Editing Staffordshire

{{Short description|County of England}}
{{redirect|Staffs|other uses|Staff (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox English county
| official_name          = Staffordshire
| image_main= {{multiple images|border=infobox|perrow=1 2|total_width=270px
                               | image1 = Cannock_Chase_Sherbrook_Valley_(37096640)_(cropped).jpg
                               | image2 = Stoke-on-Trent Bottle Kiln - geograph.org.uk - 6995.jpg
                               | image3 = Lichfield Cathedral - geograph.org.uk - 5051378.jpg
                              }}
| image_caption= The Sherbrook Valley in [[Cannock Chase]]; a [[bottle kiln]] in [[Longton, Staffordshire|Longton]], [[Stoke-on-Trent]]; and [[Lichfield Cathedral]]
| locator_map            = [[File: Staffordshire UK locator map 2010.svg|250px]]Staffordshire within England
| coordinates            = {{Coord|52|48|25|N|02|06|58|W|region:GB_type:adm1st|display=inline,title}}
| region                 = [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]]
| established_date       = [[Historic counties of England|Ancient]]
| lord_lieutenant_office = Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire
| lord_lieutenant_name   = [[Ian Dudson]]
| high_sheriff_office    = High Sheriff of Staffordshire
| high_sheriff_name      = Charles Jewitt of Admaston<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=62943|page=5161|date=13 March 2020}}</ref> (2020–21)
| area_total_km2         = 2713 
| area_total_rank        = 18th
| ethnicity              = {{Ubl
| 97.0% White 
| 1.7% [[South Asians in the United Kingdom|S.Asian]]
| 1.3% Other
}}
| county_council         = [[Staffordshire County Council]]
| admin_hq               = [[Stafford]]
| area_council_km2       = 2620
| area_council_rank      = 18th
| iso_code               = GB-STS
| ons_code               = 41
| gss_code               = E10000028
| nuts_code              = UKG24
| districts_map          = [[File:Staffordshire numbered districts.svg|200px]]
| districts_key          = {{Colorsample|#FEFE77}} Unitary {{Colorsample|#FEC1E9}} County council area
| districts_list         = 
#{{nowrap|[[Stoke-on-Trent]]}}
#[[Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme|Newcastle-under-Lyme]]
#{{nowrap|[[Staffordshire Moorlands]]}}
#[[Borough of Stafford|Stafford]]
#[[East Staffordshire]]
#[[South Staffordshire]]
#[[Cannock Chase District|Cannock Chase]]
#[[Lichfield District|Lichfield]]
#[[Tamworth, Staffordshire|Tamworth]]
| MPs                    = [[List of parliamentary constituencies in Staffordshire|List of MPs]]
| police                 = [[Staffordshire Police]]
| website                = {{URL|staffordshire.gov.uk}}
}}

'''Staffordshire''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|t|æ|f|ər|d|ʃ|ɪər|,_|-|ʃ|ər}};<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/staffordshire |publisher=Collins Dictionary |title=Staffordshire |access-date=29 May 2020 |date=n.d. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232708/http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/staffordshire?showCookiePolicy=true |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref> postal abbreviation ''Staffs''.) is a [[Ceremonial counties of England|ceremonial county]] in the [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]] of England. It borders [[Cheshire]] to the north-west, [[Derbyshire]] and [[Leicestershire]] to the east, [[Warwickshire]] to the south-east, the [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]] county and [[Worcestershire]] to the south, and [[Shropshire]] to the west. The largest settlement is the city of [[Stoke-on-Trent]].

The county has an area of {{Convert|1,713|km2|sqmi}} and a population of 1,131,052. Stoke-on-Trent is located in the north and is immediately adjacent to the town of [[Newcastle-under-Lyme]]. [[Stafford]] is in the centre of the county, [[Burton upon Trent]] in the east, and the city of [[Lichfield]] and [[Tamworth, Staffordshire|Tamworth]] in the south-east. For local government purposes Staffordshire comprises a [[non-metropolitan county]], with nine districts, and the [[Unitary authorities of England|unitary authority]] area of Stoke-on-Trent. The county [[Historic counties of England|historically]] included the north-west of the West Midlands county, including [[Walsall]], [[West Bromwich]], and [[Wolverhampton]].

Staffordshire is hilly to the north and south. The southern end of the [[Pennines]] is in the north, containing part of the [[Peak District]] [[National parks of the United Kingdom|National Park]], while the [[Cannock Chase]] [[AONB]] and part of the [[National Forest, England|National Forest]] are in the south. The [[River Trent]] and its tributaries drain most of the county. From its source, near [[Biddulph]], the river flows through Staffordshire in a southwesterly direction, meeting the [[River Sow|Sow]] just east of Stafford; it then meets the [[River Tame, West Midlands|River Tame]] and turns north-east, exiting into [[Derbyshire]] immediately downstream of Burton upon Trent.

Staffordshire contains a number of [[Iron Age]] [[Tumulus|tumuli]] and [[Roman Britain|Roman]] camps, and was settled by the [[Angles (tribe)|Angles]] in the sixth century; the oldest [[Stafford knot]], the county's symbol, can be seen on an Anglian cross in the churchyard of [[Stoke Minster]]. The county was formed in the early tenth century, when Stafford became the capital of [[Mercia]]. The county was relatively settled in the following centuries, and rapidly industrialised during the [[Industrial Revolution]], when the [[North Staffordshire Coalfield|North Staffordshire coalfield]] was exploited and fuelled the iron and automobilie industries in the south of the county. [[Staffordshire Potteries|Pottery]] is the county's most famous export; a limited amount is still produced in Stoke-on-Trent.

==History==
{{Main|History of Staffordshire}}
{{More citations needed|section|date=December 2022}}

[[File:Staffordia Atlas.jpg|thumb|250px|Hand-drawn map of Stafford by Christopher Saxton from 1577]]

[[File:Staffordshire Flag.svg|thumb|The flag of the historic county of Staffordshire]]
Historically, Staffordshire was divided into five [[hundred (division)|hundred]]s: [[Cuttlestone]], [[Offlow]], [[Pirehill Hundred|Pirehill]], [[Seisdon]], and [[Totmonslow]].
[[File:LichCathedral4.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Lichfield Cathedral]]]]
The historic boundaries of Staffordshire cover much of what is now the [[metropolitan county]] of [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]]. An [[administrative counties of England|administrative county]] of Staffordshire was set up in 1889 under the [[Local Government Act 1888]] covering the county, except for the [[county borough]]s of [[Wolverhampton]], [[Walsall]], and [[West Bromwich]] in the south (the area known as the [[Black Country]]), and [[Hanley, Staffordshire|Hanley]] in the north. The Act also saw the towns of [[Tamworth, Staffordshire|Tamworth]] (partly in Warwickshire) and [[Burton upon Trent]] (partly in Derbyshire) united entirely in Staffordshire. In 1553, [[Mary I of England|Queen Mary]] made [[Lichfield]] a [[county corporate]], meaning it was administered separately from the rest of Staffordshire, remaining so until 1888.

