areas. Other towns, like Tamworth and Burton upon Trent, became fully part of Staffordshire.

In 1553, Queen Mary made Lichfield a special "county corporate." This meant it was governed separately until 1888. Over the years, some parts of Staffordshire moved to other counties. For example, Handsworth and Perry Barr became part of Birmingham in Warwickshire.

A big change happened in 1974. Many towns in the south of Staffordshire, like Walsall and Wolverhampton, became part of the new West Midlands county. Stoke-on-Trent also became a separate authority in 1997.

In 2009, a huge discovery was made near Lichfield. The Staffordshire Hoard is the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold ever found in Britain. These amazing items are from the 7th or 8th centuries, from the time of the Kingdom of Mercia.

Learning and Universities

Staffordshire has many schools for young people. Most secondary schools teach students from ages 11 to 16 or 18. There are also eight independent schools.

The county is home to two universities. Keele University is located west of Newcastle-under-Lyme. Staffordshire University has campuses in Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, and other locations.

Sports in Staffordshire

Staffordshire is home to three professional football clubs. These are Stoke City and Port Vale, both from Stoke-on-Trent. The third club is Burton Albion, based in Burton upon Trent.

Stoke City is one of the oldest football clubs in the world, started in 1863. They were one of the first teams in the Football League in 1888. A famous player, Stanley Matthews, played for them. They won a major trophy, the League Cup, in 1972. After many years, they returned to the top league, the Premier League, in 2008.

Port Vale was formed in 1876. They joined the Football League in 1892. They moved to their current stadium, Vale Park, in 1950. They have had some great moments, like beating top teams in the FA Cup.

Other well-known football clubs from the historic Staffordshire area include West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

In cricket, Staffordshire has a successful team called Staffordshire County Cricket Club. They have won the Minor Counties Championship many times. Famous English cricketers like Sydney Barnes and Dominic Cork came from Staffordshire.

Geography and Landscape

Mow Cop Castle on the Staffordshire Moorlands

Staffordshire's landscape is quite varied. In the north and south, you'll find hills. The northern part includes the southern end of the Pennines and a section of the Peak District National Park. Most of these northern hills are in the Staffordshire Moorlands district.

In the south, there's Cannock Chase, a beautiful area of natural beauty. Part of the National Forest is also in the south. The middle parts of the county are flatter and gently rolling.

The county has important coalfields and rich iron ore deposits in the south. The main river is the River Trent. The soil is mostly clay, and farming became very important after machines were introduced.

Staffordshire is home to Flash, which is the highest village in Britain. It stands at about 463 meters (1,519 feet) above sea level. The highest point in the county is Cheeks Hill.

Green Areas and Protected Land

Staffordshire has special "green belt" areas. These are protected lands that stop cities from spreading too much. They surround large urban areas like Stoke-on-Trent and the West Midlands. Every district in Staffordshire has some of this protected green land.

Economy and Businesses

JCB Dieselmax, which holds a speed record for diesel vehicles

Staffordshire is home to many well-known companies. In Burton upon Trent, you'll find major brewing companies like Coors Brewers. This town is also where Marmite is made.

Many famous pottery companies are based in Stoke-on-Trent. These include Michelin Tyres, Royal Doulton, Wedgwood, and Portmeirion Pottery. Steelite International also makes pottery in Middleport.

Bet365, a large online betting company, is one of Stoke-on-Trent's biggest private employers. JCB, a world-famous company that makes construction equipment, is based in Rocester near Uttoxeter.

Marmite is made from yeast left over from brewing beer

Other notable companies include Premier Foods, which makes Mr Kipling cakes in Stoke-on-Trent. Numark Pharmacy is in Tamworth. Volkswagen Group (VAG UK) has a large distribution center there.

The county's economy has grown over the years. Many businesses, from manufacturing to services, contribute to its success.

Areas and Towns

Staffordshire is divided into several administrative areas, each with its own main town and smaller settlements.

