1st Armored Division (United States) and Wiltshire: Difference between pages

Coordinates: 51°19′11″N 2°12′32″W / 51.31972°N 2.20889°W / 51.31972; -2.20889
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{{distinguish|Wilshire}}
{{Refimprove|date=May 2008}}
{| class="toccolours" style="border-collapse: collapse; float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em" border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" width="300"
|+ <big>'''Wiltshire'''</big>
| colspan=2 style="text-align: center; background: white;" | [[Image:EnglandWiltshire.png]]
|-
| colspan=2 style="background: #f0f0f0; font-weight: bolder;" | Geography
|-
! width="45%" | Status
||[[Ceremonial counties of England|Ceremonial]] & (smaller) [[Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England|Non-metropolitan]] county
|-
!Region:
|[[South West England]]
|-
! style="font-weight: normal;" | '''[[Surface area|Area]]'''<br />- Total<br />- Admin. council<br />- Admin. area
|[[List of Ceremonial counties of England by Area|Ranked 14th]]<br />1,346 sq. miles (3,485 [[square kilometre|km²]])<br />[[List of Administrative shire counties of England by Area|Ranked 13th]]<br/>1,257 sq. miles (3,255 km²)
|-
!Admin HQ:
|[[Trowbridge]]
|-
![[ISO 3166-2:GB|ISO 3166-2]]:
|GB-WIL
|-
![[ONS coding system|ONS code]]:
|46
|-
![[Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics|NUTS]] 3:
|UKK15
|-
| colspan=2 style="background: #f0f0f0; font-weight: bolder;" " | Demographics
|-
! style="font-weight: normal;" | '''[[Population]]'''<br />- Total ({{English statistics year}})<br />- [[Density]]<br />- Admin. council<br />- Admin. pop.
|[[List of ceremonial counties of England by population|Ranked {{English cerem counties|RNK=Wiltshire}}]]<br />{{English cerem counties|POP=Wiltshire}}<br />{{English cerem counties|DEN=Wiltshire}} / km²<br />[[List of non-metropolitan counties of England by population|Ranked {{English admin counties|RNK=Wiltshire}}]]<br />{{English admin counties|POP=Wiltshire}}
|-
!Ethnicity:
|97.5% White
|-
| colspan=2 style="background: #f0f0f0; font-weight: bolder;" " | Politics
|-
|colspan=2 style="text-align: center;"|<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:arms-wiltshire.jpg|200px|Arms of Wiltshire County Council]] --><br '>[[Wiltshire County Council]]<br '>http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/
|-
!Executive
|{{English county control|CTY=Wiltshire}}
|-
! [[MPs elected in the UK general election, 2005|Members of Parliament]]
|
*[[Michael Ancram]] [[Conservative Party (UK)|(C)]]
*[[James Gray (UK politician)|James Gray]] [[Conservative Party (UK)|(C)]]
*[[Robert Key (politician)|Robert Key]] [[Conservative Party (UK)|(C)]]
*[[Andrew Murrison]] [[Conservative Party (UK)|(C)]]
*[[Anne Snelgrove]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]
*[[Michael Wills]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]
|-
| colspan=2 style="background: #f0f0f0; font-weight: bolder;" " | Districts
|-
|colspan="2"|[[Image:Wiltshire Ceremonial Numbered.png|center]]
#[[Salisbury (district)|Salisbury]]
#[[West Wiltshire]]
#[[Kennet (district)|Kennet]]
#[[North Wiltshire]]
#[[Swindon (borough)|Swindon]] (Unitary)
|}


