Editing Wiltshire

{{Short description|County of England}}
{{distinguish|text=[[Wilshire (disambiguation)|Wilshire]] or [[Wilshere]]}}
{{About|the county in England}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox English county
| official_name = Wiltshire
| locator_map = Wiltshire UK locator map 2010.svg
| map_caption = Wiltshire within England
| coordinates = {{coord|51.3|N|01.9|W|region:GB-WIL_type:adm1st|display=inline,title}}
| region = [[South West England|South West]]
| image_main = {{multiple images|border=infobox|perrow=1 2|total_width=270px
 |image1 = Bullocks on a hillock, Marlborough Downs, Wiltshire - geograph.org.uk - 4609166.jpg
 |image2 = Catedral de Salisbury, Salisbury, Inglaterra, 2014-08-12, DD 52.JPG
 |image3 = Swindon-view crop.jpg
}}
| image_caption = [[Marlborough Downs]], [[Salisbury Cathedral]], and a view of [[Swindon]]
| established_date = [[Historic counties of England|Ancient]]
| lord_lieutenant_office = Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire
| lord_lieutenant_name = [[Sarah Troughton]]
| high_sheriff_office = High Sheriff of Wiltshire
| high_sheriff_name = 
| area_total_km2 = 3485
| area_total_rank = 14th
| ethnicity = 
| unitary_council1 = [[Wiltshire Council]]
| unitary_council2 = [[Swindon Borough Council]]
| districts_map = [[File:Wiltshire numbered districts.svg|170px]]
| districts_key = {{Colorsample|#FEFE77}} Unitary
| districts_list = #[[Wiltshire (district)|Wiltshire]]
#[[Borough of Swindon|Swindon]]
| MPs = [[List of parliamentary constituencies in Wiltshire|List of MPs]]
| police = [[Wiltshire Police]]
}}

'''Wiltshire''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|w|ɪ|l|t|.|ʃ|ər|,_|-|ʃ|ɪr}};<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/wiltshire?showCookiePolicy=true |title=Wiltshire |access-date=23 September 2014 |publisher=Collins Dictionary |archive-date=24 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924040741/http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/wiltshire?showCookiePolicy=true |url-status=live }}</ref> abbreviated to '''Wilts''') is a [[Ceremonial counties of England|ceremonial county]] in [[South West England]]. It borders [[Gloucestershire]] to the north, [[Oxfordshire]] to the north-east, [[Berkshire]] to the east, [[Hampshire]] to the south-east, [[Dorset]] to the south, and [[Somerset]] to the west. The largest settlement is [[Swindon]], and [[Trowbridge]] is the [[county town]].

The county has an area of {{Convert|3485|km2|sqmi|abbr=in}} and a population of 720,060. The county is mostly rural, and the centre and south-west are sparsely populated. After Swindon (183,638), the largest settlements are the city of [[Salisbury]] (41,820) and the towns of [[Chippenham]] (37,548) and Trowbridge (37,169). For [[Local government in England|local government]] purposes, the county comprises two [[unitary authority]] areas: [[Borough of Swindon|Swindon]] and [[Wiltshire Council|Wiltshire]].

Undulating chalk [[downland]]s characterize much of the county. In the east are [[Marlborough Downs]], which contain [[Savernake Forest]]. To the south is the [[Vale of Pewsey]], which separates the downs from [[Salisbury Plain]] in the centre of the county. The south-west is also downland, and contains the [[West Wiltshire Downs]], the [[Vale of Wardour]] to their south, and part of [[Cranborne Chase]] in the far south of the county. The north-west of Wiltshire is part of the [[Cotswolds]], a limestone area. The county's two major rivers are both called the Avon; the northern [[River Avon, Bristol|Avon]] enters the county in the north-west and flows in a south-westerly direction before leaving it near [[Bradford-on-Avon]], and the southern [[River Avon, Hampshire|Avon]] rises on Salisbury Plain and flows through Salisbury, then into Hampshire. The far south-east contains part of the [[New Forest]]. Much of the county is protected: the Marlborough Downs; West Wiltshire Downs, Vale of Wardour, and Cranbourne Chase; and the Cotswolds are all part of designated [[National Landscape|national landscapes]], and the New Forest is a [[National parks of the United Kingdom|national park]].

Salisbury Plain is noted for the [[Stonehenge]] and [[Avebury]] [[stone circle]]s, which together are a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]], and other ancient landmarks. Much of the plain is a training area for the [[British Army]]. The city of Salisbury is notable for its [[Salisbury Cathedral|medieval cathedral]]. Large [[English country house|country houses]] open to the public include [[Longleat]], where there is also a [[Longleat Safari and Adventure Park|safari park]], and the [[National Trust]]'s [[Stourhead]].

