Shropshire

Shropshire, alternatively known as Salop or abbreviated Shrops, is a county in the West Midlands region of England. It borders Wales to the west. Shropshire is one of England's most rural and sparsely populated counties, with the population of the non-metropolitan/shire county 289,100 - making it the least populated two-tier governed area in the United Kingdom. The borough of Telford and Wrekin, included in Shropshire for ceremonial purposes, has been a unitary authority since 1998.

The county town is Shrewsbury, which is culturally and historically the most important town in the area, although the new town of Telford, which was constructed around a number of older towns, is today the most populous. Other notable towns are Oswestry, Bridgnorth and Ludlow. The Ironbridge Gorge area has become known as the birthplace of industry. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which covers Ironbridge, Coalbrookdale and a part of Madeley. There are additionally other notable historic industrial sites located around the county such as Broseley, Snailbeach and Highley as well as the Shropshire Union Canal.

The Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty covers about a quarter of the county, mainly in the south. The Wrekin is one of the most famous natural landmarks in the county, though the highest hills are the Clee Hills, Stiperstones and the Long Mynd. Wenlock Edge is another significant geographical and geological landmark, and the River Severn, Great Britain's longest river, runs through the county. Shropshire is landlocked, and with an area of 1,346 km2, is England's largest inland county.