Rutland

Rutland ()|group=note}} is a ceremonial county in the East Midlands of England. It borders Leicestershire to the north and west, Lincolnshire to the north-east, and Northamptonshire to the south-west. Oakham is the largest town and county town.

Rutland has an area of and a population of 41,049, the second-smallest ceremonial county population after the City of London. The county is rural, and the only towns are Oakham (12,149) and Uppingham (4,745), both in the west of the county; the largest settlement in the east is the village of Ketton (1,926). For local government Rutland is a unitary authority area. The county is the smallest of the historic counties of England.

The geography of Rutland is characterised by low, rolling hills, the highest of which is a point in Cold Overton Park. Rutland Water was created in the centre of the county in the 1970s; the reservoir is a nature reserve that serves as an overwintering site for wildfowl and a breeding site for ospreys. The older buildings in the county are built from local limestone or ironstone, with many having roofs of Collyweston stone slate or thatch. Rutland has little evidence of Prehistoric settlement. A Roman mosaic and probable farming complex was discovered west of Ketton. The area now known as Rutland was settled by the Angles from the 5th century and later formed part of the kingdom of Mercia. Rutland was first mentioned as a distinct county in 1179. During the High Middle Ages much of it was forested and used as hunting grounds. The wool trade was important during the 16th century.

Rutland's main industry is agriculture. There is a limestone quarry near Ketton. Provided by Wikipedia