[[Handsworth, West Midlands|Handsworth]] and [[Perry Barr]] became part of the county borough of [[Birmingham]], and thus [[Warwickshire]], in 1911 and 1928 respectively. Burton, in the east of the county, became a county borough in 1901, and was followed by [[Smethwick]], another town in the Black Country in 1907. In 1910 the six towns of the Staffordshire Potteries, including Hanley, became the single county borough of [[Stoke-on-Trent]].
[[File:Staffordshire hoard annotated.jpg|thumb|The [[Staffordshire Hoard]], discovered in a field near [[Lichfield]] in July 2009, is perhaps the most important collection of [[Anglo-Saxon]] objects found in England.]]

A significant boundary change occurred in 1926 when the east of [[Sedgley]] was transferred to [[Worcestershire]] to allow the construction of the new [[Priory Estate]] on land purchased by [[Dudley County Borough]] council.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.localhistories.org/dudley.html |title=A History of Dudley |publisher=Localhistories.org |access-date=4 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121210150324/http://www.localhistories.org/dudley.html |archive-date=10 December 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

A major reorganisation in the Black Country in 1966, under the recommendation of the [[Local Government Commission for England (1958–1967)|Local Government Commission for England]], led to the creation of an area of contiguous county boroughs. The [[County Borough of Warley]] was formed by the merger of the county borough of Smethwick and municipal borough of [[Rowley Regis]] with the Worcestershire borough of [[Oldbury, West Midlands|Oldbury]]: the resulting county borough was associated with Worcestershire. Meanwhile, the county borough of [[Dudley]], historically a [[exclave|detached part]] of Worcestershire, expanded and became associated with Staffordshire instead. This reorganisation led to the administrative county of Staffordshire having a thin protrusion passing between the county boroughs (to the east) and Shropshire, to the west, to form a short border with Worcestershire.

Under the [[Local Government Act 1972]], on 1 April 1974, the county boroughs of the Black Country and the [[Aldridge-Brownhills Urban District]] of Staffordshire became, along with Birmingham, Solihull, and Coventry and other districts, a new metropolitan county of West Midlands. County boroughs were abolished, with Stoke becoming a non-metropolitan district in Staffordshire, and Burton forming an [[unparished area]] in the district of [[East Staffordshire]]. On 1 April 1997, under a recommendation of the [[Local Government Commission for England (1992)|Banham Commission]], Stoke-on-Trent became a unitary authority independent of Staffordshire once more.

In July 2009, the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold ever found in Britain was discovered in a field near Lichfield. The artefacts, known as [[The Staffordshire Hoard]], have tentatively been dated to the 7th or 8th centuries, placing the origin of the items in the time of the [[Kingdom of Mercia]].

==Education==
{{Main|List of schools in Staffordshire}}
Staffordshire has a completely comprehensive system with eight independent schools. Most secondary schools are from 11 to 16 or 18, but two in Staffordshire Moorlands and South Staffordshire are from 13 to 18. Resources are shared where appropriate.

There are two universities in the county, [[Keele University]], west of [[Newcastle-under-Lyme]], and the [[Staffordshire University|University of Staffordshire]], which has campuses in Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, London, [[Lichfield]] and [[Shrewsbury]].<ref>[http://www.staffs.ac.uk/about_us/campuses_and_maps// Staffordshire University Website] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110209061632/http://www.staffs.ac.uk/about_us/campuses_and_maps/ |date=9 February 2011 }}. Staffs.ac.uk. Retrieved 25 August 2011.</ref>

==Sport==
The modern county of Staffordshire currently has three professional football clubs – [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] and [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]], both from Stoke-on-Trent, and [[Burton Albion F.C.|Burton Albion]], who play in [[Burton upon Trent]].

Stoke City, one of the oldest professional football clubs in existence, were founded in 1863 and played at the [[Victoria Ground]] for 119 years from 1878 until their relocation to the Britannia Stadium (now named the [[Bet365 Stadium]]) in 1997. They were among the 12 founder members of the [[Football League]] in 1888.<ref>[http://www.stokecityfc.com/page/History/0,,10310~401090,00.html Stoke City | History | 1863–1888 in the Beginning] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314083430/http://www.stokecityfc.com/page/History/0,,10310~401090,00.html |date=14 March 2012 }}. Stokecityfc.com. Retrieved 25 August 2011.</ref> By the late 1930s, they were established [[Football League First Division|First Division]] members and boasted arguably the finest footballer in England at the time in right-winger [[Stanley Matthews]], who had two spells with the club between 1930 and his retirement in 1965 at the age of 50.<ref>[http://www.stokecityfc.com/page/History/0,,10310~401166,00.html Stoke City | History | 1930–1939 Stan's The Man] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206154756/http://www.stokecityfc.com/page/History/0,,10310~401166,00.html |date=6 February 2012 }}. Stokecityfc.com. Retrieved 25 August 2011.</ref> In 1972, the club finally won a major trophy when they lifted the [[Football League Cup]],<ref>[http://www.stokecityfc.com/page/History/0,,10310~401596,00.html Stoke City | History | 1970–1979 Waddo Believe It (Part Two)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807060312/http://www.stokecityfc.com/page/History/0,,10310~401596,00.html |date=7 August 2011 }}. Stokecityfc.com. Retrieved 25 August 2011.</ref> but after relegation from the First Division in 1985 they would not experience top flight football for 23 years.<ref>[http://www.stokecityfc.com/page/History/0,,10310~401601,00.html Stoke City | History | 1980–1989 Five Managers, Five Chairmen] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314083655/http://www.stokecityfc.com/page/History/0,,10310~401601,00.html |date=14 March 2012 }}. Stokecityfc.com. Retrieved 25 August 2011.</ref> After spending some two decades bouncing between the second and third tiers of the English league, they finally reclaimed their top flight status in 2008 by securing promotion to the [[Premier League]].<ref>[http://www.stokecityfc.com/page/History/0,,10310~401616,00.html Stoke City | History | 2000–2009 The Decade of Success] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314083810/http://www.stokecityfc.com/page/History/0,,10310~401616,00.html |date=14 March 2012 }}. Stokecityfc.com. Retrieved 25 August 2011.</ref> Stoke City reached their first [[FA Cup]] final in [[2011 FA Cup Final|2011]], but lost 1–0 to [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]].<ref>[http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/FACompetitions/TheFACup/Archive Archive] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704110339/http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/More/History |date=4 July 2012 }}. TheFA.com. Retrieved 25 August 2011.</ref>

Port Vale, who like Stoke City play in Stoke-on-Trent, were formed in 1876 and became members of the Football League in 1892. After more than 70 years at various stadiums around the city, the club moved to its present home, [[Vale Park]], in 1950. In early 1936, they had eliminated First Division champions [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] from the FA Cup. Another FA Cup success came in February 1988 when they eliminated seven-time winners [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] from the [[1987-88 FA Cup|competition]]. Promotion to the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] for the first time since the 1960s was secured in 1989, and Vale would spend nine of the next 11 years at this level. However, the club has been less successful since the turn of the 21st century, and suffered relegation to [[Football League Two|League Two]] – the fourth tier of the English league – in 2008. The club has seen an upturn in its fortunes as the club was promoted to League One in the 2012–13 season. In the [[2016–17 EFL League One|2016–17]] season Port Vale were relegated back to League Two.<ref>[http://www.port-vale.co.uk/page/History Club | History | A Brief Club History] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609225203/http://www.port-vale.co.uk/page/History |date=9 June 2012 }}. Port Vale. Retrieved 25 August 2011.</ref>

[[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]], [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] and [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]] are also notable clubs based in the historic county boundaries.