==Toponymy==
The county, in the 9th century written as ''Wiltunscir'', is named after the former county town of [[Wilton, Wiltshire|Wilton]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://apps.wiltshire.gov.uk/communityhistory/Community/Index/246 |title=Wiltshire Community History: Wilton |publisher=Wiltshire Council |access-date=13 December 2010 |archive-date=28 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328132433/https://apps.wiltshire.gov.uk/communityhistory/Community/Index/246 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==History==
{{main|History of Wiltshire}}
[[File:Stonehenge back wide.jpg|left|thumb|[[Stonehenge]]]]
Wiltshire is notable for its pre-[[Roman Britain|Roman]] [[archaeology]]. The [[Mesolithic]], [[Neolithic]] and [[Bronze Age]] people that occupied southern Britain built settlements on the hills and downland that cover Wiltshire. [[Stonehenge]] and [[Avebury]] are perhaps the most famous Neolithic sites in the UK.

In the 6th and 7th centuries Wiltshire was at the western edge of [[Anglo-Saxons|Saxon]] Britain, as [[Cranborne Chase]] and the [[Somerset Levels]] prevented the advance to the west. The Battle of [[Bedwyn]] was fought in 675 between [[Aescwine of Wessex|Escuin]], a [[Wessex|West Saxon]] nobleman who had seized the throne of [[Seaxburh of Wessex|Queen Saxburga]], and [[King Wulfhere]] of [[Mercia]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Pearson |first=Michael |title=Kennet & Avon Middle Thames: Pearson's Canal Companion |year=2003 |publisher=Central Waterways Supplies |location=Rugby |isbn=0-907864-97-X}}</ref> In 878 the [[Danes (Germanic tribe)|Danes]] invaded the county. Following the [[Norman Conquest]] in 1066, large areas of the country came into the possession of the crown and the church.

At the time of the [[Domesday Survey]], the industry of Wiltshire was largely agricultural; 390 [[mill (grinding)|mills]] are mentioned, and [[vineyards]] at Tollard and Lacock. In the succeeding centuries sheep-farming was vigorously pursued, and the Cistercian monastery of [[Stanley Abbey|Stanley]] exported wool to the [[Florence|Florentine]] and [[Flanders|Flemish]] markets in the 13th and 14th centuries.

[[File:Sc Saxton Wiltonia.jpg|thumb|Hand-drawn map of Wiltshire, 1576, by Christopher Saxton]]

In the 17th century, [[English Civil War]] Wiltshire was largely [[roundhead|Parliamentarian]]. The [[Battle of Roundway Down]], a Royalist victory, was fought near [[Devizes]].

In 1794, it was decided at a meeting at the [[Bear Hotel, Devizes|Bear Inn]] in Devizes to raise a body of ten independent troops of [[Yeomanry]] for the county of Wiltshire, which formed the basis for what would become the [[Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry]], who served with distinction both at home and abroad, during the [[Boer War]], World War I and World War II. The Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry lives on as Y (RWY) Squadron, based in Swindon, and B (RWY) Squadron, based in Salisbury, of the [[Royal Wessex Yeomanry]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/armoured/regiments/30061.aspx |title=Royal Wessex Yeomanry |last=British Army Website |work=Regimental Page |publisher=British Army |access-date=5 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065056/http://www.army.mod.uk/armoured/regiments/30061.aspx |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Around 1800, the [[Kennet and Avon Canal]] was built through Wiltshire, providing a route for transporting cargoes from [[Bristol]] to London until the development of the [[Great Western Railway]].

Information on the 261 civil parishes of Wiltshire is available at Wiltshire Council's Wiltshire Community History website which has maps, demographic data, historic and modern pictures and short histories.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Community History |url=https://apps.wiltshire.gov.uk/communityhistory |website=[[Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre]] |publisher=Wiltshire Council |date= |access-date=14 May 2023 |archive-date=14 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514172402/https://apps.wiltshire.gov.uk/communityhistory |url-status=live }}</ref>

The local nickname for Wiltshire natives is "[[Moonrakers]]". This originated from a story of [[smuggler]]s who managed to foil the local [[Excise]] men by hiding their alcohol, possibly French [[brandy]] in barrels or kegs, in a village pond. When confronted by the excise men they raked the surface to conceal the submerged [[contraband]] with ripples, and claimed that they were trying to rake in a large round cheese visible in the pond, really a reflection of the full moon. The officials took them for simple yokels or mad and left them alone, allowing them to continue with their illegal activities. Many villages claim the tale for their own village pond, but the story is most commonly linked with The Crammer in [[Devizes]].<ref name="devizesheritage">{{cite web |url=http://www.devizesheritage.org.uk/the_green_devizes.html |website=Devizesheritage.org.uk |title=The Green and Crammer Pond, Devizes |access-date=28 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100423070252/http://www.devizesheritage.org.uk/the_green_devizes.html |archive-date=23 April 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/moonraking/folklore_moonraking.shtml |title=Moonraking: The Folklore |work=Where I live: Wiltshire |publisher=BBC Wiltshire |access-date=1 December 2008 |archive-date=11 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111172049/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/moonraking/folklore_moonraking.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Geology, landscape and ecology==
{{See also|List of hills of Wiltshire|List of rivers of Wiltshire}}
[[File:Cherhillwhitehorse.jpg|left|thumb|[[Cherhill White Horse]], east of Calne ]]