'''''Wiltshire''''' (also abbreviated '''Wilts''') is a [[Ceremonial counties of England|ceremonial county]] in the [[South West England|south west]] of [[England]]. It is landlocked and borders the counties of [[Dorset]], [[Somerset]], [[Hampshire]], [[Gloucestershire]], [[Oxfordshire]] and [[Berkshire]]. It contains the [[unitary authority]] of [[Borough of Swindon|Swindon]]. The county covers 858,931 [[acre]]s (3,476 km²). Wiltshire is characterised by its high [[downland]] and wide [[valley]]s. [[Salisbury Plain]] is famous as the location of [[Stonehenge]] [[stone circle]] and other ancient landmarks. The city of [[Salisbury]] is notable for its [[Salisbury Cathedral|cathedral]]. The [[county town]] is [[Trowbridge]] (originally [[Wilton, Wiltshire|Wilton]]). The town of [[Mere]] in Wiltshire County is famous as the location of [[Stourhead]], one of the most renowned English gardens in all of [[England]]'s [[National Trust]].
{{Infobox Military Unit
|unit_name=1st Armored Division
|image=[[Image:1st US Armored Division SSI.png|220px]]
|caption=1st Armored Division shoulder sleeve insignia
|nickname=''Old Ironsides''
|motto=
|colors=red, yellow, and blue
|march=
|ceremonial_chief=
|type=Armored
|branch=[[Regular Army (United States)|Regular Army]]
|dates=[[1932-01-16]] - [[1946-04-25]]<br/>[[1951-03-07]] - '''Present'''
|country=[[United States|United States of America]]
|allegiance=
|command_structure=[[U.S. V Corps|V Corps]]
|size=15,000+
|specialization=
|current_commander=[[Major General (United States)|Major General]] [[Mark P. Hertling]]
|garrison=[[1st AD Garrisons]]
|battles=[[World War II]]<br>*[[Operation Torch]]<br>*[[Kasserine Pass]]<br>*[[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italian Campaign]]<br/>[[Operation Desert Storm]]<br/>[[Iraq War|Operation Iraqi Freedom]]
|notable_commanders=[[Orlando Ward]]
|anniversaries=
}}
{{US Armor
|previous=
|next=[[2nd Armored Division (United States)|2nd Armored Division]] (''Inactive'')
}}
The '''1st Armored Division''' &mdash;nicknamed “'''Old Ironsides'''”&mdash; is a standing armored [[division (military)|division]] of the [[United States Army]] with base of operations in [[Wiesbaden]], [[Germany]]. It was the first armored division of the U.S. Army to see battle in [[World War II]]. The entire 1st Armored Division is scheduled to arrive at [[Fort Bliss| Fort Bliss, Texas]] between 2008 and 2011, where they will replace the outgoing [[air defense artillery]] units (largely Patriot missile Battalions) currently stationed at Fort Bliss.


==Etymology==
==Command and Staff==
The county, formerly 'Wiltonshire' or 'Wiltunscir' (9th century), is named after the former county town of [[Wilton, Wiltshire|Wilton]] (itself named after the [[river Wylye]], one of eight rivers that drain the county). The new [[county town]] is [[Trowbridge]].
This division was formerly part of the [[V Corps]] (technically). It remains a United States Army Europe and 7th Army unit. As of May 2007 its command personnel includes:


The local [[nickname]] for Wiltshire natives is [[moonrakers]]. This originated from a story of [[smugglers]] who managed to foil the local [[Excise]] men by hiding their [[alcohol]], possibly French [[brandy]] in barrels or kegs, in a village pond. When confronted by the excise men they raked the surface in order to conceal the submerged [[contraband]] with ripples, and claimed that they were trying to rake in a large round cheese visible in the pond, really a reflection of the full moon. The police took them for simple yokels or mad and left them alone, allowing them to continue with their illegal activities. An alternative version was that the smugglers would try and retrieve their ill-gotten gains under the cover of moonlight by using rakes and if caught would claim they were trying to catch the large cheese in the pond.
Commander: [[Major General Mark P. Hertling]].<br/>
Assistant Division Commander (Maneuver): Brigadier General James Boozer Sr.<br/>
Assistant Division Commander (Support): Brigadier General Raymond A. Thomas III<br/>
Chief of Staff: Colonel Bryan Watson<br/>
Command Sergeant Major: Command Sergeant Major Roger P. Blackwood<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.1ad.army.mil/1ADINFOMAIN/CommandGroup/CommandGroup.htm
|title=1st Armored Division Command Group page
}}</ref>


==History==
==Current Structure==
{{main|History of Wiltshire}}
[[Image:1st US Armored Division.png|thumb|right|500px|OrBat 1st Armored Division]]
[[Image:Stonehenge back wide.jpg|left|thumb|[[Stonehenge]]]]
Wiltshire is notable for its pre-[[Roman Britain|Roman]] [[archaeology]]. The [[Mesolithic]], [[Neolithic]] and [[Bronze Age]] people that occupied southern Britain built settlements on the hills and downland that cover Wiltshire. [[Stonehenge]] and [[Avebury]] are perhaps the most famous Neolithic sites in the UK.