The county's other professional football team is [[Burton Albion F.C.|Burton Albion]], based in [[Burton upon Trent]], who currently play in [[EFL League One|League One]].

The county has a number of non-league football clubs, including [[Tamworth F.C.|Tamworth]],<ref>[http://www.thelambs.co.uk/ Tamworth F.C] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140415231843/http://www.thelambs.co.uk/ |date=15 April 2014 }}. Tamworth FC. Retrieved 24 September 2014.</ref> [[Stafford Rangers F.C.|Stafford Rangers]],<ref>[http://www.staffordrangersfc.co.uk/ Stafford Rangers FC] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110705042613/http://www.staffordrangersfc.co.uk/ |date=5 July 2011 }}. Stafford Rangers FC. Retrieved 25 August 2011.</ref> [[Hednesford Town F.C.|Hednesford Town]],<ref>[http://www.hednesfordfc.co.uk/ Hednesford Town FC – Hednesford Town Football Club Latest News] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628050110/http://www.hednesfordfc.co.uk/ |date=28 June 2011 }}. Hednesfordfc.co.uk. Retrieved 25 August 2011.</ref> [[Chasetown F.C.|Chasetown]] and [[Leek Town F.C.|Leek Town]].<ref>Wilson, Ed. (21 August 2011) [http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/leektown/ Leek Town – a Charter Standard club] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628174811/http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/leektown |date=28 June 2011 }}. Pitchero.com.  Retrieved 25 August 2011</ref>

In [[cricket]], Staffordshire is one of the nineteen [[Minor counties of English and Welsh cricket]]. It is represented in Minor counties cricket by [[Staffordshire County Cricket Club]] who have played in the [[Minor Counties Championship]] since 1895, a competition which it has won outright eleven times, making it the most successful Minor counties team. Famous international cricketers produced by the county include [[Sydney Barnes]], [[Bob Taylor (cricketer)|Bob Taylor]] and [[Dominic Cork]], all of whom went on to represent [[England cricket team|England]].

==Geography==
{{See also|Geology of Staffordshire}}
{{See also|List of reservoirs in Staffordshire}}
[[File:Mowcopcastle.jpg|thumb|right|230px|[[Mow Cop Castle]] on the [[Cheshire]] border]]
In the north and in the south, the county is hilly, with the southern foothills and uplands of the [[Pennines]] in the north, with parts of it in the [[Peak District]] National Park.<ref>[http://www.enjoystaffordshire.com/great-outdoors/Staffordshire-Peak-District.aspx] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919091708/http://www.enjoystaffordshire.com/great-outdoors/Staffordshire-Peak-District.aspx|date=19 September 2015}} Enjoy Staffordshire. Accessed 7 December 2015.</ref> Most of the northern upland terrain is in the [[Staffordshire Moorlands]] district. [[Cannock Chase]], an area of natural beauty, and part of the [[National Forest, England|National Forest]] are in the south. In the middle regions, the landscape is low and undulating. In parts of the county are once significant [[coalfield]]s, including the [[South Staffordshire coalfield]]. In the southern part, there are also rich iron ore deposits. The soil is chiefly clay and agriculture was not highly developed until the mechanisation of farms.

Staffordshire is home to the highest village in Britain, [[Flash, Staffordshire|Flash]]. The village, in the Staffordshire Moorlands, stands at {{cvt|1519|ft|m}} above sea level. This record was confirmed in 2007 by the [[Ordnance Survey]] after [[Wanlockhead]] in Scotland also claimed the record. The [[BBC]]'s ''[[The One Show]]'' investigated the case in a bid to settle the argument and Flash was confirmed as the higher of the two. The highest point in Staffordshire is [[Cheeks Hill]].<ref>''Staffordshire's 1,000-Foot Peaks'', Kent, Jeff, Witan Books, 2013, {{ISBN|978-0-9927505-0-3}}.</ref> The largest river is the [[River Trent]], which drains most of the county along with its tributaries. From its source, near [[Biddulph]], the Trent flows through Staffordshire in a southwesterly direction and meets the [[River Sow]] just east of Stafford. It then meets the [[River Tame, West Midlands|River Tame]] and turns north-east, exiting into [[Derbyshire]] immediately downstream of Burton upon Trent.

===Green belt===
{{further|West Midlands Green Belt|Stoke-on-Trent Green Belt|Burton upon Trent and Swadlincote Green Belt}}
Staffordshire contains sectors of three [[Green belt (United Kingdom)|green belt]] areas, two of which surround the large conurbations of [[The Potteries Urban Area|Stoke-on-Trent]] and the [[West Midlands conurbation|West Midlands]], and were first drawn up from the 1950s. All the county's districts contain some portion of belt.

==Demographics==
According to the [[2001 United Kingdom census|2001 Census]] the population of the Non-metropolitan Staffordshire is 806,744 and the population of Stoke-on-Trent was 240,636 making a total population of 1,047,380. In non-metropolitan Staffordshire, White British is the largest ethnicity, making up 96% of the population. This is followed by Irish, making up 0.6%. Non-White citizens make up 2% of the population. The largest Non-White ethnic group are [[British Pakistanis]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Ethnicity in Staffordshire |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=3567686&c=staffordshire&d=180&e=16&g=484547&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1335099318145&enc=1&dsFamilyId=87 |publisher=ONS |access-date=22 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605211004/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=3567686&c=staffordshire&d=180&e=16&g=484547&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1335099318145&enc=1&dsFamilyId=87 |archive-date=5 June 2013 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref> 94% of the population was born in England, and those born in [[Scotland]] and [[Wales]] together make up 1% of the total population.<ref>{{cite web |title=Country of Birth Staffordshire |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=3567686&c=staffordshire&d=180&e=16&g=484547&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1335124714171&enc=1&dsFamilyId=85 |publisher=ONS |access-date=22 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605213932/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=3567686&c=staffordshire&d=180&e=16&g=484547&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1335124714171&enc=1&dsFamilyId=85 |archive-date=5 June 2013 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Economy==
[[File:JCB Diesel Max Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon.jpg|thumb|left|[[JCB Dieselmax]], holder of the [[land speed record]] for diesel-engined vehicles]]
The brewing companies such as [[Molson Coors Brewing Company|Coors Brewers]] are in [[Burton on Trent]], as well as [[Marmite]], [[Marston's Brewery]], [[General Nutrition Centers|GNC UK]] ([[Dietary supplement|health supplements]]). [[Branston, Staffordshire|Branston]] is the original home of [[Branston (brand)|Branston Pickle]], where the original factory can still be seen on Burton Road. [[Spirit Pub Company]] is near the A5121/A38 junction, with [[Punch Taverns]] slightly further north.

[[Newell Rubbermaid]] UK (owner of [[Parker Pen Company|Parker Pen]], [[Berol]], [[Paper Mate]] and [[DYMO Corporation|DYMO]]), a large [[Distribution center|RDC]] of Tesco, and [[Zytek]] (motorsport) is at [[Fradley]] Park, on an [[RAF Lichfield|old airfield]]. [[Norgren (company)|Norgren]] was an international [[pneumatics|pneumatic]] technology company on Eastern Avenue, Lichfield.

