Hertfordshire

covers an area of 631 square miles and has a population of around 955,000. It is situated in east central England and is bordered by Cambridgeshire, Essex, Middlesex, Buckinghamshire, and Bedfordshire. The county seat is Hertford.

Industry

Hertfordshire is a mainly agricultural county, producing arable and diary produce. There are many different industries, including brick making around the clay pits, printing, brewing, papermaking, and engineering.

Geography

The main rivers that drain the county are the Lea, the Colne, and the Ivel. The countryside is mainly flat but there is an extension of the Chiltern Hills in the northwest. Geologically the greater part of Herts consists, of Lower, Middle, and Upper Chalk with London Clay in the South. Watford, Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage, and St. Albans are important urban centres.

History

Archaeological remains date back to the early Stone Age. Roman occupation left many sites and this period ended in the fifth century with the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons who later built towns such as Hertford as fortresses in the struggle against the Danes. Proximity to London made the county a popular retreat for the nobility, whose grand homes entertained visiting royalty. During the industrial revolution the county saw a spectacular growth of population.