 HistoryThe rural county of Shropshire or Salop as it is often called, is situated in the West Midlands of England alongside the Welsh border. The county's name comes from the old English word 'Scrobbesbyrigscir' meaning Shrewsburyshire. The area was originally under the rule of the ancient kings of Powys in Wales, but in 756 AD the region was seized from the Welsh by Offa who built a series of ditches and earthworks know as Watt's Dyke and the better known Offa's Dykeas a fortification against retaliatory invasion from across the border. The area under Offa's rule subsequently became part of the kingdom of Mercia. The following centuries however witnessed invasions from another quarter, The County as we now know it was actually established in the late 10th century when Mercia was divided into individual shires. The first mention of its name occurs in the Anglo-Saxon chronicles in 1006 A.D. Following the successful invasion of the Normans, the new King William settled the county on one of his favoured supporters, who ensured that the land was developed to provide the optimum amount of income by agriculture and further fortified the county with strong castles at Ludlow and Shrewsbury. The county's fertile land ensured that it prospered and it became a major wool producing area as well as establishing a strong reputation for the quality of the cloth manufactured from the fleeces. The county is fortunate in that it is rich in minerals such as coal, iron, lead and copper. It is possibly for this reason in the 18th century that the county was the site of the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution and mills and foundries quickly sprang up across the north of the county changing the face of the land as well as the fortunes of the people. GeographyShropshire has an area of about 1351 acres. Shrewsbury is its county town and the county has an estimated population of around 290,000. It borders the counties of Cheshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, and the Wales to its west. The River Severn has been of enormous importance in the development of the region, as it's navigability helped to establish the thriving trading industry that existed around Shrewsbury and later played a significant part in the success of the Industrial Revolution, leading to the construction of important canal networks. Today, the north of the county is still the more industrialised, while the south maintains a relatively unspoiled character with the town of Church Stretton being known as 'Little Switzerland' because of the almost Alpine nature of its surrounding countryside. The area to the South West of the county near to Welsh boarder is known as Clun and is an area of untamed woodland and moorland. IndustryThe mining industry in the county has now long gone, although a certain amount of excavating for aggregates is still carried on to the North of the region. The county has no cities and what manufacturing industry is left, is carried on around the Telford area. Agriculture is still very important in the area, and the county is probably the most farmed shire in England. The county relies heavily on the thriving tourist industry for its prosperity. Heritage museums at Ironbridge and the canal networks are a tremendous draw to visitors. The countryside around the centre west of the county is also popular because of its beauty and wildness and of course its association with the poet A.E. Houseman who's 'Shropshire Lad' and other Shropshire centred works draw people from all over the globe. | 