In the 6th and 7th centuries Wiltshire was at the western edge of [[Anglo-Saxons|Saxon]] Britain, as [[Cranborne Chase]] and the [[Somerset Levels]] prevented the advance to the west. The Battle of [[Bedwyn]] was fought in 675 between [[Aescwine of Wessex|Escuin]], a [[Wessex]] nobleman who had seized the throne of [[Queen Saxburga]], and [[King Wulfhere]] of [[Mercia]].<ref> {{cite book |last=Pearson |first=Michael |authorlink= |title=Kennet & Avon Middle Thames:Pearson's Canal Companion |year=2003 |publisher=Central Waterways Supplies|location=Rugby |id=ISBN 0-907864-97-X}} </ref> In 878 the [[Danes]] invaded the county, and, following the [[Norman Conquest]], large areas of the country came into the possession of the crown and the church.
When the division relocates in 2011 to [[Fort Bliss]], [[Texas]], it will reorganize under the new modular design. The [[4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division (United States)|4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division]] reflagged from the 1st Cavalry Division in March 2008 and reflagged as the 4th Brigade, 1st Armored Division. The Division will consist of four [[Brigade Combat Teams]] and a Combat Aviation Brigade.


At the time of the [[Domesday Survey]] the industry of Wiltshire was largely [[agricultural]]; 390 [[mill (grinding)|mills]] are mentioned, and [[vineyards]] at Tollard and Lacock. In the succeeding centuries sheep-farming was vigorously pursued, and the Cistercian monasteries of Kingswood and Stanley exported wool to the [[Florentine]] and [[Flanders|Flemish]] markets in the 13th and 14th centuries.
[[Image:1st US Armored Division SSI.png|25px]] '''1st Armored Division''' consists of the following elements:
* Division Special Troops Battalion
* '''1st Brigade Combat Team''' [Ready First]
** 1st [[Special Troops Battalion|Brigade Special Troops Battalion]]
** 6th [[Squadron]], [[1st Cavalry Regiment (United States)|1st Cavalry]] Regiment ([[RSTA]])
** 1st Battalion, [[37th Armor Regiment (United States)|37th Armor Regiment]]
** 1st Battalion, 36th [[Infantry]] Regiment
** 2nd [[Battalion]], 3rd Field [[Artillery]] Regiment
** 501st Brigade Support Battalion
* '''2nd Brigade Combat Team'''
** 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion
** 1st Squadron, [[13th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|13th Cavalry Regiment]]
** 1st Battalion, 35th Armor Regiment
** 1st Battalion, [[6th Infantry Regiment (United States)|6th Infantry Regiment]]
** 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment
** 47th Brigade Support Battalion
* '''3rd Brigade Combat Team'''
** 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion
** 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment
** 2nd Battalion, [[70th Armor Regiment (United States)|70th Armor Regiment]]
** 1st Battalion, [[41st Infantry Regiment (United States)|41st Infantry Regiment]]
** 4th Battalion, 1st Field Artillery Regiment
** 125th Brigade Support Battalion
* '''4th Brigade Combat Team'''
** 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion
** 2nd Squadron, 13th Cavalry Regiment
** 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment
** 2nd Battalion, [[6th Infantry Regiment (United States)|6th Infantry Regiment]]
** 2nd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment
** 121st Brigade Support Battalion
* '''Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Armored Division'''
** Headquarters and Headquarters Company
** 1st Battalion, 501st Aviation Regiment
** 2nd Battalion, 501st Aviation Regiment
** 3nd Battalion, 501st Aviation Regiment
** 4th Battalion, 501st Aviation Regiment
** 127th Aviation Support Battalion


In the 17th century [[English Civil War]] Wiltshire was largely [[roundhead|Parliamentarian]]. The [[Battle of Roundway Down]], a decisive Royalist victory, was fought near [[Devizes]].
==Insignia==
[[Image:US 1ADDUI.PNG|thumb|left|US 1st Armored Division Distinctive Unit Insignia]]
The division was nicknamed '''"Old Ironsides"''', by its first commander, Major General [[Bruce R. Magruder]], after he saw a picture of the frigate [[USS Constitution|USS ''Constitution'']], which is also nicknamed "Old Ironsides". The large "1" at the top represents the numerical designation of the division, and the insignia is used as a basis for most other sub-unit insignias. The three colors, red, yellow, and blue represent the Artillery, Cavalry, and Infantry Branches respectively, which are the colors of the three original combat arms which, when forged into one, created the field of armor. The cannon and tracked vehicle symbols represent the mechanized role of the division.


