Black Country
The Black Country is a broadly defined, built-up area of south Staffordshire and north Worcestershire, defined for statistical purposes as being a part of the West Midlands of England. The Black Country has a population of around 1.34 million.[1] Historically, the area was primarily known for heavy industry, especially coal mining and chain making, the latter of which is prominently commemorated on the area's flag. Mining in the area ceased in the late 1960s. Birmingham lies to the east and although the Birmingham conurbation is close to the Black Country, they are distinct conurbations. Shropshire is to the west. The Black Country is typically said to centre on the towns Dudley and Tipton, and its other principal settlements include the towns of Oldbury, Smethwick, Wednesbury and West Bromwich. Walsall and the city of Wolverhampton are also often included.
Despite being mainly urban, a range of hills called the Rowley Hills is found in the south of the Black Country.
Contents
Culture
Accent and dialect
The Black Country dialect of the English language is distinct from that of Birmingham to the east and those in other parts of the Midlands, and it preserves many early modern English and, in some cases, Middle English features.
Cuisine
Several beer breweries exist in the Black Country. The most notable is Black Country Ales which, based in Lower Gornal, Staffordshire, is known for its production of real ale and bitter.
Music
The Black Country is the home of many hard rock and early metal musicians and bands from the late-1960s and early 1970s. Noddy Holder, whose band Slade would have chart success in the UK in the 1970s, grew up on the Beechdale council estate in Walsall, as did Rob Halford, lead singer of heavy metal band Judas Priest. Singers Robert Plant and Phil Lynott, of Led Zeppelin and Thin Lizzy respectively, were both born in West Bromwich.
Animals
A breed of dog, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier (colloquially known as a "Staffy"), originates in the Black Country.
Administration
Despite the Black Country straddling the boundary between the counties Staffordshire and Worcestershire, the administrative status of the area has been changing since the 1770s, when Wolverhampton gained its own body of commissioners. As of 2024, the Black Country can be considered to broadly constitute the council areas of Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council and City of Wolverhampton Council.
Politics
During the 2016 referendum on the UK's membership of the EU, all unitary authorities within the Black Country (and all of Staffordshire) voted to leave.[2]
Transportation
The M6 motorway passes through the Black Country and links it with the North West of England, as well as with Birmingham and, via the M1, London and the South East. The M5 motorway branches from the M6 in the Black Country and links it to the South West of England, also serving traffic for South Wales.
