View source for Midlands

{{Short description|Central part of England}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2014}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name = The Midlands
|image_map = [[File:Midlands.png|220px]]<br />The Midlands region shown in England
|mapsize = 
|map_caption = 
|pushpin_map = <!-- the name of a location map as per 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
|pushpin_label_position = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
|pushpin_map_caption =
|pushpin_mapsize =
|subdivision_type = [[Sovereign state]]
|subdivision_name = {{flag|United Kingdom}} 
|subdivision_type1 = {{nowrap|[[Countries of the United Kingdom|Constituent country]]}}
|subdivision_name1 = {{flag|England}}
|parts_type = Principal settlements
|parts_style= coll
|parts = A {{nobold|'Metro' cities}}<br />
B {{nobold|Other 'cities'}}
|p1=<br />
A1. [[West Midlands conurbation|W Midlands urban area]] ([[Birmingham]], [[Wolverhampton|Wolv'n]])
|p2=A2. [[Nottingham Urban Area|Nottingham urban area]]
|p3=A3. [[Leicester urban area]]
|p4=A4. [[Stoke-on-Trent built-up area|Stoke/Trent urban area]]
|p5=A5. [[Coventry and Bedworth urban area|Coventry urban area]]
|p6=<br />
B1. [[Derby]]
|p7=B2. [[Northampton]]
|p8=B3. [[Telford]]
|p9=B4. [[Chesterfield, Derbyshire|Chesterfield]]
|p10=B5. [[Worcester, England|Worcester]]
|p11=B6. [[Lincoln, England|Lincoln]]
|p12=B7. [[Shrewsbury]]
|p13=B8. [[Hereford]]
|p14=B9. [[Stafford]]
|p15=B10. [[Warwick]]
|p16=B11. [[Oakham]]
|established_title= Major cities
|established_date = [[Birmingham]]<br />[[Coventry]]<br />[[Derby]]<br />[[Leicester]] <br />[[Lincoln, England|Lincoln]]<br />[[Nottingham]]<br />[[Stoke-on-Trent|Stoke]]<br />[[Wolverhampton]] <br />[[Worcester, England|Worcester]]
|area_magnitude =
|unit_pref =<!--Enter: Imperial, to display imperial before metric-->uk
|area_footnotes =
|area_total_km2 =28627
|area_land_km2 = <!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on unit conversion-->
|area_water_km2 =
|area_total_sq_mi = 11053
|area_land_sq_mi =
|area_water_sq_mi =
|area_water_percent =
|total_type = Total
|elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref>tags-->
|elevation_m =
|elevation_ft =
|elevation_max_m =
|elevation_max_ft = 2308
|elevation_min_m =
|elevation_min_ft =
|population_as_of = 2021 census
|population_footnotes =
|population_note =
|population_total =10831000
|population_urban =
|population_rural =
|population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym      = Midlander, Mercian
|timezone = [[Greenwich Mean Time]]
|utc_offset = +0
|timezone_DST = [[British Summer Time]]
|utc_offset_DST = +1
|latd= |latm= |lats= |latNS=
|longd= |longm= |longs= |longEW=
|website =
|footnotes =
}}

The '''Midlands''' is the central part of [[England]], to the south of [[Northern England]], to the north of [[southern England]], to the east of [[Wales]], and to the west of the [[North Sea]]. The Midlands comprises the [[ceremonial counties]] of [[Derbyshire]], [[Herefordshire]], [[Leicestershire]], [[Lincolnshire]], [[Northamptonshire]], [[Nottinghamshire]], [[Rutland]], [[Shropshire]], [[Staffordshire]], [[Warwickshire]], [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]] and [[Worcestershire]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Publications catalogue {{!}} British History Online |url=https://archive.british-history.ac.uk/catalogue/midlands |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=archive.british-history.ac.uk |quote=Sources relating to the historic counties of Derbyshire, Hereford, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire."}}</ref> For statistical purposes, the Midlands is divided into two [[Regions of England|statistical regions]]: the [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]] and [[East Midlands]]. These had a combined population of 10.9 million at the [[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 census]],<ref name="ONS mid-year pop est">{{cite web |last=Park |first=Neil |date=21 December 2022 |title=Estimates of the population for the UK, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/populationestimatesforukenglandandwalesscotlandandnorthernireland |access-date=25 August 2023 |website=Office for National Statistics |publisher=}}</ref> and an area of {{convert|28,622|km2|abbr=in}}. The northern part of Lincolnshire is part of the [[Yorkshire and the Humber]] statistical region, and not part of the Midlands.

The modern region also corresponds broadly to the early-medieval kingdom of [[Mercia]]. The Midlands became important in the [[Industrial Revolution]] of the 18th and 19th centuries, which led to one of its parts being named the [[Black Country]]. Culturally, the Midlands is distinct, but contains elements from both Northern and Southern England in the [[North–South divide in England|North-South divide]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Braber |first=Natalie |date=June 2014 |title=The concept of identity in the East Midlands of England: Investigating feelings of identity in East Midlands adolescents |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/english-today/article/abs/concept-of-identity-in-the-east-midlands-of-england/41C6E05AC4C8B232D594866614CAC8BB |journal=English Today |language=en |volume=30 |issue=2 |pages=3–10 |doi=10.1017/S0266078414000054 |issn=0266-0784}}</ref> The Midlands' largest city, [[Birmingham]], is the second-largest city in the [[United Kingdom]]. Other cities include [[Coventry]], [[Derby]], [[Leicester]], [[Lincoln, England|Lincoln]], [[Nottingham]], [[Stoke-on-Trent]], [[Wolverhampton]], and [[Worcester, England|Worcester]].