Around 1800 the [[Kennet and Avon Canal]] was built through Wiltshire providing a route for transporting cargoes from [[Bristol]] to [[London]] until the development of the [[Great Western Railway]].
==Unit History==
===Origins===
COL [[Daniel Van Voorhis]] took a [[en cadre|cadre]] of 175 Officers and Enlisted Men from [[Fort Eustis]] to [[Fort Knox]] in February, [[1932]], and established a Provisional Armored Car Platoon. This was based on an earlier effort, but was predicated on a new Cavalry Regiment TO&E which was published that year. Also published, but never implemented, was a Cavalry Division TO&E(Table of Organisation and Equipment) which reflected the(then) unnatural assimilation of machines into the Horse Cavalry.


Information on the 261 civil parishes of Wiltshire is available on the [http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/community/ Wiltshire Community History] website, run by the [http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/libraries Libraries] and [http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/heritage Heritage] services of [http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ Wiltshire County Council]. This site includes maps, demographic data, historic and modern pictures, thumbnail histories, faqs, and information on schools and churches.
Van Voorhis’s cadre and platoon became the kernel for the 7th Cavalry Brigade, which went Active on [[March 1]], [[1932]] at [[Fort Knox]]. At first, it was nothing more than a headquarters detachment and the Armored Car Platoon.


==Geology, landscape and ecology==
On [[January 3]], [[1933]], [[U.S. 1st Cavalry Regiment]] was relieved from assignment to the [[1st Cavalry Division (United States)|1st Cavalry Division]], and was moved from [[Fort A.D. Russell]] to [[Fort Knox]]. The earlier Mechanized Platoon was incorporated into the new Regimental TO&E, and the result was the 1st Cavalry Regiment [Mechanised], which went active on [[January 16]], [[1933]].
[[Image:Cherhillwhitehorse.jpg|left|thumb|[[Cherhill]] White Horse]]


Wiltshire is a mostly rural landscape, two thirds of the county lying on [[chalk]], a kind of soft, white, porous limestone that is resistant to erosion, giving it a high [[chalk]] [[downland]] landscape. This chalk is part of the [[Southern England Chalk Formation]] that underlies large areas of Southern England from the [[Dorset Downs]] in the west to [[Dover]] in the east. The largest area of chalk in Wiltshire is [[Salisbury Plain]], a semi-wilderness used mainly for [[agronomy|arable]] [[agriculture]] and by the [[British Army]] as training ranges. The highest point of the county is the [[Tan Hill]]-[[Milk Hill]] ridge in the [[Vale of Pewsey|Pewsey Vale]] on the northern edge of [[Salisbury Plain]], at 294m (965 ft) above sea level.
The new Regimental commander was Colonel Van Voorhis, late of the experimental Mechanized Force, while the executive officer was [[Adna R. Chaffee, Jr.|Adna Chaffee]]. The Post Commander of Fort Knox was Brigadier General [[Julian R. Lindsey]], another cavalryman. To round out the cavalry nature of the unit, Major [[Robert W. Grow]] was on the Regimental Staff.


The chalk runs northeast into [[West Berkshire]] in the [[Marlborough Downs]] ridge, and southwest into Dorset as [[Cranborne Chase]]. Cranborne Chase, which straddles the border, has, like Salisbury Plain, yielded much Stone Age and Bronze Age [[archaeology]]. The Marlborough Downs are part of the [[North Wessex Downs AONB]] (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), a 1,730 [[square metre|km²]] (668 square mile) conservation area.
Van Voorhis added the [[13th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|13th Cavalry Regiment]], the [[68th Field Artillery Battalion]], the [[7th Reconnaissance Squadron]], the [[7th Signal Troop]], the [[4th Medical Troop]], the [[47th Engineer Troop]] and the [[17th Quartermaster Battalion]]. The 7th Cavalry Brigade was fully formed.


