South Yorkshire

South Yorkshire is a ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It borders North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire to the north, the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north-east, Lincolnshire to the east, Nottinghamshire to the south-east, and Derbyshire to the south and west. The largest settlement is the city of Sheffield. The county is largely urban, with an area of 1,552 km2 (599 sq mi) and a population of 1,430,623 in 2024. Sheffield is located in the south, with Rotherham immediately to the north-east. The city of Doncaster lies in the east, and Barnsley in the north. The far east and the west of the county are predominantly rural. For local government purposes the county comprises four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and Sheffield. They collaborate through the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority. The west of South Yorkshire contains part of the Peak District, an upland area and national park that is part of the Pennines. The hills are the source of the River Don, which flows east through Sheffield, Rotherham, and Doncaster. The South Yorkshire coalfield underlies Barnsley, Doncaster, and part of Sheffield, and its exploitation contributed to the development of their industry. The area between Rotherham and Doncaster is rolling arable farmland underlain by limestone, and beyond in the east of the county are the flat Humberhead Levels.