== Definition and extent ==
There is no single definition for the Midlands. If defined as being made up of the [[Regions of England|statistical regions]] of [[East Midlands]] and [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]],<ref>{{cite web |date=4 October 2016 |title=Why the East Midlands and West Midlands must join forces |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/east-midlands-west-midlands-must-11974315 |access-date=22 February 2019 |website=Birmingham Mail}}</ref> it includes the [[Counties of England|counties]] of [[Derbyshire]], [[Herefordshire]], [[Leicestershire]], most of [[Lincolnshire]] (with the exception of [[North Lincolnshire|North]] and [[North East Lincolnshire]]), [[Northamptonshire]], [[Nottinghamshire]], [[Rutland]], [[Shropshire]], [[Staffordshire]], [[Warwickshire]], [[Worcestershire]] and the West Midlands metropolitan boroughs.

Other definitions include a slightly larger area and the 1911 ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'' describes [[Gloucestershire]] as "West Midland", [[Bedfordshire]] as "South Midland", and [[Huntingdonshire]] as "East Midland" counties respectively. [[Cheshire]] is also occasionally recognised as being in the Midlands, while a lot of what was historically part of southern Mercia ([[Gloucestershire]], [[Oxfordshire]], [[Buckinghamshire]], [[Bedfordshire]], [[Hertfordshire]], [[Huntingdonshire]], and [[Cambridgeshire]]) is often labelled as "Central England", typically used interchangeably with "the Midlands".

Additionally, there are two informal regions known as the [[South Midlands]] and [[North Midlands]], which are not [[International Territorial Level#NUTS 2018 codes|NUTS statistical regions of the United Kingdom]] and their definition varies by using organisation. The former includes the southern parts of the East Midlands and northern parts of [[Southern England]].<ref>{{cite web |title=South Midlands Region |url=http://www.cba-southmidlands.org.uk/ |access-date=22 February 2019 |website=Council for British Archaeology}}</ref> The latter covers the northern parts of the West and East Midlands, along with some southern parts of [[Northern England]].<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HHLRAAAAMAAJ&q=north+midlands+staffordshire |title=North Midland Country: A Survey of Cheshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire |publisher=Harold Ingram |year=1948 |pages=0–116 |isbn=978-7-230-00765-8 |access-date=22 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qd1-AgAAQBAJ&q=north+midlands+lincolnshire&pg=PA173 |title=The Rise of the English Regions? |date=3 October 2006 |publisher=Irene Hardill, Paul Benneworth, Mark Baker, Leslie Budd |isbn=9781134306084 |page=173 |access-date=22 February 2019}}</ref><ref>Graham Turner, ''The North Country'', p.15</ref>

== Culture and identity ==
{{Expand section|date=August 2024}}

Due to being neither [[Northern England]] or [[Southern England]], the Midlands have had cultural elements from both sides in the [[North–South divide in the United Kingdom|North–South divide]]. In a binary choice, the [[Watford Gap]] in Northamptonshire is often considered the dividing point between the north and south of England, with most of the Midlands population sitting above this point. It has been suggested that due to being neither North or South, the Midlands have had an "image problem" and lack of "identity".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shore |first=Robert |date=2014-03-26 |title=Why the Midlands is the best place in Britain |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/mar/26/why-midlands-is-best-place-in-britain |access-date=2025-02-02 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

Different areas of the Midlands have their own distinctive character, giving rise to many local history and industrial heritage groups. [[Nottingham]] played a notable part in the [[English Civil War]], which is commemorated in a number of place names (Parliament Terrace, Parliament Street, Standard Hill). Areas such as Derbyshire's [[Amber Valley]] and [[Borough of Erewash|Erewash]] combine attractive countryside with industrial heritage and are home to historic canals and sites associated with the mining industry. The [[Black Country]], broadly the boroughs of [[County Borough of Dudley|Dudley]], [[Sandwell]], [[Wolverhampton]] and [[Walsall]], played an important part in the [[Industrial Revolution]].{{citation needed|reason=no source given|date=June 2015}}

Various parts of the Midlands, particularly Warwickshire and Leicestershire, are on occasion referred to as the Heart of England, especially in tourist literature given that the geographic centre of England is generally considered to lie within this arc.