In the north west of the county, on the border with [[Gloucestershire]] and [[Bath and North East Somerset]], the underlying rock is the resistant [[oolite]] [[limestone]] of the [[Cotswolds]]. Part of the Cotswolds AONB is also in Wiltshire.
Van Voorhis remained in command until September, [[1938]], when he was promoted to command the [[5th United States Corps]] at [[Indianapolis, Indiana]]. Chaffee took over from Van Voorhis.


Between the areas of chalk and limestone downland are [[clay]] [[valley]]s and [[vale]]s. The largest of these vales is the [[River Avon, Bristol|Avon Vale]]. The Avon cuts diagonally through the north of the county, flowing through [[Bradford on Avon]] and into [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]] and [[Bristol]]. The Vale of Pewsey has been cut through the chalk into [[Greensand]] and [[Oxford Clay]] in the centre of the county. In the south west of the county is the [[Vale of Wardour]]. The south east of the county lies on the sandy soils of the [[New Forest]].
On [[May 7]], [[1940]], the 7th Cavalry Brigade took part in the [[Louisiana Maneuvers]] at [[Monroe, Louisiana]] that were instrumental in developing the armored division concept. The maneuvers concluded on [[May 27]], [[1940]], and the brigade returned to Fort Knox on [[May 31]], [[1940]], and preparations began to expand the brigade into the 1st Armored Division.


Chalk is a porous rock so the chalk hills have little surface water. The main settlements in the county are therefore situated at wet points. Notably, Salisbury is situated between the chalk of Salisbury Plain and marshy flood plains.
On [[July 15]], [[1940]], 7th Cavalry Brigade was expanded, reorganized, and redesignated as 1st Armored Division. 1st Cavalry Regiment was redesignated as 1st Armored Regiment and 13th Cavalry Regiment was redesignated as 13th Armored Regiment.


The first Order of Battle for the 1st Armored Division was as follows:


:HHC, 1st Armored Division
::HHC, 1st Armored Brigade
:::[[U.S. 1st Cavalry Regiment|1st Armored Regiment (Light)]]
:::[[13th Cavalry Regiment (United States)|13th Armored Regiment (Light)]]
:::69th Armored Regiment (Medium)
:::68th Armored Field Artillery Regiment
::[[U.S. 6th Infantry Regiment|6th Armored Infantry Regiment]]
::27th Field Artillery Battalion (Armored)
::16th Engineer Battalion (Armored)
::81st Armored Reconnaissance Squadron
::13th Quartermaster Battalion (Armored)
::19th Ordnance Battalion (Armored)
::47th Medical Battalion (Armored)
::141st Signal Company (Armored)


==Climate==
===Formation of 4th Armored Division===
As with the rest of [[South West England]], Wiltshire has a [[temperate]] climate which is generally wetter and milder than the rest of [[England]]. The annual mean temperature is {{convert|10|°C}} and shows a [[seasonal]] and a [[Diurnal motion|diurnal]] variation. January is the coldest month with mean minimum temperatures between 1 and 2 °C (33-35°F). July and August are the warmest months in the region with mean daily maxima around {{convert|21|°C}}.
On [[April 15]], [[1941]] The 1st AD sent a [[en cadre|cadre]] to form the [[U.S. 4th Armored Division]]("Name Enough") at [[Fort Drum, New York|Pine Camp]], New York.


The number of hours of bright [[Sunlight|sunshine]] is controlled by the length of day and by cloudiness. In general December is the dullest month, June the sunniest. The south-west of England has a favoured location with respect to the [[Azores]] high pressure when it extends its influence north-eastwards towards the UK, particularly in summer. [[Convective]] cloud often forms inland, especially near hills, and acts to reduce sunshine amounts. The average annual sunshine totals 1600 hours.
===World War Two===
====Commanders====