Two-thirds of Wiltshire, a mostly [[Rural area|rural]] county, lies on [[chalk]], a kind of soft, white, porous limestone that is resistant to erosion, giving it a high [[downland|chalk downland]] landscape. This chalk is part of a system of chalk downlands throughout eastern and southern England formed by the rocks of the [[Chalk Group]] and stretching from the [[Dorset Downs]] in the west to [[Dover]] in the east. The largest area of chalk in Wiltshire is [[Salisbury Plain]], which is used mainly for [[agronomy|arable]] agriculture and by the [[British Army]] as training ranges. The highest point in the county is the [[Tan Hill, Wiltshire|Tan Hill]]–[[Milk Hill]] ridge in the [[Vale of Pewsey|Pewsey Vale]], just to the north of Salisbury Plain, at {{cvt|295|m}} above sea level.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bathurst |first=David |year=2012 |title=Walking the county high points of England |location=Chichester |publisher=Summersdale |isbn=978-1-84-953239-6 |pages=138–147}}</ref>

The chalk uplands run north-east into [[West Berkshire]] in the [[Marlborough Downs]] ridge, and south-west into Dorset as [[Cranborne Chase]]. Cranborne Chase, which straddles the border, has, like Salisbury Plain, yielded much Stone Age and Bronze Age [[archaeology]]. The Marlborough Downs are part of the [[North Wessex Downs AONB]] (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), a {{convert|1730|sqkm|abbr=in|adj=on}} conservation area.

In the north-west of the county, on the border with [[South Gloucestershire]] and [[Bath and North East Somerset]], the underlying rock is the resistant [[oolite]] [[limestone]] of the [[Cotswolds]]. Part of the Cotswolds AONB is also in Wiltshire, in the county's north-western corner.

Between the areas of chalk and limestone downland are [[clay]] [[valley]]s and [[River valley|vale]]s. The largest of these vales is the [[River Avon, Bristol|Avon Vale]]. The Avon cuts diagonally through the north of the county, flowing through [[Bradford-on-Avon]] and into [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]] and [[Bristol]]. The Vale of Pewsey has been cut through the chalk into [[Greensand]] and [[Oxford Clay]] in the centre of the county. In the south west of the county is the [[Vale of Wardour]]. The south-east of the county lies on the sandy soils of the northernmost area of the [[New Forest]].

Chalk is a [[porous]] rock, so the chalk hills have little surface water. The main settlements in the county are therefore situated at wet points. Notably, Salisbury is situated between the chalk of Salisbury Plain and marshy flood plains.

=== Green belt ===
{{main|Avon Green Belt}}
The county has a [[Green belt (United Kingdom)|green belt]] mainly along its western fringes as a part of the extensive [[Avon Green Belt]]. It reaches as far as the outskirts of Rudloe/[[Corsham]] and Trowbridge, preventing [[urban sprawl]] particularly from the latter in the direction of [[Bradford-on-Avon]], and affording further protection to surrounding villages and towns from Bath in Somerset.

==Climate==
Along with the rest of [[South West England]], Wiltshire has a temperate climate which is generally wetter and milder than counties further east.<ref name=weather>{{cite web |title=South West England: climate |work=Met Office |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/regional-climates/sw |access-date=16 May 2017 |archive-date=25 February 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060225164404/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/location/southwestengland/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The annual mean temperature is approximately {{cvt|10|°C|°F|1}}. Although there is a marked maritime influence, this is generally rather less pronounced than it is for other south-western counties, which are closer to the sea. July and August are the warmest months with mean daily maxima of approximately {{cvt|22|°C|°F|1}}. In winter mean minimum temperatures of {{cvt|1|°C|°F|1}} or {{cvt|2|°C|°F|1}} are usual and [[Freezing air temperature|air frost]] is frequent. In the summer the [[Azores]] high pressure affects south-west England; however, [[convective]] cloud sometimes forms inland, reducing the number of hours of sunshine. Annual sunshine rates are slightly less than the regional average of 1,600 hours.<ref name=weather/>

In December 1998, there were 20 days without sun recorded at Yeovilton (Somerset). Most of the rainfall in the south-west is caused by [[Low-pressure area|Atlantic depressions]] or by [[convection]], though a proportion is caused orographically (uplift over hills). Autumn and winter are rainiest, caused by Atlantic depressions, which are then most active. Even so, any month can be the wettest or driest in a given year but the wettest is much more likely to be Oct-Mar, and the driest Apr-Sept. In summer, a greater proportion of the rainfall is caused by sun heating the ground leading to convection and to showers and thunderstorms. It is often the northern half of the county that sees most of the showers with south-westerly winds in summer, whereas in the south of the county, the proximity of a relatively cold [[English Channel]] often inhibits showers. In autumn and winter, however, the sea is often relatively warm, compared with the air passing over it and can often lead to a higher rainfall in the south of the county (e.g. Salisbury recorded over 200mm of rain in Nov 2009 and January 2014). Average rainfall for the county is around {{cvt|800|mm}}, drier parts averaging 700mm (28ins)and the wettest 900mm (around 35ins). About 8–15 days of snowfall is typical. November to March have the highest mean wind speeds, and June to August have the lightest winds. The predominant wind direction is from the south-west.<ref name=weather/>