=== Symbolism ===
[[File:Flag of Mercia (2014).svg|thumb|left|The officially recognised version of the [[Saint Alban's Cross|St Alban's Cross]] attributed to [[Mercia]]<ref name="mercia">[https://www.flaginstitute.org/wp/flags/mercia/ Flag Institute: Mercia, St Alban's Cross].</ref>]]

A [[saltire]] (diagonal cross) may have been used as a symbol of [[Mercia]] as early as the reign of [[Offa]].<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news |date=7 April 2011 |title=Photo-gallery: Saxon trail across Mercian Staffordshire |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-12991778 |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507133530/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-12991778 |archive-date=7 May 2011 |work=BBC News}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=June 2024|reason=A caption on an image which doesn't even say "may have" (it uncavitated says "come's from Offa's time"). Seeing as the use of heraldry and flags marking realms didn't develop till after this (see Fox-Davies and others), that seems dubious}} By the 13th century, the saltire had become the [[attributed arms]] of the Kingdom of Mercia.<ref>College of Arms Ms. L.14, dating from the reign of [[Henry III of England|Henry III]]</ref> The [[coat of arms|arms]] are [[blazon]]ed ''Azure, a saltire Or'', meaning a gold (or yellow) saltire on a blue field. The saltire is used as both a flag and a coat of arms. As a flag, it is flown from [[Tamworth Castle]], the ancient seat of the [[Mercian kings]].<ref name="autogenerated1" />

The flag also appears on street signs welcoming people to [[Tamworth, Staffordshire|Tamworth]], the "ancient capital of Mercia". It was also flown outside [[Birmingham Council House]] during 2009 while the [[Staffordshire Hoard]] was on display in the city before being taken to the [[British Museum]] in London. The cross has been incorporated into a number of [[coats of arms]] of Midlands towns, including [[Tamworth, Staffordshire|Tamworth]], [[Leek, Staffordshire|Leek]] and [[Blaby]]. It was recognised as the Mercian flag by the [[Flag Institute]] in 2014.<ref name="mercia" />

=== Language and dialect ===
[[File:Foot-strut split.svg|thumb|The vowel "[[foot-strut split]]" cuts through Northamptonshire as well as Herefordshire and Shropshire according to this map.]]
Dialect is one of the fields where the Midlands may have mixed influences.'''<ref name=":0" />''' A study has shown that some Midlands areas have traditionally had a dialect closer to [[English language in Northern England|"northern"]] but now more influenced by "southern".<ref>{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Mark |date=2022-07-31 |title=North holding its own against spread of southern English dialects, study finds |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jul/31/north-south-english-dialects-language-pronunciation-study |access-date=2024-08-07 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> [[West Midlands English]] and [[East Midlands English]] are generalised groups of dialects spoken in the Midlands. The former notably includes the [[Brummie dialect|Brummie]] and [[Black Country dialect|Black Country dialects]].

[[William Shakespeare]], one of the most famous English poets in history, was from [[Warwickshire]] in the Midlands.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Frizzell |first=Nell |date=2015-07-07 |title=Think the Midlands is just margarine in a north-south sandwich? Think again |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jul/07/midlands-north-south-england |access-date=2025-02-02 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

=== Food ===
The [[bakewell tart]], [[Staffordshire oatcake]], [[Melton Mowbray pork pie]], and [[Coventry Godcake| Coventry godcake]], as well as [[Stilton cheese]] and [[haslet]], are among some of the foods that have originated in the Midlands.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Midlands dishes fast becoming 'endangered food species' {{!}} ITV News | url=https://www.itv.com/news/central/2016-09-27/midlands-dishes-fast-becoming-endangered-food-species | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805022900/https://www.itv.com/news/central/2016-09-27/midlands-dishes-fast-becoming-endangered-food-species | access-date=2025-07-06 | archive-date=2020-08-05}}</ref> The city of Birmingham [[Food and drink in Birmingham|has also been influential]] in dishes, notably the local version of Asian [[Balti (food)|balti]] curry.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Murray |first=Jessica |date=2023-05-31 |title='The culture has changed': end of the boom for Birmingham's Balti Triangle |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/may/31/the-culture-has-changed-end-of-the-boom-for-birminghams-balti-triangle |access-date=2025-02-02 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> [[Worcestershire sauce]], as well as [[Walkers crisps]] and [[Cadbury]] chocolate are some of the most famous names to have come out of the Midlands.<ref name=":1" />

=== Music ===
{{See also|Popular music of Birmingham|Music in Leicester}}
Numerous famous bands and artists have originated in the Midlands. Birmingham's [[Black Sabbath]] is considered to be pioneers of [[heavy metal music]], while another band [[Godflesh]] have been named pioneers of industrial metal. The city has also been influential in [[Bhangra (music)|bhangra]] music.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC – Birmingham – Entertainment – International Bhangra Capital |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/content/articles/2006/08/14/birmingham_bhangra_capital_feature.shtml |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> The city of [[Coventry]] gave rise to the [[ska]] scene in the 1970s and bands such as [[The Specials]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kalantzis |first=Samuel |date=2024-05-13 |title=Ska music: a staple sound of the Midlands |url=https://centralbylines.co.uk/lifestyle/music/ska-music-a-staple-sound-of-the-midlands/ |access-date=2025-02-02 |website=centralbylines.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref> [[Discharge (band)|Discharge]] of [[Stoke-on-Trent]] have been highly influential in the punk music scene. More recently, the duo [[Sleaford Mods]] have been known for making use of a strong local East Midland accent.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Walker |first=Sophie |date=2019-03-10 |title=Interview: Sleaford Mods – Soundsphere magazine |url=https://www.soundspheremag.com/features/spotlight-sleaford-mods/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20231208123830/http://www.soundspheremag.com/features/spotlight-sleaford-mods/ |archive-date=2023-12-08 |access-date=2025-02-02 |work=Soundsphere magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Geography and cities ==
[[File:Map of the English Midlands with settlements and traditional counties.png|thumb|300x300px|Map of the Midlands showing cities and other population centres alongside the historic counties]]

