Lancashire
a northwestern county of England, bounded on the N. by Cumberland and Westmoreland, E. and S. by Yorkshire and Cheshire; and W. by the Irish Sea. The surface near the sea is level, but it gradually rises towards Cumberland and Yorkshire.
The principal rivers are the Mersey, Ribble and Wyre. Though the wealth of the county is largely industrial, there is considerable agriculture, the chief products being wheat, oats and potatoes. It is rich in minerals, particularly in iron and coal. The cotton manufactures are extensive, particularly round Manchester, and other industries include the pro duction of soaps, glass, silk, woolens and machinery. The shipbuilding yards are important. Liverpool, Manchester, Preston and Lancaster are the principal caster are the principal cities, and the valley of the Mersey between Liverpool and Manchester is the ol and Manchester is the most thickly populated region in England, outside of London. Area, 1,869 square miles. Pop. about 5,000,000. clude the pro glass, si woolens and shipbuilding yards are rpool, Manchester, Pres- LANCASTER