[[Precipitation (meteorology)|Rainfall]] tends to be associated with [[Atlantic]] [[Low pressure area|depressions]] or with convection. The Atlantic depressions are more vigorous in autumn and winter and most of the rain which falls in those seasons in the south-west is from this source. In summer, convection caused by solar surface heating sometimes forms shower [[cloud]]s and a large proportion of rainfall falls from showers and [[thunderstorms]] at this time of year. Average rainfall is around {{convert|800|-|900|mm|in|abbr=on}}. About 8&ndash;15&nbsp;days of [[snowfall]] is typical. November to March have the highest mean [[wind]] speeds, with June to August having the lightest winds. The predominant wind direction is from the South West.<ref name="weather">{{cite web | title=About south-west England | work=Met Office |url=http://www.metoffice.com/climate/uk/location/southwestengland/index.html | accessdate=2006-05-28}}</ref>
#MG [[Bruce Magruder]] (July 1940-March 1942),
#MG [[Orlando Ward]] (March 1942-April 1943),
#MG [[Ernest N. Harmon]] (April 1943-July 1944),
#MG [[V. E. Prichard]] (July 1944-September 1945),
#MG [[Roderick R. Allen]] (September 1945-January 1946),
#MG [[Hobart R. Gay]] (February 1946 to inactivation).


====Training====
==Economy==
This is a chart of trend of regional [[gross value added]] (GVA) of Wiltshire at current basic prices<ref>{{cite web | title=Regional Gross Value Added (pp.240-253) | work=Office for National Statistics | url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_economy/RegionalGVA.pdf | accessdate=2006-10-21}}</ref> with figures in millions of British Pounds Sterling.
After completing its organization and equipping, 1st Armored Division trained at Fort Knox, and then deployed to participate in the VII Corps Maneuvers on [[1941-08-18]]. Once the maneuvers concluded, 1st Armored Division then moved on [[1941-08-28]]], and arrived at [[Fort Polk|Camp Polk]] for the [[Second Army]] [[Louisiana]] Maneuvers on [[1941-09-01]]]. They then moved to [[Fort Jackson]] on [[1941-10-30]] to participate in the [[First United States Army|First Army]] Carolina Maneuvers. 1st AD then returned to Fort Knox on [[1941-12-07]], but started to prepare for deployment overseas instead of returning to garrison.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year || Regional gross value added<ref>Components may not sum to totals due to rounding</ref> || Agriculture<ref>includes hunting and forestry</ref> || Industry<ref>includes energy and construction</ref> || Services<ref>includes financial intermediation services indirectly measured</ref>
|-
| 1995 || '''4,354''' || 217 || 1,393 || 2,743
|-
| 2000 || '''5,362''' || 148 || 1,566 || 3,647
|-
| 2003 || '''6,463''' || 164 || 1,548 || 4,751
|}


The Wiltshire economy benefits from the "[[M4 corridor]] effect", which attracts business, and the attractiveness of its countryside, towns and villages. The northern part of the county is richer than the southern part, particularly since Swindon is home to national and international corporations such as [[Honda]], [[Intel]], [[Motorola]], [[Alcatel-Lucent]] and [[Nationwide]], with [[Dyson (company)]] located in nearby [[Malmesbury]]. Wiltshire’s employment structure is distinctive in having a significantly higher number of people in various forms of [[manufacturing]] (especially [[electrical equipment]] and apparatus, [[food]] products, and [[beverages]], [[furniture]], [[rubber]], and [[plastic]] goods) than the national average.
====Service====
The 1st Armored Division was ordered to [[Fort Dix]] on [[April 11]], [[1942]] to await their deployment overseas. The division's port call required them to board the [[RMS Queen Mary|Queen Mary]] at the [[New York]] [[Port of Embarkation]] at the [[Brooklyn Army Terminal]] on [[May 11]], [[1942]]. They arrived at [[Northern Ireland]] on [[May 16]], [[1942]], and trained on the moors until they moved on to [[England]] on [[October 29]], [[1942]].