=== Geology ===
The area is predominantly low-lying and flat apart from isolated hills such as [[Turners Hill, West Midlands|Turners Hill]] within the Black Country conurbation at 271&nbsp;m (889&nbsp;ft) and the [[Wrekin]] just south of [[Wellington, Shropshire|Wellington]] near Telford at 407&nbsp;m (1,335&nbsp;ft). Upland areas lie in the west and north of the region with the [[Shropshire Hills]] to the west, close to the [[England–Wales border]] and the [[Peak District]] area of the southern [[Pennines]] in the north of the region. The Shropshire Hills reach a height of 540&nbsp;m (1,771&nbsp;ft) at [[Brown Clee Hill]] and includes the [[Long Mynd]], [[Clee Hills]] and [[Stiperstones]] ridge. [[Wenlock Edge]], running through the middle of the Shropshire Hills [[Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty]] (AONB), is a long, low ridge, which extends for over {{convert|15|mi|km}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Some Shropshire Hills… |url=http://www.shropshirehillsaonb.co.uk/enjoying-the-shropshire-hills/places-to-visit/some-shropshire-hills/ |access-date=23 June 2016 |publisher=Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty}}</ref> The Peak District reaches heights of between 300&nbsp;m (1,000&nbsp;ft) and 600&nbsp;m (2,000&nbsp;ft); [[Kinder Scout]] is the highest point at 636&nbsp;m (2,086&nbsp;ft).<ref>{{cite web |title=Peak District National Park Facts & Figures |url=http://www.wheeldontreesfarm.co.uk/peak-district-national-park-facts-figures-c206.html |access-date=23 June 2016 |publisher=Wheeldon trees Farm}}</ref> Further south, the Welsh border reaches over 700&nbsp;m (2,000&nbsp;ft) high, at [[Black Mountain (hill)|Twyn Llech]] (Black Mountain), which at 703&nbsp;m (2,306&nbsp;ft) is thus the highest point in [[Herefordshire]].

The [[Precambrian]] [[Malverns]] are formed of some of the oldest rock in England (dating from the [[Cryogenian]] period, at around 680&nbsp;million years old) and extend for {{convert|8|mi}} through two [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]] counties ([[Worcestershire]] and [[Herefordshire]]) as well as northern [[Gloucestershire]] in the [[South West England|southwest]]. The highest point of the hills is the [[Worcestershire Beacon]] at 425 m (1,394&nbsp;ft) above sea level (OS Grid reference SO768452).<ref name="AbberleyGeopark">{{cite web |title=The Malvern Hills |url=http://www.geopark.org.uk/blog/Geology/AreaGeology/_archives/2009/7/12/4252612.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721231353/http://www.geopark.org.uk/blog/Geology/AreaGeology/_archives/2009/7/12/4252612.html |archive-date=21 July 2011 |access-date=23 June 2016 |publisher=Abberley and Malvern Hills Geopark}}
</ref><ref name="MalvernsComplex">{{cite web |title=Malverns Complex |url=http://www.earthheritagetrust.org/pub/learning-discovery/aggregates/lithology-profiles/malverns-complex/ |access-date=23 June 2016 |publisher=Herefordshire and Worcestershire Earth Heritage Trust}}</ref>

The [[Cotswolds]] – designated an AONB in 1966.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Cotswolds |url=http://www.the-cotswolds.org/top/english/intro.php |access-date=23 June 2016 |publisher=The Cotswolds}}</ref> – extend for over {{convert|90|mi|km}} through [[Oxfordshire]], [[Gloucestershire]], [[Wiltshire]], [[Somerset]], [[Warwickshire]], and [[Worcestershire]]. They reach a highest point of 330&nbsp;m (1,082&nbsp;ft) at [[Cleeve Hill, Gloucestershire|Cleeve Hill]].

Areas of lower hills, in the range 200&nbsp;m (600&nbsp;ft) – 300&nbsp;m (1000&nbsp;ft), include [[Charnwood Forest]] in [[Leicestershire]], [[Cannock Chase]] in [[Staffordshire]], and the [[Lincolnshire Wolds]] (100&nbsp;m (300&nbsp;ft) – 200&nbsp;m (600&nbsp;ft)); the latter having some prominence despite their modest altitude given their location in typically low-lying [[Lincolnshire]] near to the east coast.

[[Lincolnshire]] is the only coastal county in the Midlands as the region is bordered by [[Wales]] to the west. It is also where the Midlands' lowest points can be found as some places fall below sea level, with the lowest points being near [[Thorpe Tilney]] in [[North Kesteven]] and [[Stickford]] in [[East Lindsey]].<ref name="EastMidsExtremities">{{cite news |date=25 June 2004 |title=Experiencing the highs and lows |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/3827507.stm |access-date=9 July 2023 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref> 

=== Climate ===
The Midlands has a temperate [[maritime climate]], with cold, cloudy, wet winters and comfortable, mostly dry, mostly sunny summers.<ref>[[:File:England koeppen.png|Calculated using data from WorldClim.org]].