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Wiltshire}}
This is a chart of trend of regional [[gross value added]] (GVA) of Wiltshire at current basic prices<ref>[http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/downloads/theme_economy/RegionalGVA.pdf] {{Dead link|date=May 2017}}</ref> 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 || '''4,354''' || 217 || 1,393 || 2,743
|-
| 2000 || '''5,362''' || 148 || 1,566 || 3,647
|-
| 2003 || '''6,463''' || 164 || 1,548 || 4,751
|}

The Wiltshire economy benefits from the "[[M4 corridor]] effect", which attracts business, and the attractiveness of its countryside, towns and villages. The northern part of the county is richer than the southern part, particularly since Swindon is home to national and international corporations such as [[Intel]], [[Motorola]], [[Patheon]], [[Catalent]] (formerly known as [[Cardinal Health]]), [[Becton-Dickinson]], [[WHSmith]], [[Early Learning Centre]] and [[Nationwide Building Society|Nationwide]], with [[Dyson (company)|Dyson]] located in nearby [[Malmesbury]]. Wiltshire's employment structure is distinctive in having a significantly higher number of people in various forms of [[manufacturing]] (especially [[electrical equipment]] and apparatus, food products, and beverages, furniture, rubber, [[pharmaceuticals]], and plastic goods) than the national average.

In addition, there is higher-than-average employment in [[public administration]] and [[Defense (military)|defence]], due to the military establishments around the county, particularly around [[Amesbury]] and [[MoD Corsham|Corsham]]. There are sizeable [[British Army]] barracks at [[Tidworth Camp|Tidworth]], [[Bulford Camp|Bulford]] and [[Warminster]], and the [[Royal School of Artillery]] is at Larkhill. Further north, [[RAF Lyneham]] was home to the RAF's Hercules C130 fleet until 2011; the [[MoD Lyneham]] site is now a centre for Army technical training. Wiltshire is also distinctive for the high proportion of its working-age population who are economically active (86.6% in 1999–2000) and its low [[Unemployment Rate|unemployment rates]]. The gross domestic product (GDP) level in Wiltshire did not reach the UK average in 1998, and was only marginally above the rate for South West England.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wiltshire Strategic Analysis (2002) |work=Wiltshire CPRE |url=http://www.cprewiltshire.org.uk/tpp/Wiltshire%20Strategic%20Analysis%20-%20LSP.pdf |access-date=21 October 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601221901/http://www.cprewiltshire.org.uk/tpp/Wiltshire%20Strategic%20Analysis%20-%20LSP.pdf |archive-date=1 June 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Education==
{{See also|List of schools in Wiltshire}}
[[File:Chapel and North Block.JPG|thumb|Marlborough College: court and chapel]]
Wiltshire has 30 county secondary schools, publicly funded, of which the largest is [[Warminster Kingdown]], and eleven [[Private schools in the United Kingdom|private]] secondaries, including [[Marlborough College]], [[St Mary's School, Calne|St Mary's Calne]], [[Dauntsey's School|Dauntsey's]] near [[Devizes]], and [[Warminster School]]. The county schools are nearly all [[comprehensive school|comprehensives]], with the older pattern of education surviving only in [[Salisbury]], which has two [[Grammar schools in the United Kingdom|grammar schools]] ([[South Wilts Grammar School]] and [[Bishop Wordsworth's School]]) and three non-selective schools.

There are four [[further education]] colleges, which also provide some higher education: [[New College, Swindon|New College]] (Swindon); [[Wiltshire College]] (Chippenham, Trowbridge and Salisbury); [[Salisbury Sixth Form College]]; and [[Swindon College]]. Wiltshire is also home to a [[University technical college|University Technical College]], [[UTC Swindon]], specialising in engineering. A second UTC, [[South Wiltshire UTC]], was based in Salisbury but closed in August 2020.

Wiltshire is one of the few remaining English counties without a university or university college; the closest university to the county town of Trowbridge is the [[University of Bath]]. However, [[Bath Spa University]] has a centre at [[Corsham Court]] in [[Corsham]], and [[Oxford Brookes University]] maintains a minor campus in [[Swindon]] (almost 50&nbsp;km from Oxford). Swindon is the UK's second largest centre of population (after [[Milton Keynes]]) without its own university.{{Citation needed|date=January 2022}}

[[Service Children's Education]] has its headquarters in [[Trenchard Lines]] in [[Upavon]], Wiltshire.<ref>"[https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/277236/0961.pdf Service Children's Education Annual Report and Accounts 2012–2013]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20150402132907/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/277236/0961.pdf Archive]). [[Service Children's Education]]. PDF p. 3/62. Retrieved on 28 February 2015. "Any enquiries regarding this publication should be sent to us at Headquarters Service Children's Education, Trenchard Lines, Upavon, Wiltshire"</ref>