[[Michelin]] Tyres are made at [[Sideway]] in Stoke-on-Trent. [[Royal Doulton]] and [[Wedgwood]] were/are based at [[Burslem]] and [[Barlaston]] respectively. [[Portmeirion Pottery]], which owns the [[Royal Worcester]] brand, is in Stoke. [[Steelite International]] (pottery) is based at [[Middleport, Staffordshire|Middleport]], in west Burslem, next to the [[Trent and Mersey Canal]]. [[Wade Ceramics]] is at [[Etruria, Staffordshire|Etruria]] to the east of Wolstanton, near the HQ of ''[[The Sentinel (Staffordshire)|The Sentinel]]'' newspaper ([[DMG Media|Harmsworth Printing]]). [[Premier Foods]] make [[Mr Kipling]] slices and [[Bakewell tart|Cherry Bakewells]] at Trent Vale in the south of Stoke-on-Trent.

[[Bet365]] is situated at [[Stoke-on-Trent Garden Festival|Festival Park]] in [[Etruria, Staffordshire|Etruria]], and is Stoke-on-Trent's largest private sector employer. [[Dechra Pharmaceuticals]] makes [[Veterinary pharmacist|veterinary pharmaceutical]]s at [[Talke]]. [[Churchill China]] is at Sandyford near [[Tunstall, Staffordshire|Tunstall]]. [[Sumitomo Corporation|Sumitomo Electrical Wiring Systems (Europe)]], which supplies wiring for the automotive industry, is at [[Silverdale, Staffordshire|Silverdale]]. At [[Kidsgrove]], [[Converteam]] make [[Adjustable-speed drive|variable speed drive]]s (VSDs); AAH Pharmaceuticals has its Enterprise and Trident divisions in [[Talke]], in the west of Kidsgrove. [[Andritz AG|Andritz]] UK is at Wolstanton, in the north of Newcastle.

[[File:Marmite-Guinness edition.JPG|thumb|right|Marmite is made from the [[Yeast extract|yeast left over]] from the [[Beer in England|brewing industry]] ]]
[[Mann+Hummel]] UK, at [[Featherstone, Staffordshire|Featherstone]], make [[Air filter|air]] and [[oil filter]]s. Armitage Shanks (owned by [[Ideal Standard]] International) is to the east of Rugeley in [[Armitage with Handsacre]]; JCB Cab Systems was next to the A51 on the Riverside Industrial Estate. The UK headquarters of GE Grid Solutions is based at [[Stafford]] as well as a factory and the UK headquarters of [[Bostik]] on Common Road, in the north of the town.

[[Numark (pharmacy)|Numark Pharmacy]] is at [[Tamworth, Staffordshire|Tamworth]]. [[Bristan]] based in [[Dordon]] and [[Baddesley Ensor]] on the Birch Coppice Business Park south-west of Tamworth, next to a new [[Ocado]] distribution centre, is the UK's largest supplier of kitchen and bathroom taps; Volkswagen Group (VAG UK) have their main UK distribution facility there, the site of [[Birch Coppice Colliery]] before 1987. [[Ansell]] UK ([[medical glove]]s, from Australia) is on Tamworth Enterprise Park. [[Whittington Barracks]] (DMS Whittington) near to the west is the home of the [[Defence Medical Services]], [[Defence Dental Service]], and the [[Defence Medical Services Training Centre]].

[[Premier Foods]] make [[Bird's Custard]], [[Angel Delight]] and [[Marvel (food)|Marvel]] [[powdered milk]] in [[Knighton, Stafford, Staffordshire|Knighton]], west of [[Eccleshall]] near the Shropshire boundary. [[Ornua]], best known for the Kerrygold brand, have a large cheese production site in [[Leek, Staffordshire|Leek]] on Sunnyhills Road.

[[File:Stafford town centre.jpg|thumb|[[Stafford]] town centre]]
This is a chart of trend of regional gross value added of the non-metropolitan county of Staffordshire at current basic prices by ''Office for National Statistics'' with figures in millions of British pounds sterling.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year || Regional gross value added<ref>Components may not sum to totals due to rounding</ref> || Agriculture<ref>includes hunting and forestry</ref> || Industry<ref>includes energy and construction</ref> || Services<ref>includes financial intermediation services indirectly measured</ref>
|-
| 1995 || '''6,447''' || 209 || 2,349 || 3,889
|-
| 2000 || '''8,621''' || 150 || 2,986 || 5,485
|-
| 2003 || '''10,169''' || 169 || 3,164 || 6,835
|}

Some nationally and internationally known companies have their base in Staffordshire. They include the [[Britannia Building Society]] which is based in [[Leek, Staffordshire|Leek]]. [[J. C. Bamford|JCB]] is based in [[Rocester]] near [[Uttoxeter]] and [[Bet365]] which is based in Stoke-on-Trent. The theme park [[Alton Towers]] is in the [[Staffordshire Moorlands]] and several of the world's largest pottery manufacturers are based in Stoke-on-Trent. The town of [[Burton upon Trent]] is known for its beer brewing industry with several major brands such as [[Carling Brewery|Carling]], [[Cobra Beer|Cobra]] and [[Marston's Brewery|Marston's]] brewed there.

==Government==
===Westminster parliamentary===
The ceremonial county of Staffordshire (including the [[unitary authority]] of Stoke-on-Trent) is represented by twelve [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Members of Parliament]] (MPs) in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]]. Nine of the MPs represent the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] and three MPs represent the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]]. The current membership of each constituency as of [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024]] is as follows:
{{Excerpt|Parliamentary constituencies in Staffordshire|Constituencies}}

===County council===
[[Staffordshire County Council]] is the top-tier [[local government in England|local council]] for the non-metropolitan county. For [[Eurostat]] purposes, it is a [[NUTS of the United Kingdom|NUTS 3 region]] (code UKG22).

Staffordshire operates a [[cabinet-style council]]. There are 62 councillors for Staffordshire. The Full Council elects a cabinet of 10 councillors, including the council leader, from the majority party. Each cabinet member has their own portfolio about which they make the "day to day" decisions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Your-council-and-democracy/Elections-and-democracy/The-role-of-the-council.aspx |title=The role of the council |publisher=Staffordshire County Council |access-date=5 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250201012548/https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Your-council-and-democracy/Elections-and-democracy/The-role-of-the-council.aspx |archive-date=1 February 2025 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Your-council-and-democracy/Elections-and-democracy/The-role-of-the-cabinet.aspx |title=The role of the cabinet |publisher=Staffordshire County Council |access-date=5 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250201012255/https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Your-council-and-democracy/Elections-and-democracy/The-role-of-the-cabinet.aspx |archive-date=1 February 2025 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
{{excerpt|2021 Staffordshire County Council election|Election result}}

===Boundary changes===
{{Main|List of Staffordshire boundary changes}}

==Areas==
{{further|List of places in Staffordshire|List of Staffordshire settlements by population|List of civil parishes in Staffordshire}}