{{cite journal |last1=Hijmans |first1=R.J. |last2=Cameron |first2=S.E. |last3=Parra |first3=J.L. |last4=Jones |first4=P.G. |last5=Jarvis |first5=A. |year=2005 |title=Very high resolution interpolated climate surfaces for global land areas. |journal=International Journal of Climatology |volume=25 |issue=15 |pages=1965–1978|doi=10.1002/joc.1276 |bibcode=2005IJCli..25.1965H }}</ref> The temperature usually ranges from {{convert|-0.4|C|F}} during winter nights to {{convert|24.1|C|F}} during summer days. Due to its geographical location, which is furthest away from the coast than anywhere else in England, it typically receives mostly light winds, with warm days and cold nights. Sometimes the Midlands can have very cold nights such as a minimum of {{convert|-18.7|C|F}} in [[Pershore]] on 20 December 2010. The previous day had a maximum of only {{convert|-8.2|C|F}}, also in Pershore. Hot days are also possible, such as a maximum of {{convert|34|C|F}} in Pershore on 19 July 2006. There can also be very mild winters nights, such as in [[Bidford-on-Avon]] when the temperature at 6 pm was as high as {{convert|15.2|C|F}} on 9 January 2015. At 8 am the following morning the temperature was still at {{convert|13|C|F}}.<ref>Snow and low temps 2010 http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/interesting/dec2010</ref><ref>December 2010 http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/summaries/2010/december</ref><ref>Record heat July 2006 http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/interesting/july2006/</ref> Both the highest and lowest temperature ever recorded in England were in the Midlands, the former on [[2022 United Kingdom heat wave|19 July 2022]] around [[Coningsby]] in Lincolnshire where it reached a maximum temperature of {{convert|40.3|C|F}},<ref name="Sky news">{{cite web |title=UK heatwave: New UK record as temperature hits 39.1C – with 41C expected this afternoon |url=https://news.sky.com/story/uk-heatwave-temperature-hits-39-1c-in-surrey-a-new-record-12654770 |access-date=19 July 2022 |website=Sky News}}</ref> and the latter on [[1981–82 United Kingdom cold wave|10 January 1982]] around [[Newport, Shropshire|Newport]] in Shropshire where it dropped to a minimum of {{convert|-26.1|C|F}}.
{{Weather box
| location = Midlands
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| Jan high C = 6.7
| Feb high C = 7
| Mar high C = 9.7
| Apr high C = 12.5
| May high C = 15.9
| Jun high C = 18.8
| Jul high C = 21.1
| Aug high C = 20.8
| Sep high C = 17.8
| Oct high C = 13.7
| Nov high C = 9.6
| Dec high C = 6.9
| Jan low C = 1
| Feb low C = 0.8
| Mar low C = 2.4
| Apr low C = 3.7
| May low C = 6.5
| Jun low C = 9.4
| Jul low C = 11.5
| Aug low C = 11.3
| Sep low C = 9.3
| Oct low C = 6.5
| Nov low C = 3.5
| Dec low C = 1.3
| Jan rain mm = 74
| Feb rain mm = 54
| Mar rain mm = 58.8
| Apr rain mm = 59.1
| May rain mm = 58.5
| Jun rain mm = 62.3
| Jul rain mm = 60.8
| Aug rain mm = 66.9
| Sep rain mm = 66.2
| Oct rain mm = 82
| Nov rain mm = 77.1
| Dec rain mm = 78.7
| unit rain days = 1 mm
| Jan rain days = 12.9
| Feb rain days = 10.2
| Mar rain days = 11.5
| Apr rain days = 10.6
| May rain days = 10.2
| Jun rain days = 9.7
| Jul rain days = 9.4
| Aug rain days = 10
| Sep rain days = 9.7
| Oct rain days = 12.2
| Nov rain days = 12.5
| Dec rain days = 12.4
| year rain days = 
| Jan sun = 52.1
| Feb sun = 71.4
| Mar sun = 104.8
| Apr sun = 147
| May sun = 183.2
| Jun sun = 174.7
| Jul sun = 189.6
| Aug sun = 177.6
| Sep sun = 132.2
| Oct sun = 99.4
| Nov sun = 61.2
| Dec sun = 45
| year sun = 
| source 1 = Met Office<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/gcq8uy4x6|title=Ragley Hall climate|first=Met|last=Office|website=www.metoffice.gov.uk}}</ref>
| date = June 2015
}}