==Demographics==
{{expand section|date=April 2024}}
[[File:Wiltshire population pyramid.svg|thumb|Wiltshire population pyramid]]
The county registered a population of 680,137 in the [[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 Census]]. Wiltshire (outside Swindon) has a low population density of 1.4 persons per hectare, when compared against 4.1 for England as a whole.<ref>{{NOMIS2011|id=1946157355|title=Swindon Local Authority|access-date=17 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{NOMIS2011|id=1946157357|title=Wiltshire Local Authority|access-date=17 March 2018|fewer-links=yes}}</ref><ref>{{NOMIS2011|id=2092957699|title=England Country|access-date=17 March 2018|fewer-links=yes}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! || Wiltshire || Swindon || Total
|-
|Usual resident population || 470,981 || 209,156 || 680,137
|-
|Age 65 or over || 18.1% || 13.7% || 16.8% <!-- (28854+85488)/(470981 + 209156) -->
|-
|Density (persons per hectare) || 1.4 || 9.1 || 2.0 <!-- (470981 + 209156)/(325534+23010) -->
|-
|Households || 194,194 || 88,360 || 282,554
|}

Historical population of Wiltshire county:<ref>{{cite web |title=Wiltshire Community History – Census |url=https://apps.wiltshire.gov.uk/communityhistory/Census?communityId=1 |publisher=Wiltshire Council |access-date=14 May 2023 |archive-date=28 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828151234/https://apps.wiltshire.gov.uk/communityhistory/Census?communityId=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! 1801 || 1851 || 1901 || 1951 || 2001
|-
| 185,107 || 254,221 || 271,394 || 386,692 || 613,024
|}

==Politics and administration==

=== Europe ===
At the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|2016 European Union membership referendum]], Wiltshire voted in favour of [[Brexit]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=BREXIT: How Wiltshire voted |url=https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/17536578.brexit-wiltshire-voted/ |access-date=2020-11-20 |website=The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald |date=29 March 2019 |archive-date=17 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417170448/https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/17536578.brexit-wiltshire-voted/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Westminster Parliamentary===
{{Main|List of parliamentary constituencies in Wiltshire}}
Wiltshire is represented by eight [[United Kingdom constituencies|Parliamentary constituencies]]. Seven are entirely within the county, while the [[South Cotswolds (UK Parliament constituency)|South Cotswolds]] constituency extends into southern parts of Gloucestershire.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Election Maps: Great Britain |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |access-date=26 September 2024 |website= |publisher=Ordnance Survey}}</ref>

At the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]], the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]] won three seats ([[East Wiltshire (UK Parliament constituency)|East Wiltshire]], [[Salisbury (UK Parliament constituency)|Salisbury]], and [[South West Wiltshire (UK Parliament constituency)|South West Wiltshire]]); Labour two ([[Swindon North (UK Parliament constituency)|Swindon North]] and [[Swindon South (UK Parliament constituency)|Swindon South]]); and the Liberal Democrats three ([[Chippenham (UK Parliament constituency)|Chippenham]], [[Melksham and Devizes (UK Parliament constituency)|Melksham and Devizes]], and South Cotswolds).

===Councils===
{{Main|Wiltshire Council|Wiltshire Council elections|Swindon Borough Council|Swindon Borough Council elections}}
[[File:Arms of Wiltshire County Council.svg|thumb|196x196px|The coat of arms of Wiltshire County Council]]
The ceremonial county of Wiltshire consists of two unitary authority areas, Wiltshire and Swindon, governed respectively by [[Wiltshire Council]] and [[Swindon Borough Council]]. As a result of elections held in 2021, Wiltshire Council comprises 61 [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]], 27 [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]], seven [[Independent (politician)|Independents]] and three [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] members. Swindon Borough Council has 34 Conservative councillors and 23 Labour members.

Until the [[2009 structural changes to local government in England|2009 structural changes to local government]], Wiltshire (apart from Swindon) was a two-level county, divided into four local government districts – [[Kennet District|Kennet]], [[North Wiltshire]], [[Salisbury District|Salisbury]] and [[West Wiltshire]] – which existed alongside [[Wiltshire County Council]], covering the same area and carrying out more strategic tasks, such as education and county roads. However, on 1 April 2009 these five local authorities were merged into a single [[Unitary authorities of England|unitary authority]] called Wiltshire Council. With the abolition of the District of Salisbury, a new [[Salisbury City Council]] was created at the same time to carry out several citywide functions and to hold the city's charter.

==Sport==
[[File: Kingswoodstand.JPG|thumb|right|The [[County Ground, Swindon]] is the home of [[Swindon Town]], the only football league club in Wiltshire.]]
The county is represented in the [[Football League]] by [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]], who play at the [[County Ground, Swindon|County Ground]] stadium near [[Swindon]] town centre. They joined the [[Football League]] on the creation of the [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] in 1920, and have remained in the league ever since. Their most notable achievements include winning the [[Football League Cup]] in 1969 and the [[Anglo-Italian Cup]] in 1970, two successive promotions in 1986 and 1987 (taking them from the [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] to the [[Football League Second Division|Second]]), promotion to the [[Premier League]] as [[Football League First Division|Division One]] play-off winners in 1993 (as inaugural members), the Division Two title in 1996, and their promotion to [[Football League One|League One]] in 2007 after finishing third in [[Football League Two|League Two]].

[[Chippenham Town F.C.|Chippenham Town]] are the area's highest-ranked non-league football club; they currently play in the [[National League South]] after winning the [[Southern Football League|Southern Premier League]] in 2016/17, with a league record points tally of 103. After [[Salisbury City F.C.|Salisbury City]] went into liquidation in 2014, a new club, [[Salisbury F.C.|Salisbury]], was formed in 2015 and will play in the National League South for the 24/25 season.

