Cleveland (county)

Cleveland was a non-metropolitan county in North East England that existed between 1974 and 1996. It was named after Cleveland, a historical region of Yorkshire.

History:

The county was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, and comprised parts of the North Riding of Yorkshire and County Durham. Its creation was controversial at the time, particularly amongst residents who felt a strong affiliation to the traditional county boundaries of Yorkshire.

Cleveland consisted of four districts: Hartlepool, Langbaurgh, Middlesbrough, and Stockton-on-Tees. The administrative headquarters were located in Middlesbrough.

Geography:

The county covered a diverse geographic area, including industrial Teesside, coastal areas, and parts of the North York Moors National Park. The River Tees was a major geographical feature, forming a significant part of its northern boundary.

Abolition:

Cleveland was abolished on 1 April 1996 as part of a further local government reorganization. The four districts became unitary authorities: Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland (formerly Langbaurgh), and Stockton-on-Tees. Although the county no longer exists as an administrative unit, the name 'Cleveland' is still used to describe the general area.