Administrative Area		Main Town	Other Towns and Villages
Cannock Chase District		Cannock	Hednesford, Rugeley, Norton Canes
East Staffordshire		Burton upon Trent	Uttoxeter, Barton under Needwood, Branston
Lichfield District		Lichfield	Burntwood, Fazeley, Alrewas
South Staffordshire		Codsall	Brewood, Penkridge, Gailey
Newcastle Borough		Newcastle-under-Lyme	Silverdale, Madeley, Keele
Stafford		Stafford	Haughton, Stone, Eccleshall
Staffordshire Moorlands District		Leek	Alton, Cheadle, Biddulph
City of Stoke-on-Trent (unitary authority)		Stoke on Trent	Hanley, Burslem, Tunstall, Longton
Tamworth District		Tamworth	Wilnecote, Stonydelph, Glascote

Historic Towns Now in West Midlands

Some towns that were once part of Staffordshire are now in the West Midlands county. These include:

Religion in Staffordshire

Staffordshire is home to people of many different faiths. The main religion reported in the 2011 census was Christianity. There are also communities of Muslims, Sikhs, and Hindus.

Churches and Cathedrals

The only cathedral in Staffordshire is Lichfield Cathedral in the city of Lichfield. It is a very old and beautiful building. The Diocese of Lichfield covers most of the county. There are many Church of England churches throughout Staffordshire.

Other Faiths

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham includes Staffordshire. Primitive Methodism was founded in Staffordshire by Hugh Bourne from Stoke-on-Trent. He started outdoor church gatherings.

There is a synagogue in Newcastle-Under-Lyme for the Jewish community. Staffordshire also has several mosques, especially in Stoke-on-Trent and Burton-upon-Trent.

Getting Around Staffordshire (Transport)

Canals

Staffordshire has a large network of canals. These include the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal, Caldon Canal, Coventry Canal, and Trent and Mersey Canal. Canals were very important for moving goods during the Industrial Revolution.

Railways

Stone railway station in Stone

Several railway lines run through Staffordshire. The most important is the West Coast Main Line, which connects London to Scotland. Stafford railway station is a key junction. Stoke-on-Trent railway station is the busiest in the county. It connects to Manchester and Derby.

Roads

Staffordshire has good connections to the national road network. The M6 runs north to south through the county. The M6 Toll, which is a toll motorway, also passes through. Major roads like the A5 and A34 also cross the county.

Airports

There are no major airports with regular flights directly in Staffordshire. The closest large airports are Birmingham, East Midlands, and Manchester. There are smaller airfields for private planes.

Buses

Bus services in Staffordshire are mainly provided by companies like Arriva Midlands and First Potteries. National Express coaches also offer long-distance travel.

Media and News

Newspapers

People in Staffordshire can read several daily newspapers. The Sentinel covers Stoke-on-Trent and nearby areas. The Burton Mail focuses on Burton-upon-Trent. The Express & Star has editions for towns like Tamworth and Lichfield.

Radio Stations

Local BBC radio stations include BBC Radio Stoke and BBC Radio WM. Commercial stations like Hits Radio Staffordshire & Cheshire and Capital Mid-Counties also broadcast here. There are also many community radio stations, such as Moorlands Radio in Leek and Stafford FM in Stafford.

The Broad Eye Windmill in Stafford, home of Windmill Broadcasting

Television

Staffordshire is mainly served by ITV Central and BBC West Midlands television regions. These channels have their studios in Birmingham. The far north of the county sometimes receives signals from ITV Granada and BBC North West.

Famous People from Staffordshire

Places to Visit

Key
	Owned by the National Trust
	Owned by English Heritage
	Owned by the Forestry Commission
	A Country Park
	An Accessible open space
	Museum (free)
	Museum (charges entry fee)
	Heritage railway
	Historic House

Images for kids

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  Stafford Shire Hall

• 

  Boscobel House

• 

  Tamworth Castle

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  Lichfield Cathedral

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  Weston Park

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  Wightwick Manor

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  The Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal

• 

  Map of Staffordshire and its hundreds, by Wenceslas Hollar, c. 1627–1677

See also

In Spanish: Staffordshire para niños