[[Wiltshire County Cricket Club]] play in the [[Minor Counties]] league.

[[Swindon Robins]] Speedway team, who competed in the top national division, the [[SGB Premiership]], had been at their track at the [[Blunsdon]] Abbey Stadium near Swindon since 1949. In 2020 they stopped racing due to the Covid-19 Pandemic and subsequently announced in 2022 that they would not be returning. [[Swindon Wildcats]] compete in the [[English Premier Ice Hockey League]], the second tier of British ice hockey, and play their home games at Swindon's [[Link Centre]].

== Flags ==
{{Main|Flag of Wiltshire}}
[[File:County Flag of Wiltshire.svg|thumb|The flag designed to represent Wiltshire]]A flag to represent Wiltshire, the "Bustard Flag", was approved by a full meeting of Wiltshire Council on 1 December 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wiltshire Council approves flag |url=http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/latestnews.htm?aid=92915 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320035650/http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/latestnews.htm?aid=92915 |archive-date=20 March 2012 |access-date=11 April 2010}}</ref> It depicts in the centre a golden [[great bustard]], which had been extinct in England since 1832 but is now the subject of a breeding programme on [[Salisbury Plain]]. It is surrounded by a green and white circle, representing the stone circles at Stonehenge and Avebury and also the six surrounding counties. The field consists of alternating green and white stripes, which reference the [[banner of arms]] of the council but also represent the chalk and grass of the county's downlands. The white can also represent peace, and the green joy, hope or safety.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=5 June 2007 |title=The Wiltshire flag unfurls! |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/content/articles/2007/06/04/wiltshire_flag_feature.shtml |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=[[BBC]] |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hinman |first=Niki |date=2023-06-05 |title=Why today is a special day for Wiltshire |url=https://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/23567854.today-special-day-wiltshire/ |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=[[Salisbury Journal]] |language=en}}</ref> The flag has been registered in the flag registry of the vexillological charity the [[Flag Institute]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wiltshire |url=https://www.flaginstitute.org/wp/flags/wiltshire-flag/ |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=[[Flag Institute]] |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Notable settlements==
{{See also|List of settlements in Wiltshire by population}}
Wiltshire has twenty-one [[Town#England and Wales|town]]s and one [[City status in the United Kingdom|city]]:
[[File:wiltshire.bridge.750pix.jpg|thumb|right|A bridge over the [[River Avon, Bristol|River Avon]] at [[Bradford-on-Avon]]]]
*[[Amesbury]]
*[[Bradford-on-Avon]]
*[[Calne]]
*[[Chippenham]]
*[[Corsham]]
*[[Cricklade]]
*[[Devizes]]
*[[Highworth]] (Borough of Swindon)
*[[Larkhill]]
*[[Ludgershall, Wiltshire|Ludgershall]]
*[[Malmesbury]]
*[[Marlborough, Wiltshire|Marlborough]]
*[[Melksham]]
*[[Mere, Wiltshire|Mere]]
*[[Royal Wootton Bassett]]
*[[Salisbury]] (city)
*[[Swindon]] (Borough of Swindon)
*[[Tidworth]]
*[[Trowbridge]]
*[[Warminster]]
*[[Westbury, Wiltshire|Westbury]]
*[[Wilton, Wiltshire|Wilton]]
A list of settlements is at [[List of places in Wiltshire]].

==Media==
Local TV coverage is covered by [[BBC West]] and [[ITV West Country]];<ref>[https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/Mendip Unknown]{{Dead link | date=August 2024 | fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> however, [[Swindon]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Oxford%3C |title=Full Freeview on the Oxford (Oxfordshire, England) transmitter |publisher=UK Free TV |access-date=19 November 2022 |archive-date=13 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230713045437/https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Oxford%3C |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Salisbury]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Salisbury |title=Full Freeview on the Salisbury (Wiltshire, England) transmitter |date=May 2004 |publisher=UK Free TV |access-date=19 November 2022 |archive-date=19 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119070632/https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Salisbury |url-status=live }}</ref> receive [[BBC South]] and [[ITV Meridian]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ukfree.tv/maps/bbc |title=BBC nations and regions - overview map |publisher=UK Free TV |access-date=19 November 2022 |archive-date=15 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115053159/https://ukfree.tv/maps/bbc |url-status=live }}</ref>

The county's local radio stations are [[BBC Radio Wiltshire]], [[Heart West]], [[Greatest Hits Radio South West]] and [[Greatest Hits Radio Salisbury]] (covering [[Salisbury]] and surrounding areas).

County-wide local newspapers are the [[Gazette and Herald]] and [[Wiltshire Times]].

