Midlands

Map of the Midlands Area

The West Midlands is located in western central England and is a metropolitan county. It has a population of 2591300 (source: link) and a density of 7470 people per square mile. The county was formed as a result of the Local Government Act 1974 and consists of seven metropolitan boroughs including the City of Coventry, the City of Birmingham, the City of Wolverhampton, Sanwell, Dudley, Solihull and Walsall. The county is bordered by Warwickshire in the east, Staffordshire in the north and Worcestershire in the couth. It is a landlocked county that covers and area of 348 square miles.

The settlements of West Midlands span much further back in the history then its modern formation in 1974. Coventry was one of the most important cities in the UK during the Middle Ages and the region has long been an important centre for industry and commerce. Birmingham is historically famed for the manufacture of small arms and Wolverhampton was a centre for lock and brass manufacture. During the Industrial Revolution the region's urbanisation grew rapidly and was a large conurbation by the early 20th century.

The West Midlands County is among the most heavily urbanised region in England (source: Metropolitan Counties and Districts, Beginners' Guide to UK Geography, Office for National Statistics, September 17, 2004. URL accessed March 10, 2007.). The conurbation of Wolverhampton, the Black Country, Birmingham and Solihull is the most densely populated in England outside of London with a population of almost 2.27 million (source: link). The total population of the county is at about 2600100 with a density of 7470 people per square mile (source: link).

The highest point in the West Midlands is in Turners Hill at 269 metres above sea level and the hill is also a Site of Special Specific Interest (source: "Coventry City Guide". UK Cities. Retrieved on 2008-05-17.). Other then Turners Hill there is 22 Sites of Specific Interest in the county including Sutton Park which is one of the largest urban parks in Europe (source: Written answer to the House of Commons from the Head of the Royal Parks Service, 7 Feb 2002). There are many rivers that run through the county including the river Tame. The river basin is the most urbanised in England with almost 42% of it being urbanised (source: John S. Rowan; R. W. Duck, A. Werritty (2006). Sediment Dynamics and the Hydromorphology of Fluvial Systems. IAHS, 98. ISBN 1901502686.). Other rivers that run through the county are the river Sowe and Sherbourne, both of which flow through Coventry.