{| class="wikitable" style="border:0; text-align:left; line-height:150%;"
|-
! colspan=2 | Administrative borough
! Centre of<br />administration
! style="width:300pt;"|Other towns, villages and settlements<!--Please arrange in alphabetical order. Districts do not need to be linked in this column only the places.-->
|-
| [[Cannock Chase District]]<br />
| [[File:Cannock Chase UK locator map.svg|50px]]
| [[Cannock]]
| [[Hednesford]], [[Rugeley]], [[Norton Canes]], [[Hazelslade]], [[Heath Hayes]], [[Cannock Wood]], [[Bridgtown]]
|-
| [[East Staffordshire]]<br />
| [[File:East Staffordshire UK locator map.svg|50px]]
| [[Burton upon Trent]]
| [[Uttoxeter]], [[Barton under Needwood]], [[Branston, Staffordshire|Branston]], [[Rolleston-on-Dove]], [[Rocester]], [[Denstone]]
|-
| [[Lichfield District]]
| [[File:Lichfield UK locator map.svg|50px]]
| [[Lichfield]]
| [[Burntwood]], [[Fazeley]], [[Alrewas]], [[Shenstone, Staffordshire|Shenstone]], [[Hammerwich]], [[Chasetown]], [[Muckley Corner]]
|-
| [[South Staffordshire]]
| [[File:South Staffordshire UK locator map.svg|50px]]
| [[Codsall]]
| [[Brewood]], [[Penkridge]], [[Gailey, Staffordshire|Gailey]], [[Four Ashes, Staffordshire|Four Ashes]], [[Coven Heath]], [[Featherstone, Staffordshire|Featherstone]]
|-
| [[Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme|Newcastle Borough]]
| [[File:Newcastle-under-Lyme UK locator map.svg|50px]]
| [[Newcastle-under-Lyme]]
| [[Silverdale, Staffordshire|Silverdale]], [[Madeley, Staffordshire|Madeley]], [[Keele]], [[Audley, Staffordshire|Audley]], [[Halmerend]], [[Kidsgrove]] [[Chesterton, Staffordshire|Chesterton]]
|-
| [[Borough of Stafford|Stafford]]
| [[File:Stafford UK locator map.svg|50px]]
| [[Stafford]]
| [[Haughton, Staffordshire|Haughton]], [[Stone, Staffordshire|Stone]], [[Norton Bridge, Staffordshire|Norton Bridge]], [[Eccleshall]], [[Gnosall]], [[Baschurch]]
|-
| [[Staffordshire Moorlands|Staffordshire Moorlands District]]
| [[File:Staffordshire Moorlands UK locator map.svg|50px]]
| [[Leek, Staffordshire|Leek]]
| [[Alton, Staffordshire|Alton]], [[Hulme End]], [[Waterhouses, Staffordshire|Waterhouses]], [[Cheadle, Staffordshire|Cheadle]], [[Biddulph]], [[Endon]], [[Froghall]], [[Oakamoor]], [[Cauldon Lowe]], [[Rushton Spencer]], [[Rudyard, Staffordshire|Rudyard]], [[Tean, Staffordshire|Tean]]
|-
| [[Stoke-on-Trent|City of Stoke-on-Trent]] (unitary authority)
| [[File:Stoke-on-Trent UK locator map.svg|50px]]
| [[Stoke on Trent]]
| [[Hanley, Staffordshire|Hanley]], [[Burslem]], [[Tunstall, Staffordshire|Tunstall]], [[Longton, Staffordshire|Longton]], [[Fenton, Staffordshire|Fenton]], [[Stoke-upon-Trent]], [[Trentham, Staffordshire|Trentham]]
|-
| [[Tamworth, Staffordshire|Tamworth District]] (previously in [[Warwickshire]])
| [[File:Tamworth UK locator map.svg|50px]]
| [[Tamworth, Staffordshire|Tamworth]]
| [[Wilnecote]], [[Stonydelph]], [[Glascote]], [[Belgrave, Staffordshire|Belgrave]], [[Dosthill]]
|}

===Historic===
[[File:Queen Street in Wolverhampton (geograph 6469114).jpg|thumb|Wolverhampton]]
Some settlements were formerly governed as part of the county, these are now under the West Midlands county:
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; border:0; text-align:left; line-height:150%;"
|-
! scope="row" | West Midlands
| [[Aldridge]], [[Bilston]], [[Bloxwich]], [[Brierley Hill]], [[Brownhills]], [[Coseley]], [[Darlaston]], [[Harborne]], [[Kingswinford]], [[Pelsall]], [[Rowley Regis]], [[Sedgley]], [[Smethwick]], [[Tipton]], [[Walsall]], [[Wednesbury]], [[Wednesfield]], [[West Bromwich]], [[Willenhall]], [[Wolverhampton]]
|}

==Religion==
In the [[2011 United Kingdom census]], the population of Staffordshire reported their religion as follows:
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Religion reported in 2011 UK census
|-
! !!colspan="2"| Staffordshire county <br />(excludes Stoke-on-Trent)<ref>{{NOMIS2011|id=E10000028|title=Staffordshire county |access-date=6 August 2021}}</ref> !! colspan="2"|Stoke-on-Trent<ref>{{NOMIS2011|id=E06000021|title=Stoke-on-Trent Local Authority |access-date=6 August 2021}}</ref>  
|-
| || Count || %age || Count|| %age  
|-
| Population || 848,489	 || 100 || 249,008|| 100  
|-
| Has religion || 600,127	 || 70.7 || 170,329|| 68.4  
|-
| Christianity || 578,352	 || 68.2 || 151,624|| 60.9  
|-
| Sikhism || 3,086 || 0.4 || 579|| 0.2  
|-
| Hinduism || 2,773 || 0.3 || 1,384|| 0.6  
|-
| Buddhism || 299 || 0.0 || 66|| 0.0 
|-
| Islam || 10,817 || 1.3 || 14,993|| 6.0  
|-
| Judaism|| 2,017	|| 0.2 || 760|| 0.3  
|-
| Other religion || 2,783 || 0.3 || 923|| 0.4  
|-
| No religion || 193,662 || 22.8 || 62,737|| 25.2  
|-
| Religion not stated || 54,700 || 6.4 || 15,942|| 6.4  
|}

===Church of England===
The only cathedral in the county is Lichfield Cathedral in the city of Lichfield. The [[Diocese of Lichfield]] covers the whole county with the exception of [[Stapenhill]] and [[Amington]], the north of the nearby county of [[Shropshire]] and the [[Black Country]] area of the [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]]. The county is covered by the archdeaconries of [[Stoke-upon-Trent]] and [[Lichfield]]. The current [[Bishop of Lichfield]] is [[Michael Ipgrave]] and the current [[Bishop of Stafford]] [[Geoff Annas]]. There are 298 [[Church of England]] churches in the county.

===Roman Catholic Church===
Staffordshire is part of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham]]. The current archbishop is [[Bernard Longley]].

===Methodism===
[[Primitive Methodism]] was founded in Staffordshire by [[Hugh Bourne]], a native of Stoke-on-Trent, at a public gathering in the village of [[Mow Cop]]. He originally followed the [[John Wesley|Wesleyan]] form of [[Methodism]] but in 1801 he reformed the Methodist service by conducting it outside. By 1811 with his brother he founded the first chapel in the [[Tunstall, Staffordshire|Tunstall]] area of Stoke-on-Trent.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/local_heroes/a_f/bourne.shtml |title=Bringing in the sheep – Hugh Bourne, the religious reformer from Stoke |year=2002 |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |work=BBC Stoke & Staffordshire |first=Zoe |last=Sailsman |access-date=20 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106114801/http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/local_heroes/a_f/bourne.shtml |archive-date=6 January 2009 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Since 1932 the Primitive and Wesleyan movements have been a single organisation, the [[Methodist Church of Great Britain]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.myprimitivemethodists.org.uk/content/subjects-2/primitive-methodist-history/what-is-primitive-methodism | title=What is Primitive Methodism? A short introduction| author=Jill Barber| website=My Primitive Methodists| access-date=26 February 2025}}</ref> The Methodist Churches of Staffordshire fall within three Districts: Birmingham District, Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury District and Chester & Stoke-on-Trent District.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://media.methodist.org.uk/media/documents/district-map-2024.pdf|title=The Methodist District Map| year=2024}}</ref>

===Judaism===
The most popular synagogue in the county is on London Road in [[Newcastle-Under-Lyme]], which opened in 2006 and replaced the former Birch Terrace synagogue in Hanley.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/content/articles/2006/04/19/local_tv_archive_faith_hanley_synagogue_move_0406_feature.shtml |title=BBC News-Birch Terrace synagogue deconsecration ceremony |publisher=BBC |access-date=4 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226042334/http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/content/articles/2006/04/19/local_tv_archive_faith_hanley_synagogue_move_0406_feature.shtml |archive-date=26 February 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref> According to the 2001 census there were 407 Jews in the non-metropolitan county of Staffordshire,<ref>{{cite web |author=Neighbourhood Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=3567686&c=ST14+8XG&d=180&e=16&g=485122&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1314658523812&enc=1&dsFamilyId=95 |title=Religion in Staffordshire |publisher=Neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk |access-date=4 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912184739/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=3567686&c=ST14+8XG&d=180&e=16&g=485122&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1314658523812&enc=1&dsFamilyId=95 |archive-date=12 September 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref> and 83 in Stoke-on-Trent.<ref>{{cite web |author=Neighbourhood Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=276832&c=stoke-on-trent&d=13&e=16&g=397617&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1314658429234&enc=1&dsFamilyId=95 |title=Religion in Stoke-on-Trent |publisher=Neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk |access-date=4 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912184745/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=276832&c=stoke-on-trent&d=13&e=16&g=397617&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1314658429234&enc=1&dsFamilyId=95 |archive-date=12 September 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Islam===
There are 15 [[mosque]]s in Stoke-on-Trent, 5 in [[Burton-upon-Trent]] and 1 in both Stafford and Lichfield.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mosques.muslimsinbritain.org/maps.php |title=Mosques in the United Kingdom |publisher=Mosques.muslimsinbritain.org |access-date=4 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717140459/http://mosques.muslimsinbritain.org/maps.php |archive-date=17 July 2015 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref> As of 2019 a new [https://citycentralmosque.org/ mosque] has finished construction in the Hanley area of Stoke-on-Trent and is the first purpose-built mosque in the area. At the 2001 census there were 7,658 Muslims in Stoke-on-Trent and 6,081 in the rest of Staffordshire, with a total of 13,739 making up 1.3% of the population. 62.9% (3823) of the Muslims in the rest of Staffordshire are from the town of Burton-upon-Trent.<ref>{{cite web |author=Neighbourhood Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6181105&c=horninglow&d=14&e=16&g=484985&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1314745126562&enc=1&dsFamilyId=95 |title=Horninglow Religion |publisher=Neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk |access-date=4 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912184752/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6181105&c=horninglow&d=14&e=16&g=484985&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1314745126562&enc=1&dsFamilyId=95 |archive-date=12 September 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Neighbourhood Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6181103&c=eton+park&d=14&e=16&g=484947&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1314745154891&enc=1&dsFamilyId=95 |title=Eton Park Religion |publisher=Neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk |access-date=4 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912184833/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6181103&c=eton+park&d=14&e=16&g=484947&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1314745154891&enc=1&dsFamilyId=95 |archive-date=12 September 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Neighbourhood Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6181100&c=burton&d=14&e=16&g=484920&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1314745186547&enc=1&dsFamilyId=95 |title=Burton Religion |publisher=Neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk |access-date=4 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912184840/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6181100&c=burton&d=14&e=16&g=484920&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1314745186547&enc=1&dsFamilyId=95 |archive-date=12 September 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Neighbourhood Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6181114&c=winshill&d=14&e=16&g=485159&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1314745205031&enc=1&dsFamilyId=95 |title=Winshill Religion |publisher=Neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk |access-date=4 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912184847/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6181114&c=winshill&d=14&e=16&g=485159&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1314745205031&enc=1&dsFamilyId=95 |archive-date=12 September 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Neighbourhood Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6181099&c=brizlincote&d=14&e=16&g=484904&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1314745361219&enc=1&dsFamilyId=95 |title=Brizlincote Religion |publisher=Neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk |access-date=4 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912184856/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6181099&c=brizlincote&d=14&e=16&g=484904&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1314745361219&enc=1&dsFamilyId=95 |archive-date=12 September 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Neighbourhood Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6181109&c=stapenhill&d=14&e=16&g=485061&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1314745249094&enc=1&dsFamilyId=95 |title=Stapenhill Religion |publisher=Neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk |access-date=4 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912184903/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6181109&c=stapenhill&d=14&e=16&g=485061&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1314745249094&enc=1&dsFamilyId=95 |archive-date=12 September 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Neighbourhood Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6181096&c=anglesey&d=14&e=16&g=484854&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1314745274031&enc=1&dsFamilyId=95 |title=Anglesey Religion |publisher=Neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk |access-date=4 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912184911/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6181096&c=anglesey&d=14&e=16&g=484854&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1314745274031&enc=1&dsFamilyId=95 |archive-date=12 September 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Neighbourhood Statistics |url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6181108&c=shobnall&d=14&e=16&g=485041&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1314745295016&enc=1&dsFamilyId=95 |title=Shobnall Religion |publisher=Neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk |access-date=4 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912184921/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=6181108&c=shobnall&d=14&e=16&g=485041&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1314745295016&enc=1&dsFamilyId=95 |archive-date=12 September 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Transport==

===Canals===
Staffordshire has an extensive network of canals including the [[Birmingham and Fazeley Canal]], [[Caldon Canal]], [[Coventry Canal]], [[Shropshire Union Canal]], [[Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal]] and [[Trent and Mersey Canal]].

===Railways===
{{further|Rail transport in Staffordshire}}
[[File:Stone railway station.jpg|thumb|[[Stone railway station]] in [[Stone, Staffordshire|Stone]]]]
Staffordshire has several railways that pass through and serve settlements within the county. The most important of these is the [[West Coast Main Line]], which facilitates through services between London and Scotland. Few, if any, of these stop inside the county's borders. [[Stafford railway station]] is at a junction with the line to [[Birmingham New Street railway station|Birmingham New Street]], a major hub, and is predominantly served by [[West Midlands Trains|London Northwestern Railway]]. Stoke-on-Trent railway station is the busiest station in Staffordshire <ref>{{cite web |url=https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/estimates-of-station-usage |title=Estimates of station usage &#124; ORR Data Portal |publisher=Dataportal.orr.gov.uk |date=2021-11-25 |access-date=2022-02-19 |archive-date=30 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130052455/https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/estimates-of-station-usage |url-status=live }}</ref> and is served by long-distance CrossCountry and Avanti West Coast trains to Manchester. This station is also the terminus of the North Staffordshire line to Derby via Uttoxeter, which narrowly avoided closure in the 1960s. Stone railway station reopened in 2008.

===Roads===
The county has relatively good links to the national roads network. Several major roads intersect the county, making it a popular location for commuters working in Birmingham. The [[M42 motorway|M42]] junction 10 is in Tamworth and the motorway heads southwest towards Birmingham. The [[M6 motorway|M6]] runs north–south through the county, which contains junctions 10A–16. The [[M6 Toll]], the UK's first [[toll road|toll motorway]], runs through the county with junctions in Weeford near Lichfield, Cannock and joins the M6 south of Stafford.

The [[A5 road (Great Britain)|A5]] and [[A34 road (Great Britain)|A34]] run through the county. The former has been significantly widened to a dual carriageway at several sections, although much of it remains single carriageway.

===Air===
There are currently no airports with scheduled flights in the county, with the nearest ones being [[Birmingham Airport|Birmingham]], [[East Midlands Airport|East Midlands]] and [[Manchester Airport|Manchester]]. Depending on the location, there is, however, [[Wolverhampton Airport]] in [[Bobbington]] and [[Tatenhill Airfield]] near Burton-upon-Trent, both of which are small airports catering for general aviation.

===Bus===

Services within the county are chiefly provided by [[Arriva Midlands]], [[D&G Bus]] and [[First Potteries]]. National Express coaches serve towns and cities on a daily basis.

==Media==
=== Newspapers===
Daily Newspapers in Staffordshire are ''[[The Sentinel (Staffordshire)|The Sentinel]]'', covering Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme and the [[Staffordshire Moorlands]], ''[[Burton Mail]]'' which covers the town of Burton-upon-Trent and the ''[[Express & Star]]'' which has several editions covering Tamworth, Lichfield, Cannock Chase and [[Stafford]].

=== Radio===
The local BBC radio stations covering Staffordshire are [[BBC Radio Stoke]] covering Mid and North Staffordshire, [[BBC Radio WM]] covering the south of the county and [[BBC Radio Derby]] covering [[East Staffordshire]]. The local commercial radio stations are [[Hits Radio Staffordshire & Cheshire]] and [[Greatest Hits Radio Staffordshire & Cheshire]] which cover North and Mid Staffordshire, and [[Capital Mid-Counties]], which covers [[Burton-upon-Trent|Burton]], [[Lichfield]] and [[Tamworth, Staffordshire|Tamworth]]. Further stations which cover parts of Staffordshire include [[Heart West Midlands|Heart]], [[Smooth West Midlands|Smooth]], and [[Greatest Hits Radio West Midlands|Greatest Hits Radio]] which cover the southern parts of the county. [[Hits Radio Birmingham]] covers Lichfield and Tamworth, and [[Hits Radio Black Country & Shropshire]] covers the [[Cannock]] area.

[[United Christian Broadcasters]], which has facilities in [[Burslem]] and Hanchurch, has been involved in radio broadcasting since 1987. Today it is broadcast nationally in the UK through DAB digital radio.

;Community radio
Staffordshire is served by a number of [[community radio]] stations. In North Staffordshire, there are four community radio stations – [[Moorlands Radio]] in [[Leek, Staffordshire|Leek]], [[6 Towns Radio]], based in [[Burslem]], The Hitmix, based in [[Newcastle-under-Lyme]] and [[Cross Rhythms City Radio]] based in [[Hanley, Staffordshire|Hanley]]
[[File:Broad Eye Mill.jpg|thumb| The [[Broad Eye Windmill]] in [[Stafford]], home of [[Windmill Broadcasting]]]]
In [[Stafford]] there are two community radio stations – [[Windmill Broadcasting]], the UK's only radio station based in a [[Windmill]], in the [[Broad Eye Windmill]], and [[Stafford FM]], which broadcasts to the town on 107.3 FM.

In the [[Cannock Chase District]], there is [[Cannock Chase Radio]], which broadcasts on 89.6, 89.8 and 94.0 FM, and in [[Tamworth, Staffordshire|Tamworth]], there is [[Radio Tamworth]], which broadcasts on 106.8 FM.

=== Television===
Staffordshire is served by the [[ITV Central]] and [[BBC West Midlands]] television regions, both of which have their studios in [[Birmingham]]. The far north of the county, around [[Biddulph]], is served by [[ITV Granada]] and [[BBC North West]] from [[MediaCityUK]] in [[City of Salford|Salford]].

== Notable people ==
{{further|Category:People from Staffordshire}}
{{div col}}
* [[George Anson, 1st Baron Anson]] (1697–1762), admiral of the fleet
* [[Philip Astley]] (1742–1814), "father of the modern circus"
* [[Joseph Bamford]] (1916–2001), businessman
* [[Arnold Bennett]] (1867–1931), novelist
* [[Havergal Brian]] (1876–1972), composer
* [[Vera Brittain]] (1893–1970), writer, feminist
* [[Bruno Brookes]] (1959– ), radio dj
* [[Clarice Cliff]] (1899–1972), pottery designer
* [[Peter De Wint]] (1784–1849), landscape painter
* [[John Gilbert (agent)|John Gilbert]] (1724–95), land agent
* [[Nick Hancock]] (1962– ), broadcast presenter
* [[Thomas Harrison (soldier)|Thomas Harrison]] (1616–60), Fifth Monarchist, major-general and regicide
* [[Hugh Henshall]] (1734–1816), canal engineer
* [[Elgar Howarth]] (1935–2025), composer and conductor
* [[John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent]] (1735–1823), admiral of the fleet
* [[Samuel Johnson]] (1709–84), author and lexicographer
* [[Lemmy]] (Kilmister, 1945–2015), rock musician
* [[Stanley Matthews]] (1915–2000), footballer
* [[Thomas Maxfield]] (born Macclesfield, c.1590–1616), Catholic priest and martyr
* [[R. J. Mitchell]] (1895–1937), aircraft designer
* [[Neil Morrissey]] (1962– ), actor
* [[Ada Nield Chew|Ada Nield]] (1870–1945), suffragist
* [[William Palmer (murderer)|William Palmer]] (1824–56), poisoner 
* [[Mary Sackville]], Countess of Dorset (born Curzon, c.1586–1645), royal governess
* [[Edward Smith (sea captain)|Edward Smith]] (1850–1912), sea captain
* [[Josiah Spode]] (1733–97), potter
* [[Thomas Sutton (physician)|Thomas Sutton]] (1767–1835), physician
* [[Jackie Trent]] (born Yvonne Burgess, 1940–2015), singer-songwriter
* [[Anthea Turner]] (1960– ), television presenter
* [[Isaak Walton]] (1593–1683), writer
* [[Francis Webb (engineer)|Francis Webb]] (1836–1906), railway mechanical engineer
* [[Josiah Wedgwood]] (1730–95), potter
* [[Werburgh]] (c.650–700), princess and abbess
* [[Elizabeth Wilbraham]] (born Mytton, 1632–1705), architectural patron 
* [[Robbie Williams]] (1974– ), pop singer
* [[A. N. Wilson]] (1950– ), writer
* [[Whitaker Wright]] (1846–1904), fraudulent company promoter
* [[James Wyatt]] (1746–1813), architect
* [[Jeffry Wyatville]] (born Wyatt, 1766–1840), architect
{{div col end}}

