Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire, often called "Bucks," is a county in South East England. It is next to Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and Oxfordshire, with Greater London nearby to the southeast. The biggest city is Milton Keynes.

The county covers 1,874 km² and has about 884,656 people. Other important towns are Aylesbury, High Wycombe, and Chesham. Buckinghamshire is one of the home counties, which means it is close to London.

The Chiltern Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, are in the south of the county. The hills are where the River Ouzel starts. This river flows through the Vale of Aylesbury and Milton Keynes. The Thames River also marks part of the county’s southern edge.

Buckinghamshire has many famous places, such as Pinewood Film Studios, Dorney rowing lake, and part of the Silverstone race track. Many large companies have offices in Milton Keynes. The area is mostly known for its services and farming, not heavy industry.

History

Main article: History of Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire's name comes from old times. It means "The district of Bucca's home." This refers to the town of Buckingham, named after a landowner named Bucca. The county has existed since the time of the kingdom of Mercia.

Later, Buckinghamshire became important in politics. In the 16th century, King Henry VIII got involved in local matters. In the 17th century, the English Civil War began there. In the 19th century, many people moved to towns for work. This change made land cheaper, and the county became a favorite place for wealthy people living near London. Today, many people from London live in Buckinghamshire. The growth of London and railways helped towns like Aylesbury, Amersham, and High Wycombe grow, while Milton Keynes became an important place for county affairs.

Geography

Buckinghamshire has two main areas. In the south, the River Thames flows gently up to the Chiltern Hills, then to steeper slopes that lead to the Vale of Aylesbury and the City of Milton Keynes. This area is mostly flat and forms the southern part where the River Great Ouse begins.

The county has parts of two long rivers in England. The Thames marks the southern edge with Berkshire, even though it has moved past places like Eton and Slough. The Great Ouse starts just outside Buckinghamshire in Northamptonshire and flows through Buckingham, Milton Keynes, and Olney.

The main branch of the Grand Union Canal runs through the county, with smaller parts reaching Slough and Aylesbury, as well as unused sections to Wendover and Buckingham. In Milton Keynes, the canal is part of the city's design.

The southern part of Buckinghamshire is shaped by the Chiltern Hills. The two highest points are Haddington Hill in Wendover Woods and Coombe Hill near Wendover.

People have taken materials like chalk, clay, gravel, and sand from the river valleys for building. Some old quarries that are now filled with water have become beautiful nature reserves.

Demography

Buckinghamshire has people from many different backgrounds, especially in its larger towns. In the past, families from Wales lived in the north part of the county. Later, many people from London moved to Milton Keynes. Some towns, like Aylesbury and Chesham, have many people of Asian backgrounds. High Wycombe has many different groups, including people of Asian and Afro-Caribbean heritage. During the Second World War, people from Poland, the Czech Republic, and Albania also settled in Buckinghamshire, and some of their descendants still live there today.

Politics

See also: List of Parliamentary constituencies in Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire has a Lord Lieutenant and a High Sheriff.

Buckinghamshire has two main local governments: Buckinghamshire Council and Milton Keynes City Council.

The old coat of arms for Buckinghamshire shows a white chained swan. The design also includes a gold band with Whiteleaf Cross, a beech tree, and animals on either side.

Main articles: Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, and Ceremonial counties of England

Economy

Buckinghamshire has a modern economy focused on services. It is part of the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire NUTS-2 region. The southern part of the county is a wealthy area where many people live and travel to work in London. The county has rich farmland and many large historic homes.

Important industries in Buckinghamshire include making furniture, especially in High Wycombe, creating medicines, and processing food. Pinewood Studios in Iver Heath is a famous place where many films and TV shows are made.

Places of interest

Main article: Places of interest in Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire has lovely countryside and natural spaces, like the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Stowe Landscaped Gardens near Buckingham, and the River Thames. The Ridgeway Path is a long walking trail that passes through the county. You can visit many historic houses, some open to the public by the National Trust, such as Waddesdon Manor, West Wycombe Park, and Cliveden. Others, like the Prime Minister's country home Chequers, are private homes.

Bletchley Park in Milton Keynes was important during World War II for solving secret codes. It was home to Colossus, one of the first electronic digital computers. Nearby is the National Museum of Computing. The Chiltern Open Air Museum near Chalfont St Giles shows historic buildings saved from being torn down. The town of Olney has a museum about the poet William Cowper and John Newton, who helped end the slave trade and wrote the hymn Amazing Grace.

Sports fans can visit part of the Silverstone Circuit, Adams Park Stadium, Stadium MK, and Dorney Lake, which hosted rowing events in the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Media

Buckinghamshire is shown on television by three different regions. The western part gets BBC South and ITV Meridian. The north and east watch BBC East and ITV Anglia. The southern area sees BBC London and ITV London.

Local radio stations include BBC Three Counties Radio, BBC Radio Berkshire for Marlow, Heart South, Heart East, Greatest Hits Radio Bucks, Beds and Herts, and Wycombe Sound for High Wycombe.

Transport

Main article: Transport in Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire has many roads and railways to help people travel. Four main motorways serve the area. The M1 motorway connects Milton Keynes. The M25 motorway passes through with one junction. The M4 motorway runs along the southern edge. The M40 motorway goes through towns like High Wycombe and Beaconsfield.

The county has six important A roads, such as the A4, A40, A41, A421, A5, and A509. Other smaller roads like A404, A413, A418, A428, A4010, and A4146 serve local villages and towns.

Buckinghamshire is well connected by trains, especially for travel to and from London. Trains run from places like Milton Keynes Central to big cities such as London, Birmingham, and further north. Four main railway lines go through the county, including the West Coast Main Line, the London–Aylesbury line, the Chiltern Main Line, and the Great Western Main Line.

Other smaller lines, like the Princes Risborough to Aylesbury Line and the Marlow Branch Line, help people get around. New train projects, such as the Elizabeth line and plans for High Speed 2, will bring more connections in the future.

Settlements

For a full list of towns, villages, and small settlements called hamlets in Buckinghamshire, see List of places in Buckinghamshire. Over time, the borders of Buckinghamshire have changed.

Education

Further information: List of schools in Buckinghamshire and List of schools in Milton Keynes

In the 1850s, a woman named Harriet Anne Smart started a school to help people learn to read. Today, schools in Buckinghamshire are run by two groups: Buckinghamshire Council and Milton Keynes City Council.

Buckinghamshire has a special way to decide which school students go to after primary school, using a test. Some students go to grammar schools, and others go to different schools. Milton Keynes uses a system where all students go to the same kinds of schools. The area also has many universities and special colleges, like the University of Buckingham and the Open University.

Notable people

Buckinghamshire has been the home or resting place of many famous people. Long ago, St Osyth was born in Quarrendon and buried in Aylesbury, while Saint Rumbold was buried in Buckingham. In the past, important people like Roger of Wendover and Anne Boleyn owned property in Buckingham.

Later, the county was home to famous writers. John Milton lived in Chalfont St Giles, and Roald Dahl lived in Great Missenden. During World War II, many leaders from Europe found safety in Buckinghamshire because it is close to London.

The area has also been home to many politicians, artists, and sports figures, adding to its rich history and culture.