The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply
East Yorkshire, is a local government
district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial
county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also
includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate
unitary authority. It is named after the historic East Riding
of Yorkshire (one of three ridings alongside the North Riding
and West Riding), which also constituted a ceremonial and
administrative county until 1974. From 1974 to 1996 the area
of the modern East Riding of Yorkshire constituted the
northern part of the non-metropolitan county of Humberside.
The landscape consists of a crescent of low chalk hills, the
Yorkshire Wolds, surrounded by the low lying fertile plains of
Holderness and the Vale of York. The Humber Estuary and North
Sea mark its southern and eastern limits. Archaeological
investigations have revealed artefacts and structures from all
historical periods since the last ice age. There are few large
settlements and no industrial centres. The area is
administered from the ancient market and ecclesiastical town
of Beverley. Christianity is the religion with the largest
following in the area and there is a higher than average
percentage of retired people living there.
The economy is mainly based on agriculture and this, along
with tourism, has contributed to the rural and seaside
character of the Riding. These aspects are also reflected in
the places of interest to visitors and major landmarks, which
include historic buildings, nature reserves and the Wolds Way
long-distance footpath. The open and maritime aspects and lack
of major urban developments have also led to the county being
allocated relatively high targets for the generation of energy
from renewable sources.
Major sporting and entertainment venues are concentrated in
Kingston upon Hull, while the seaside and market towns support
semi-professional and amateur sports clubs and provide
seasonal entertainment for visitors. Bishop Burton is the site
of an agricultural college, and Hull provides the region's
only university. On the southern border, close to Hull, the
Humber Bridge spans the Humber Estuary to enable the A15 to
link Hessle with Barton-upon-Humber in Lincolnshire.
Locations within the East Yorkshire:
