It was created as a metropolitan county in 1974 from parts of the former East Riding and West Riding[?] of Yorkshire, during the local government reorganisation of that year.
The principal settlements of South Yorkshire are:
- Sheffield, an industrial city - the only city in the county;
- Doncaster, a large town, bigger than most cities in England, and traditionally a central hub of the nation's rail network;
- Rotherham, an industrial town that lies between Sheffield and Doncaster, on the River Don;
- Barnsley[?], a market town on the river Dearne[?], and the administrative centre of the county.
In 1986, the metropolitan counties were abolished, with administrative control devolving to the four principal settlements. These metropolitan districts[?] are now part of the larger region of Yorkshire and the Humber.
But because Yorkshire as a whole covers some 15,000 sq km, it is naturally desirable to break the region up into more managable localities. While it is true that most inhabitants of the area who were around before 1974 will tend to be nostalgic for the old Ridings system, there is also a sense of independence in the region, if only by virtue of the shared industries and the shared valley. That said, this independence is perhaps confined to the Don Valley area, at the expense of Barnsley (which sits more at ease with its former West Riding neighbours to the north).
As things stand there are no intermediate divisions of Yorkshire on an official level, even from the perspective of the Post Office. In this respect, South Yorkshire only exists by virtue of common usage, and old road signs. However, South Yorkshire still exists as a "ceremonial" county - there is a Lord Lieutenant of South Yorkshire and also a High Sheriff. In addition there are some governmental functions that are run at the South Yorkshire level despite the abolition of the county council, such as police, public transport, and fire & rescue.
Towns and villages
- Adwick le Street[?]
- Barnsley[?], Bentley, South Yorkshire[?]
- Conisbrough, Cudworth[?]
- Dalton[?], Dodworth[?], Doncaster
- Maltby[?], Mexborough[?]
- New Rossington[?]
- Penistone[?]
- Rawmarsh[?]
- Sheffield, Stocksbridge[?], Swinton[?]
- Worsborough[?]
Places of Interest
- Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet[?], Sheffield
- Chapel of Our Lady of Rotherham Bridge[?] ("Chapel on the Bridge"), Rotherham
- Clifton Park Museum[?], Rotherham
- Conisbrough Castle
- Cusworth Hall[?]
- Magna
- Roche Abbey
- Rother Valley Country Park[?]
- Howden Moors[?]
- St Lawrence Church, Adwick le Street[?]
- Wentworth Woodhouse
- Weston Park Museum[?] & Mappin Art Gallery, Sheffield