=== Largest settlements and urban areas ===
{{Largest cities|country=the English Midlands|stat_ref=2021 Census<ref name="2021census">{{cite web|url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/dvc2257a/fig1/datadownload.xlsx|title=Figure 1: Explore population characteristics of individual BUAs|access-date=7 August 2021}}</ref>|list_by_pop=|kind=cities and towns|div_link=Counties of England{{!}}Counties|city_1=Birmingham|div_1=West Midlands (county){{!}}West Midlands|pop_1=1,121,375|city_2=Leicester|div_2=Leicestershire|pop_2=406,580|city_3=Coventry|div_3=West Midlands (county){{!}}West Midlands|pop_3=344,285|city_4=Nottingham|div_4=Nottinghamshire|pop_4=299,790|city_5=Derby|div_5=Derbyshire|pop_5=275,575|city_6=Stoke-on-Trent|div_6=Staffordshire|pop_6=260,560|city_7=Northampton|div_7=Northamptonshire|pop_7=243,520|city_8=Wolverhampton|div_8=West Midlands (county){{!}}West Midlands|pop_8=234,025|city_9=Telford|div_9=Shropshire|pop_9=156,910|city_10=Solihull|div_10=West Midlands (county){{!}}West Midlands|pop_10=107,735|city_11=Worcester, England{{!}}Worcester|div_11=Worcestershire|pop_11=105,465|city_12=Lincoln, England{{!}}Lincoln|div_12=Lincolnshire|pop_12=104,555|city_13=West Bromwich|div_13=West Midlands (county){{!}}West Midlands|pop_13=103,110|city_14=Royal Sutton Coldfield|div_14=West Midlands (county){{!}}West Midlands|pop_14=93,375|city_15=Nuneaton|div_15=Warwickshire|pop_15=88,815|city_16=Redditch|div_16=Worcestershire|pop_16=81,635|city_17=Rugby, Warwickshire{{!}}Rugby|div_17=Warwickshire|pop_17=78,120|city_18=Newcastle-under-Lyme|div_18=Staffordshire|pop_18=76,505|city_19=Chesterfield, Derbyshire{{!}}Chesterfield|div_19=Derbyshire|pop_19=76,420|city_20=Burton upon Trent|div_20=Staffordshire|pop_20=76,255|img_1=Birmingham Town Hall from Chamberlain Square.jpg|img_2=Leicester Clock Tower wide view.jpg|img_3=Broadgate Square, Coventry.jpg|img_4=Nottingham Council House - geograph.org.uk - 2943238.jpg}}

The table below shows the urban areas in the region with a population of at least 250,000.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Largest urban areas in the Midlands <small>(2011 census)<ref name="BUA">{{cite web |title=2011 Census – Built-up areas |url=http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/articles/747.aspx |access-date=1 July 2013 |publisher=[[Office for National Statistics|ONS]]}} (needs a more direct citation)</ref></small>
!Rank
!Area
!Population
!Area <small>(km<sup>2</sup>)</small>
!Density <small>(People/km<sup>2</sup>)</small>
! class="unsortable" |Primary settlements{{efn|ONS definition.{{fact|date=August 2024}} }}
|-
!1
|[[West Midlands conurbation|West Midlands]]
|2,440,986
|598.9
|4,076
|[[Birmingham]], [[Wolverhampton]], [[Solihull]], [[Sutton Coldfield]], [[Dudley]], [[West Bromwich]], [[Walsall]], [[Stourbridge]], [[Halesowen]], [[Willenhall]], [[Kingswinford]], [[Smethwick]], [[Bloxwich]], [[Tipton]]
|-
!2
|[[Nottingham Urban Area|Nottingham]]
|729,977
|176.4
|4,139
|[[Nottingham]], [[Beeston, Nottinghamshire|Beeston]], [[Carlton, Nottinghamshire|Carlton]], [[West Bridgford]], [[Ilkeston]], [[Arnold, Nottinghamshire|Arnold]], [[Long Eaton]], [[Hucknall]]
|-
!3
|[[Leicester urban area|Leicester]]
|508,916
|109.4
|4,953
|[[Leicester]], [[Wigston]], [[Oadby]], [[Blaby]]/[[Whetstone, Leicestershire|Whetstone]], [[Birstall, Leicestershire|Birstall]]
|-
!4
|[[Stoke-on-Trent built-up area|Stoke-on-Trent]]
|372,775
|103.9
|3,588
|[[Stoke-on-Trent]], [[Newcastle-under-Lyme]], [[Kidsgrove]]
|-
!5
|[[Coventry and Bedworth urban area|Coventry]]
|359,262
|81.3
|4,420
|[[Coventry]], [[Bedworth]]
|-
!6
|[[Derby Built-up area|Derby]]
|270,468
|64.1
|4,219
|[[Derby]], [[Borrowash]], [[Duffield, Derbyshire|Duffield]]
|}

== Divisions ==
The [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]] and [[East Midlands]] regions are [[ITL 1 statistical regions of England|NUTS 1 statistical regions]] and were formerly [[European Parliament constituency|constituencies]] of the [[European Parliament]]. Local government in the Midlands is as follows:
[[File:Midlands councils.png|thumb|300px|right|The Midlands]]