==Places of interest==
[[File:caen.hill.locks.in.devizes.arp.jpg|alt=A series of approximately 20 black lock gates with white ends to the paddle arms and wooden railings, each slightly higher than the one below. On the right is a path and on both sides grass and vegetation.|thumb|right|The flight of 16 locks at [[Caen Hill Locks|Caen Hill]] on the [[Kennet and Avon Canal]]]]
{{EngPlacesKey|align=right}}

Places of interest in Wiltshire include:
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
*Arc Theatre, at the Trowbridge campus of [[Wiltshire College]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/2-5-revamp-town-college-vocational-hub/story-15308656-detail/story.html |title=£2.5m to revamp town college as vocational hub |date=24 February 2012 |work=This is Bath |publisher=[[Western Daily Press]] |access-date=4 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921060922/http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/2-5-revamp-town-college-vocational-hub/story-15308656-detail/story.html |archive-date=21 September 2013}}</ref> [[File:Drama-icon.svg|20px]]
*[[Ashcombe House, Wiltshire|Ashcombe House]] [[File:HH icon.svg|Historic house]]
*[[Avebury]], Neolithic stone circle [[File:UKAL icon.svg|Accessible open space]]
*[[Avebury Manor and Garden]] [[File:HH icon.svg|Historic house]]
*[[Avon Valley Path]] [[File:UKAL icon.svg|Accessible open space]]
*[[Barbury Castle]] [[File:CP icon.svg|Country park]]
*[[Bentley Wood]] [[File:UKAL icon.svg|Accessible open space]]
*[[Bowood House]] [[File:HH icon.svg|Historic house]]
*[[Caen Hill Locks]], Devizes
*[[Castle Combe]] village
*[[Castle Hill, Mere]] [[File:UKAL icon.svg|Accessible open space]]
*[[Central Government War Headquarters]], Corsham, underground nuclear bunker with accommodation for 4000
*[[Cherhill White Horse]]
*[[Chisbury Chapel]] [[File:AP Icon.svg|16px]]
*[[Coate Water Country Park|Coate Water]], East Swindon [[File:CP icon.svg|Country park]]
*[[Corsham Court]] [[File:HH icon.svg|Historic house]]
*[[Cotswold Water Park]]
*[[The Courts Garden]], Holt
*[[Crofton Pumping Station]]
*[[Edington Priory]] [[File:AP Icon.svg|16px]]
*[[Fonthill Abbey]] [[File:AP Icon.svg|16px]]
*[[Great Chalfield Manor]]
*[[Iford Manor]] and gardens [[File:HH icon.svg|Historic house]]
*[[Kennet and Avon Canal Museum]], Devizes [[File:Museum icon (red).svg|Museum]]
*[[Kennet Avenue]], Avebury [[File:UKAL icon.svg|Accessible open space]]
*[[King Alfred's Tower]], Stourhead
*[[Lacock Abbey]] [[File:HH icon.svg|Historic house]] [[File:NTE icon.svg]]
*[[Lacock]] village, largely owned by the National Trust [[File:NTE icon.svg]]
*[[Littlecote House]] [[File:HH icon.svg|Historic house]]
*[[Longleat]] Safari Park [[File:CP icon.svg|Country park]] [[File:HH icon.svg|Historic house]]
*[[Ludgershall Castle]]
*[[Lydiard Park|Lydiard Park & House]], West Swindon [[File:CP icon.svg|Country park]] [[File:HH icon.svg|Historic house]]
*[[Malmesbury Abbey]] [[File:AP Icon.svg|16px]]
*[[Maud Heath's Causeway]], near Chippenham
*[[Mompesson House]], Salisbury
*[[Old Sarum]], the site of the former cathedral [[File:UKAL icon.svg|Accessible open space]]
*[[Philipps House|Philipps House & Dinton Park]]
*[[Richard Jefferies]] Birthplace and Museum, near Swindon [[File:Museum icon.svg|Museum]]
*[[REME Museum]] [[File:Museum icon (red).svg|Museum (not free)]]
*[[River Thames]] [[File:UKAL icon.svg|Accessible open space]]
*[[Salisbury Cathedral]] [[File:AP Icon.svg|16px]]
*[[The Salisbury Museum]] [[File:Museum icon.svg|Museum]]
*[[National Collections Centre|Science Museum library and archives]], Wroughton
*[[Shearwater (lake)|Shearwater Lake]]
*[[Silbury Hill]]
*[[Stonehenge]]
*[[Stourhead]]
*[[Swindon and Cricklade Railway]] [[File:HR icon.svg|Heritage Railway]]
*[[Swindon Steam Railway Museum]] [[File:HR icon.svg|Heritage Railway]]
*[[Trafalgar Park, Wiltshire|Trafalgar House]] [[File:HH icon.svg|Historic house]]
*[[Wardour Castle]] [[File:CL icon.svg|Castle]]
*[[West Kennet Long Barrow]] [[File:UKAL icon.svg|Accessible open space]]
*[[Westbury White Horse]]
*[[Westwood Manor]] [[File:HH icon.svg|Historic house]]
*[[Woodhenge]] [[File:UKAL icon.svg|Accessible open space]]
*[[Wilton House]] [[File:HH icon.svg|Historic house]]
*[[Wilton Windmill]]
*[[Wilts & Berks Canal]]
*[[Wiltshire Museum]], Devizes [[File:Museum icon.svg|Museum]]
*[[Win Green Down]] [[File:UKAL icon.svg|Accessible open space]] [[File:NTE icon.svg]]
}}
Areas of countryside in Wiltshire include:
*[[Cranborne Chase]] [[File:UKAL icon.svg|Accessible open space]]
*[[Marlborough Downs]] [[File:UKAL icon.svg|Accessible open space]]
*[[Salisbury Plain]] [[File:UKAL icon.svg|Accessible open space]]
*[[Vale of Pewsey]] [[File:UKAL icon.svg|Accessible open space]]

==Transport==

===Road===
Roads running through Wiltshire include [[The Ridgeway]], an ancient route, and Roman roads the [[Fosse Way]], [[Roman road from London to Bath|London to Bath road]] and [[Ermin Way]]. [[National Cycle Network|National Cycle Route 4]] and the [[Thames Path]], a modern [[long distance footpath]], run through the county.