==Places of interest==
{{see also|List of museums in Staffordshire}}
{{EngPlacesKey|align=right}}
{{columns-list|colwidth=18em|
*[[Alton Towers]] [[File:Themepark uk icon.png|15px|Theme Park]]
*[[Ancient High House]] [[File:HH icon.png]] [[File:Museum icon.png]]
*[[Apedale Community Country Park]] [[File:CP icon.png]] [[File:HR icon.svg]]
*[[Biddulph Grange]] [[File:NTE icon.svg]]
*[[Blithfield Hall]] [[File:HH icon.png]]
*[[Blithfield Reservoir]] [[File:UKAL icon.svg]]
*[[Brindley Water Mill]] [[File:Museum icon (red).png]]
*[[Broad Eye Windmill]]
*[[Cannock Chase]] [[File:UKAL icon.svg]]
*[[Chasewater Railway]] [[File:HR icon.svg]]
*[[Cheddleton Flint Mill]] [[File:Museum icon.png]]
*[[Churnet Valley Railway]] [[File:HR icon.svg]]
*[[Croxden Abbey]] [[File:EH icon.svg]] [[File:AP Icon.svg|16px]]
*[[Dovedale]] [[File:UKAL icon.svg]]
*[[Downs Banks]] [[File:NTE icon.svg]]
*[[Drayton Manor Theme Park]] [[File:Themepark uk icon.png|15px|Theme Park]]
*[[Eccleshall Castle]] [[File:CL icon.svg]]
*[[Erasmus Darwin House]] [[File:Museum icon.png]] [[File:HH icon.png]]
*[[Ford Green Hall]] [[File:HH icon.png]]
*[[Foxfield Steam Railway]] [[File:HR icon.svg]]
*[[Gladstone Pottery Museum]] [[File:Museum icon.png]]
*[[Hanley Park]] [[File:CP icon.png]]
*[[Heart of England Way]] [[File:UKAL icon.svg]]
*[[Moseley Railway Trust]] (Apedale) [[File:HR icon.svg]] [[File:Museum icon.png]] [[File:CP icon.png]]
*[[Ilam Park]] [[File:NTE icon.svg]]
*[[Izaak Walton's Cottage]] [[File:HH icon.png]] [[File:Museum icon.png]]
*[[Manifold Way]] following the route of the former [[Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway]]
*[[National Brewery Centre]] [[File:Museum icon (red).png]]
*[[Lichfield Cathedral]] [[File:AP Icon.svg|16px]]
*[[Madeley Old Hall]] [[File:HH icon.png]]
*[[Trentham Gardens#Monkey Forest|Monkey Forest at Trentham Gardens]] [[File:Zoo icon.jpg|18px]]
*[[Moseley Old Hall]] [[File:NTE icon.svg]]
*[[Mow Cop Castle]] [[File:CL icon.svg]]
*[[Middleport Pottery]]
*[[National Memorial Arboretum]]
*[[Peak District National Park]] [[File:UKAL icon.svg]]
*[[Potteries Museum & Art Gallery]] [[File:Museum icon.png]]
*[[Pennine Way]] [[File:UKAL icon.svg]]
*[[RSPB Coombes Valley]] [[File:UKAL icon.svg]]
*[[Rudyard Lake Steam Railway]] [[File:HR icon.svg]]
*[[Sandon Hall]] [[File:CP icon.png]]
*[[Shugborough Hall|Shugborough Estate]] [[File:NTE icon.svg]]
*[[St Mary's Church, Stafford|Stafford Parish Church]] [[File:AP Icon.svg|16px]]
*[[Stafford Castle]] [[File:CL icon.svg]]
*[[Staffordshire Regiment Museum]] [[File:Museum icon (red).png]]
*[[Staffordshire Way]] [[File:UKAL icon.svg]]
*[[Stoke Minster]] [[File:AP Icon.svg|16px]]
*[[The Roaches]] [[File:UKAL icon.svg]]
*[[Tamworth Castle]] [[File:CL icon.svg]]
*[[Trentham Gardens]] [[File:CP icon.png]]
*[[Tutbury Castle]] [[File:CL icon.svg]]
*[[Stafford#Culture|Victoria Park, Stafford]] [[File:UKAL icon.svg]]
*[[Letocetum|Wall Roman Site]] [[File:EH icon.svg]] [[File:NTE icon.svg]]
*[[Wedgwood Museum]] [[File:Museum icon (red).png]]
*[[Weston Park]] [[File:HH icon.png]]
*[[Whitmore Hall]] [[File:HH icon.png]]
}}

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
Image:Stafford shire hall.jpg| [[Shire Hall, Stafford|Stafford Shire Hall]]
Image:Boscobel House.jpg| Boscobel House
Image:Tamworth Castle 343714.jpg| Tamworth Castle
Image:Lichfield Cathedral.jpg| Lichfield Cathedral
Image:Weston Park - geograph.org.uk - 995202.jpg| Weston Park
Image:Wightwick Manor 01.jpg| Wightwick Manor
Image:Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal - geograph.org.uk - 494864.jpg| The Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal
Image:Wenceslas Hollar - Staffordshire (State 3).jpg| Map of Staffordshire and its hundreds, by Wenceslas Hollar, {{Circa|1627}}–1677
</gallery>

==See also==
{{portal|Staffordshire}}
*[[Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire]]
*[[High Sheriff of Staffordshire]]
*[[Staffordshire (UK Parliament constituency)|List of MPs for Staffordshire]]
*[[Samuel Hieronymus Grimm]]
*The [[Stafford knot]]
*[[Tamworth (pig)|Tamworth Pig]]
*[[Healthcare in Staffordshire]]
*[[Staffordshire Police]]
*[[Staffordshire Police and Crime Commissioner]]
*[[Flag of Staffordshire]]
*[[Staffordshire Bull Terrier]]

== Notes ==
<references group="nb" />
==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Staffordshire}}
{{Wikivoyage|Staffordshire}}
*{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Staffordshire |volume=25 |short=x}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080105044536/http://www.yourhomepagein.co.uk/East_Staffordshire/ East Staffordshire Community Website]
*[https://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke BBC Staffordshire website]
*[https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk Staffordshire County Council]
*[https://www.staffspasttrack.org.uk Staffordshire Past Track] – Historical archive about the county
*[https://www.staffordshiretourism.com Staffordshire Tourism website]
*[https://www.the-staffordshire-encyclopaedia.co.uk/ The Staffordshire Encyclopaedia]
*[https://viewfinder.english-heritage.org.uk/search/results.aspx?index=0&mainQuery=&searchType=all&form=basic&theme=&county=STAFFORDSHIRE&district=&placeName= Images of Staffordshire] {{Webarchive |url=https://archive.today/20121223225357/http://viewfinder.english-heritage.org.uk/search/results.aspx?index=0&mainQuery=&searchType=all&form=basic&theme=&county=STAFFORDSHIRE&district=&placeName= |date=23 December 2012 }} at the [[English Heritage Archive]]
*[https://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1386-1421/constituencies/staffordshire The History of Parliament: the House of Commons – Staffordshire, County, 1386 to 1841]

{{Staffordshire}}
{{West Midlands}}
{{England counties}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Staffordshire| ]]
[[Category:Non-metropolitan counties]]
[[Category:West Midlands (region)]]
[[Category:NUTS 3 statistical regions of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Counties of England established in antiquity]]