- published: 15 Mar 2013
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Derbyshire (i/ˈdɑːrbᵻʃər/ or /ˈdɑːrbɪʃɪər/; abbreviated Derbys. or Derbs.) is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The southern extremity of the Pennine range of hills extends into the north of the county. The county contains part of the National Forest, and borders on Greater Manchester to the northwest, West Yorkshire to the north, South Yorkshire to the northeast, Nottinghamshire to the east, Leicestershire to the southeast, Staffordshire to the west and southwest and Cheshire also to the west. Kinder Scout, at 636 metres (2,087 ft), is the highest point in the county, whilst Trent Meadows, where the River Trent leaves Derbyshire, is its lowest point at 27 metres (89 ft). The River Derwent is the county's longest river at 66 miles (106 km), and runs roughly north to south through the county. In 2003 the Ordnance Survey placed Church Flatts Farm at Coton in the Elms (near Swadlincote) as the furthest point from the sea in Great Britain.
Derbyshire Dales /ˈdɑːrbᵻʃə deɪlz/ or /ˈdɑːrbiʃɪər deɪlz/ is a local government district in Derbyshire, England. Much of the district is situated in the Peak District, although most of its population lies along the River Derwent.
The borough borders the districts of High Peak, Amber Valley, North East Derbyshire and South Derbyshire in Derbyshire and also Sheffield in South Yorkshire. The district also lies within the Sheffield City Region, and the district council is a non-constituent partner member of the Sheffield City Region Combined Authority. A significant amount of the working population is employed in Sheffield and Chesterfield.
The district offices are in Matlock. It was formed on 1 April 1974, originally under the name of West Derbyshire. The district adopted its current name in 1988. The district was a merger of Ashbourne, Bakewell, Matlock and Wirksworth urban districts along with Ashbourne Rural District and Bakewell Rural District.
Following their review of parliamentary representation in Derbyshire, the Boundary Commission for England has formed a new constituency called Derbyshire Dales.