Routes through Wiltshire include:
*[[A4 road (Great Britain)|A4 road]]
*[[M4 motorway]] / [[M4 Corridor]]
*[[A303 road|A303]] trunk road
*[[A350 road]]
*[[A417 road]]

===Navigable inland waterways===
*[[River Thames]]
*[[Kennet and Avon Canal]]

===Canals subject to restoration===
*[[Thames and Severn Canal]]
*[[North Wilts Canal]]
*[[Wilts & Berks Canal]]

===Rail===
Three main railway routes, all of which carry passenger traffic, cross Wiltshire.
*[[Great Western Main Line]] ([[Swindon railway station|Swindon]] and [[Chippenham railway station|Chippenham]])
*[[Wessex Main Line]] ([[Bradford-on-Avon railway station|Bradford-on-Avon]], [[Melksham railway station|Melksham]], [[Trowbridge railway station|Trowbridge]], [[Westbury railway station|Westbury]], [[Warminster railway station|Warminster]], [[Salisbury railway station|Salisbury]]; connects to Chippenham)
*[[West of England line]] (Salisbury and [[Tisbury railway station|Tisbury]])
Other routes include:
*[[Reading to Taunton Line]]
*[[Heart of Wessex Line]]
*[[Golden Valley Line]]
*[[South Wales Main Line]]
The major junction stations are [[Salisbury railway station|Salisbury]] and [[Westbury railway station|Westbury]], and important junctions are also found at [[Swindon railway station|Swindon]], {{stnlnk|Chippenham}} and [[Trowbridge railway station|Trowbridge]].

There is also the [[Swindon and Cricklade Railway]] in the [[Thames Valley]].

In general, Wiltshire is well served by rail, with 14 stations within its boundaries, although towns not served include [[Calne]], [[Marlborough, Wiltshire|Marlborough]] and [[Devizes]]. Several destinations on bus routes, including the aforementioned three towns, have integrated through ticketing where one ticket may be bought to cover both the bus and rail journey.

===Air===
[[Airfields]] in Wiltshire include [[Old Sarum Airfield]] and [[Clench Common Airfield]]. [[RAF Lyneham]] was an air transport hub for British forces until its closure in 2012. Airports with scheduled services near Wiltshire include [[Bournemouth Airport]], [[Bristol Airport]], [[Cardiff Airport]], [[Exeter Airport]], [[Gloucestershire Airport]], [[Oxford Airport]], [[Heathrow Airport]] and [[Southampton Airport]].

==See also==
{{Portal|Geography|<!-- Eurasia -->|Europe|<!-- Western Europe -->|<!-- Northern Europe -->|United Kingdom|England}}
*[[Custos Rotulorum of Wiltshire]] – Keepers of the Rolls
*[[Flag of Wiltshire]]
*[[Grade I listed buildings in Wiltshire]]
*[[Great West Way]]
*[[Healthcare in Wiltshire]]
*[[High Sheriff of Wiltshire]]
*[[List of civil parishes in Wiltshire]]
*[[List of Deputy Lieutenants of Wiltshire]]
*[[List of hills of Wiltshire]]
*[[List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Wiltshire]]
*[[Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire]]
*[[The Vly be on the Turmut]] – unofficial song of the county
*[[Wiltshire (UK Parliament constituency)]]
*[[Wiltshire Horn]], a breed of sheep
{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage|Wiltshire}}
*[https://wiltshire.gov.uk Wiltshire Council]
**[https://apps.wiltshire.gov.uk/communityhistory Wiltshire Community History]
*[https://www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/ Wiltshire Tourist Office]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20121002095724/http://viewfinder.english-heritage.org.uk/search/results.aspx?index=0 Images of Wiltshire] at the [[English Heritage Archive]], archived in 2012

{{Geographic Location
|title = '''Neighbouring counties'''
|Centre    = Wiltshire
|North     = [[Gloucestershire]]
|Northeast = [[Oxfordshire]]
|East      = [[Berkshire]]<br />[[Hampshire]]
|Southeast = [[Hampshire]]
|South     = [[Dorset]], [[Hampshire]]
|Southwest = [[Dorset]]
|West      = [[Somerset]]
|Northwest = [[Gloucestershire]]
}}

{{Wiltshire}}
{{SW England}}
{{England counties}}
{{Unitary authorities of England}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Wiltshire| ]]
[[Category:Ceremonial counties of England]]
[[Category:Counties of England established in antiquity]]
[[Category:Counties in South West England]]