* Boroughs (Metropolitan or Unitary):
** <small>(1)</small> '''[[Birmingham]]''' (''Metropolitan borough'').
** <small>(2)</small> '''[[Coventry]]''' (''Metropolitan borough'').
** <small>(3)</small> '''[[Derby]]''' (''Unitary authority'').
** <small>(4)</small> '''[[Metropolitan Borough of Dudley|Dudley]]''' (''Metropolitan borough'').
** <small>(5)</small> '''[[Leicester]]''' (''Unitary authority'').
** <small>(6)</small> '''[[Nottingham]]''' (''Unitary authority'').
** <small>(7)</small> '''[[Sandwell]]''' (''Metropolitan borough'').
** <small>(8)</small> '''[[Stoke-on-Trent]]''' (''Unitary authority'').
** <small>(9)</small> '''[[Metropolitan Borough of Solihull|Solihull]]''' (''Metropolitan borough'').
** <small>(10)</small> '''[[Telford and Wrekin]]''' (''Unitary authority'').
** <small>(11)</small> '''[[Metropolitan Borough of Walsall|Walsall]]''' (''Metropolitan borough'').
** <small>(12)</small> '''[[Wolverhampton]]''' (''Metropolitan borough'').
* Counties (Non-metropolitan or Unitary): 
** <small>(13)</small> '''[[Derbyshire]]''' (''Districts: <small>(a)</small> [[Amber Valley]], <small>(b)</small> [[Bolsover (district)|Bolsover]], <small>(c)</small> [[Borough of Chesterfield|Chesterfield]], <small>(d)</small> [[Derbyshire Dales]], <small>(e)</small> [[Borough of Erewash|Erewash]], <small>(f)</small> [[High Peak, Derbyshire|High Peak]], <small>(g)</small> [[North East Derbyshire]] and <small>(h)</small> [[South Derbyshire]]'').
** <small>(14)</small> '''[[Herefordshire]]''' (''Unitary authority'').
** <small>(15)</small> '''[[Leicestershire]]''' (''Districts: <small>(a)</small> [[Blaby (district)|Blaby]], <small>(b)</small> [[Charnwood (borough)|Charnwood]], <small>(c)</small> [[Harborough District|Harborough]], <small>(d)</small> [[Hinckley and Bosworth]], <small>(e)</small> [[Melton (borough)|Melton]], <small>(f)</small> [[North West Leicestershire]] and <small>(g)</small> [[Oadby and Wigston]]'').
** <small>(16)</small> '''[[Lincolnshire]]''' (''Districts: <small>(a)</small> [[Boston (borough)|Boston]], <small>(b)</small> [[East Lindsey]], <small>(c)</small> [[Lincoln, Lincolnshire|Lincoln]], <small>(d)</small> [[North Kesteven]], <small>(e)</small> [[South Holland, Lincolnshire|South Holland]], <small>(f)</small> [[South Kesteven]] and <small>(g)</small> [[West Lindsey]]'').
** <small>(17)</small> '''[[North Northamptonshire]]''' (''Unitary authority'').
** <small>(18)</small> '''[[Nottinghamshire]]''' (''Districts: <small>(a)</small> [[Ashfield, Nottinghamshire|Ashfield]], <small>(b)</small> [[Bassetlaw District|Bassetlaw]], <small>(c)</small> [[Borough of Broxtowe|Broxtowe]], <small>(d)</small> [[Borough of Gedling|Gedling]], <small>(e)</small> [[Mansfield (district)|Mansfield]], <small>(f)</small> [[Newark and Sherwood]] and <small>(g)</small> [[Rushcliffe]]'').
** <small>(19)</small> '''[[Rutland]]''' (''Unitary authority'').
** <small>(20)</small> '''[[Shropshire]]''' (''Unitary authority'').
** <small>(21)</small> '''[[Staffordshire]]''' (''Districts: <small>(a)</small> [[Cannock Chase (district)|Cannock Chase]], <small>(b)</small> [[East Staffordshire]], <small>(c)</small> [[Lichfield (district)|Lichfield]], <small>(d)</small> [[Newcastle-under-Lyme (borough)|Newcastle-under-Lyme]], <small>(e)</small> [[South Staffordshire]], <small>(f)</small> [[Stafford (borough)|Stafford]], <small>(g)</small> [[Staffordshire Moorlands]] and <small>(h)</small> [[Tamworth (borough)|Tamworth]]'').
** <small>(22)</small> '''[[Warwickshire]]''' (''Districts: <small>(a)</small> [[North Warwickshire]], <small>(b)</small> [[Nuneaton and Bedworth]], <small>(c)</small> [[Rugby (borough)|Rugby]], <small>(d)</small> [[Stratford-on-Avon (district)|Stratford-on-Avon]] and <small>(e)</small> [[Warwick (district)|Warwick]]'').
** <small>(23)</small> '''[[West Northamptonshire]]''' (''Unitary authority'').
** <small>(24)</small> '''[[Worcestershire]]''' (''Districts: <small>(a)</small> [[Bromsgrove (district)|Bromsgrove]], <small>(b)</small> [[Malvern Hills (district)|Malvern Hills]], <small>(c)</small> [[Redditch]], <small>(d)</small> [[Worcester, England|Worcester]], <small>(e)</small> [[Wychavon]] and <small>(f)</small> [[Wyre Forest (district)|Wyre Forest]]'').

The unitary authorities of [[North Lincolnshire]] and [[North East Lincolnshire]] (not shown), while classed as part of the ceremonial county of Lincolnshire, actually come under the [[Yorkshire and the Humber]] region and are therefore not in the officially recognised East Midlands region.

The two regions of the Midlands have a combined population of 10,350,697 (2014 mid-year estimate),<ref>{{cite web | url = http://web.ons.gov.uk/ons/data/dataset-finder/-/q/datasetView/Social/MYEDE?p_auth=2WUCcc0I&p_p_auth=Jl5p9OQS&p_p_lifecycle=1&_FOFlow1_WAR_FOFlow1portlet_geoTypeId=2011STATH&_FOFlow1_WAR_FOFlow1portlet_UUID=0 | title = Office for National Statistics – Dataset finder – MYEDE Population Estimates for High Level Areas | date = 30 June 2015 | publisher = [[Office for National Statistics|ONS]] | access-date = 2016-04-18 | quote = East Midlands 4,637,413 West Midlands 5,713,284}}</ref> and an area of {{convert|11053|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}}.

The largest Midlands [[conurbation]], which includes the cities of [[Birmingham]] and [[Wolverhampton]], is roughly covered by the [[metropolitan county]] of the [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]] (which also includes the city of [[Coventry]]); with the related [[City region (United Kingdom)|City Region]] extending into neighbouring areas of [[Shropshire]], [[Staffordshire]], [[Warwickshire]] and [[Worcestershire]].

=== Historic counties ===
{{main|Historic counties of England}}
[[File:Midlands counties.png|thumb|300px|right|Midlands historic counties]]
The historic counties ceased to be used for any administrative purpose in 1899. However, they remain important to some people, notably for [[county cricket]].
{{div col}}
* {{flag|Derbyshire}}
* {{flag|Herefordshire}} 
* {{flag|Leicestershire}}
* {{flag|Lincolnshire}}
* {{flag|Northamptonshire}}
* {{nowrap|{{flag|Nottinghamshire}}}}
* {{flag|Rutland}}
* {{flag|Shropshire}} 
* {{flag|Staffordshire}} 
* {{flag|Warwickshire}} 
* {{flag|Worcestershire}}
{{div col end}}

== Midlands named concepts ==
The "midland" name has been used for:
* [[Midland Bank]], founded in Birmingham and now part of [[HSBC]]
* Midland Metro, now called [[West Midlands Metro]]
* Midlands Engine, a regeneration programme of the UK government
* [[Midland Main Line]], a railway from London through the East Midlands to Sheffield

== See also ==
* [[Subdivisions of England]]
* {{C|East Midlands|East Midlands category}}
* {{C|West Midlands (region)|West Midlands category}}

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* Allen, R.C.  ''Enclosure and the Yeoman: the Agricultural Development of the South Midlands 1450–1850'' (Oxford UP, 1992)
* Beckett, John V. ''The East Midlands from AD 1000'' (Addison-Wesley Longman, 1988).
* Bennett, Michael J. "Sir Gawain and the green knight and the literary achievement of the north-west Midlands: the historical background." ''Journal of Medieval History'' 5.1 (1979): 63–88.
* Betteridge, Alan. ''Deep Roots, Living Branches: A History of Baptists in the English Western Midlands'' (Troubador Publishing Ltd, 2010).
* Dewindt, Edwin Brezett, and Edwin Brezette DeWindt. ''Land and people in Holywell-cum-Needingworth: structures of tenure and patterns of social organization in an East Midlands village, 1252–1457'' (PIMS, 1972).
* Donnelly, Tom, Jason Begley, and Clive Collis. "The West Midlands automotive industry: the road downhill." ''Business History'' 59.1 (2017): 56–74 [https://pureportal.coventry.ac.uk/files/11051412/Begley_The_West_Midlands_Automotive_Industry_2012_ver_3_3_SUBMISSION_2_.pdf online].
* Finberg, H.P.R. ''The early charters of the West Midlands'' (Leicester University Press, 1972).
* Gelling, Margaret. ''The West Midlands in the Early Middle Ages'' (Leicester UP, 1992).
* Hilton, R. H. ''A Medieval Society: The West Midlands at the End of the Thirteenth Century'' (1987) [https://www.jstor.org/stable/2593073 online review]
* Jones, Peter M. ''Industrial Enlightenment: Science, technology and culture in Birmingham and the West Midlands, 1760–1820'' (2017) [https://www.manchesterhive.com/view/9781526130310/9781526130310.xml online].
* Laughton, Jane, Evan Jones, and Christopher Dyer. "The urban hierarchy in the later Middle Ages: a study of the East Midlands." ''Urban history'' (2001): 331–357.
* McWhirr, A. L. A. N. ''The Early Military History of the Roman East Midlands'' (1970) [https://www.le.ac.uk/lahs/downloads/RomanPagesfromvolumeXLV-2.pdf online].
* Money, John. "Birmingham and the West Midlands, 1760–1793: Politics and Regional Identity in the English Provinces in the Later Eighteenth Century." ''Midland History'' 1.1 (1971): 1–19.
* Money, John. ''Experience and Identity: Birmingham and the West Midlands, 1760–1800'' (Manchester University Press, 1977).
* Rowlands, Marie B. ''The West Midlands from AD 1000'' (3 vol, Longman, 1987).
* Somerset, Alan. "New Historicism: Old History Writ Large? Carnival, Festivity and Popular Culture in the West Midlands." ''Medieval & Renaissance Drama in England'' 5 (1991): 245–255. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/24322099 online]
* Stafford, Pauline. ''The East Midlands in the Early Middle Ages'' ( Leicester University, 1985).
* Stobart, Jon. "Regions, Localities, and Industrialisation: Evidence from the East Midlands Circa 1780–1840." ''Environment and Planning A'' 33.7 (2001): 1305–1325.
* Tompkins, Matthew. ''Peasant society in a midlands manor, Great Horwood 1400–1600'' (PhD Diss. U of Leicester, 2006) [https://leicester.figshare.com/articles/Peasant_society_in_a_midlands_manor_Great_Horwood_1400-1600/10079651/files/18175607.pdf online].
* Townsend, Claire. "County versus region? Migrational connections in the East Midlands, 1700–1830." ''Journal of Historical Geography'' 32.2 (2006): 291–312.

{{East Midlands}}
{{West Midlands}}
{{England topics}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Midlands}}
[[Category:Regions of England]]
[[Category:East Midlands|*The Midlands]]
[[Category:West Midlands (region)|*The Midlands]]