The county has an area of 2,625km2 (1,014sqmi) and a population of 1,053,316. The east of the county is more densely populated than the west, and contains the county's largest settlements: Derby (261,400), Chesterfield (88,483), and Swadlincote (45,000). For local government purposes Derbyshire comprises a non-metropolitan county, with eight districts, and the Derby unitary authority area. The East Midlands Combined County Authority includes Derbyshire County Council and Derby City Council.
The north of Derbyshire is hilly and contains the southern end of the Pennines, most of which are part of the Peak DistrictNational Park. They include Kinder Scout, at 636m (2,087ft) the highest point in the county. The River Derwent is the longest in the county, at 66mi (106km), and flows south until it meets the River Trent just south of Derby. Church Flatts Farm at Coton in the Elms, near Swadlincote, is the furthest point from the sea in the UK. (Full article...)
Derwent Valley Mills is a World Heritage Site along the River Derwent in Derbyshire, England, designated in December 2001. It is administered by the Derwent Valley Mills Partnership. The modern factory, or 'mill', system was born here in the 18th century to accommodate the new technology for spinning cotton developed by Richard Arkwright. With advancements in technology, it became possible to produce cotton continuously. The system was adopted throughout the valley, and later across the Britain so that by 1788 over 200 Arkwright-type mills in Britain. Arkwright's inventions and system of organising labour was exported to Europe and the United States.
Water-power was first introduced to England by John Lombe at his silk mill in Derby in 1719, but it was Richard Arkwright who applied water-power to the process of producing cotton in the 1770s.
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Image 11At the Rhodeswood reservoir dam, we see the outflow canal from the Torside Reservoir dam, alongside the Rhodeswood Reservoir. The Torside dam can be seen in the distance. To the right is Shining Clough Moss and Bleaklow. To the left Bareholm Moss and Black Hill (from Longdendale Chain)
Image 12Exposed Blue John in situ within the Witch's Cave (from Treak Cliff Cavern)
Image 201 High Peak 2 Derbyshire Dales 3 South Derbyshire 4 Erewash 5 Amber Valley 6 North East Derbyshire 7 Chesterfield 8 Bolsover 9 Derby (from History of Derbyshire)
Image 21From Thorpe Cloud looking to the left of Bunster Hill with the Car Park in the middle (from Thorpe Cloud)
Melbourne is the most southerly town in Derbyshire. Melbourne parish church has been described as a "cathedral in miniature" and is one of five churches in Melbourne. The Domesday Book records a church and priest here in 1086. The present church was built about 1120, and most of the original masonry is intact, except for the East end which has been refurbished.