North Yorkshire is England’s largest county, and many of the people who live or visit the area will tell you it is one of the most picturesque and a terrific place to spend any amount of time.
From the Yorkshire Dales in the west, past the city of York – which is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations – through the North York Moors to the magnificent Yorkshire Coast towns of Scarborough and Whitby, North Yorkshire truly has the lot for visitors, from historic sights to impressive natural wonders.
Table of Contents
Regions in North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire Cities and Large Towns
- York
- Northallerton
- Harrogate
- Middlesbrough
- Scarborough
- Ripon
- Whitby
- Northallerton
- Selby
- Bedale
- Leyburn
About North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is the largest non-metropolitan county and lieutenancy area in England, covering an area of 3,341 square miles.
Around 40% of the county is covered by national parks, including most of the Yorkshire Dales (the Yorkshire Dales National Park) and the North York Moors (the North York Moors National Park).
It is one of four counties in England to jointly comprise Yorkshire; the three other counties are the East Riding of Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.
From 1974 (via Local Government Act 1972) to 1996, North Yorkshire was entirely within the Yorkshire and the Humber region.
Since 1996, parts of the North East England region joined the county non-administratively. York also moved into being a non-administrative part of the county in 1996.
The Middlesbrough built-up area (population: 174,700) is the most populous settlement while the York built-up area is second with a population of 152,841, although neither form part of the administrative county, and are not governed by North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC).
Mid-2016 estimates by the ONS recorded a 602,300 population in the NYCC area.
The most populous settlement in the administrative county (and third in the overall ceremonial county) is Harrogate (Population: 75,070); followed by Scarborough (Population: 61,749).
Northallerton, the administrative county town, was recorded with a 16,832 population.
While York is not technically in the administrative region, as it is a unitary authority in its own right, it is the historic capital of Yorkshire, and sits entirely within North Yorkshire geographically.
Other large settlements in the county are Redcar, Thornaby-on-Tees and Ingleby Barwick.
North Yorkshire Pictures
North Yorkshire on the Map
While York falls within North Yorkshire historically, it is an autonomous region for an administrative perspective, hence the red line skirts around York in the map, below.
Just look at the size of the region, though… a huge chunk of resplendent North country.
North Yorkshire FAQ’s
Which areas are in North Yorkshire?
North Yorkshire, administrative and geographic county in northern England, part of the historic county of Yorkshire. The administrative county of North Yorkshire comprises seven districts: Craven, Hambleton, Richmondshire, Ryedale, Selby, and the boroughs of Harrogate and Scarborough.
What is the main city in North Yorkshire?
Offices for the county are in County Hall, Northallerton. Middlesbrough (at 174,700) is the most populous settlement while York (Yorkshire’s historic county town) is second with 152,841, both having unitary authorities named after them. The county’s namesake council area has the third the most populous settlement, Harrogate, at 75,070 and fourth, Scarborough, at 61,749. Some other settlements in the county are Redcar (namesake of a council area), Ripon (city), Northallerton (county town), Knaresborough, Selby and Skipton.
Is North Yorkshire a city in UK?
North Yorkshire is the largest ceremonial county (lieutenancy area) in England, covering an area of 9,020 square kilometres (3,480 sq mi). Around 40% of the county is covered by national parks, including most of the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors.
What is North Yorkshire famous for?
North Yorkshire contains the major part of two national parks, three designated areas of outstanding natural beauty and numerous other sites of special scientific interest. It also offers vibrant market towns, a world heritage site at Fountains Abbey and more than 12,000 listed buildings.