In addition, there is higher than average employment in [[public administration]] and [[Defense (military)|defence]], due to the [[military]] establishments around the county, particularly around [[Amesbury]] and [[Corsham]]. Wiltshire is also distinctive in having a high proportion of its working age population who are economically active – (86.6% in 1999-2000), and its low [[unemployment]] rates. The [[Gross domestic product]] (GDP) level in Wiltshire did not reach the UK average in 1998, and was only marginally above the rate for [[South West England]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Wiltshire Strategic Analysis (2002) | work=Wiltshire CPRE | url=http://www.cprewiltshire.org.uk/tpp/Wiltshire%20Strategic%20Analysis%20-%20LSP.pdf | accessdate=2006-10-21}}</ref>
The unit's first contact with an enemy was as part of the [[Allied]] invasion of Northwest Africa, [[Operation Torch]], on [[November 8]], [[1942]]. Elements of the division were part of the [[Northern Task Force]] and became the first [[United States|American]] [[armored division]] to see combat in [[World War II]]. [[Combat command|Combat Command]] B (CCB) of the division landed east and west of [[Oran]], and entered the city on [[November 10]], [[1942]]. On [[November 24]], [[1942]], CCB moved from [[Tafaroui]], [[Algeria]] to [[Bedja]], [[Tunisia]], and raided [[Djedeida]] airfield the next day. Djedeida was finally conquered on [[November 28]], [[1942]]. CCB moved southwest of [[Tebourba]] on [[December 1]], [[1942]], engaged [[Nazi Germany|German]] forces on [[El Guessa Heights]] on [[December 3]], [[1942]], but its lines were pierced on [[December 6]], [[1942]]. CCB withdrew to Bedja with heavy equipment loses between [[December 10]] and [[December 11]], [[1942]], and was placed in reserve. CCB next attacked in the [[Ousseltia Valley]] on [[January 21]], [[1943]], and cleared that area until [[January 29]], [[1943]] when sent to [[Bou Chebka]], and arrived at [[Maktar]] on [[February 14]], [[1943]]. Combat Command A (CCA) fought at [[Faid Pass]] commencing on [[January 30]], [[1943]], and advanced to [[Sidi Bou Zid]], where it was pushed back with heavy tank loses on [[February 14]], [[1943]], and had elements isolated on [[Djebel Lessouda]], [[Djebel Kasaira]], and [[Garet Hadid]]. Combat Command C (CCC), which had been constituted on [[January 23]], [[1943]] to raid [[Sened]] Station on [[January 24]], advanced towards [[Sbeita]], and counterattacked to support CCA in the [[Sidi Bou Zid]] area on [[February 15]], [[1943]], but was repulsed with heavy loses. The division withdrew from Sbeita on [[February 16]], [[1943]], but – by [[February 21]], [[1943]] CCB contained the German attack toward [[Tebessa]]. The German withdrawal allowed the division to recover [[Kasserine Pass]] on [[February 26]], [[1943]] and assemble in reserve. The division moved northeast of [[Gafsa]] on [[March 13]], [[1943]] and attacked in heavy rains on [[March 17]], [[1943]] as CCA took [[Zannouch]], but became immobilized by rain the next day. The division drove on [[Maknassy]] on [[March 20]], [[1943]], and fought the [[Battle of Djebel Naemia]] on [[March 22]] – [[March 25]], [[1943]], and then fought to break through positions baring the road to [[Gabes]] between [[March 29]] and [[April 1]], [[1943]]. It began to follow up the withdrawing German forces on [[April 6]], [[1943]], and attacked towards [[Mateur]] with CCA on [[April 27]], [[1943]], which fell after hard fighting on [[Hill 315]] and [[Hill 299]] on [[May 3]], [[1943]]. The division fought the [[Battle for Djebel Achtel]] between [[May 5]] and [[May 11]], [[1943]], and entered [[Ferryville (Manzil Bu Ruqaybah)|Ferryville]] on [[May 7]], [[1943]]. The German forces in [[Tunisia]] surrendered between [[May 9]] and [[May 13]], [[1943]]. The division was reorganized in [[French Morocco]], and began arriving in [[Naples]], [[Italy]] on [[October 28]], [[1943]].


==Education==
After the fall of [[Sicily]], the unit, under the [[US Fifth Army]], [[Allied invasion of Italy|invaded mainland Italy]]. It took part in the attack on the infamous [[Winter Line]] in November [[1943]]. It then flanked the [[Axis Powers|Axis]] armies in the [[Operation Shingle|landings at Anzio]], and participated in the liberation of [[Rome]] on [[June 4]], [[1944]]. The division continued in combat to the [[River Po|Po Valley]] until the [[Germany|German]] forces in Italy surrendered on [[May 2]], [[1945]]. In June, the Division moved to Germany as part of the occupation forces.
Wiltshire has a mostly comprehensive education system with two [[Grammar schools in the United Kingdom|grammar school]]s and three [[secondary modern school]]s in the Salisbury district. There are 29 state and 13 independent secondary schools - notably [[Marlborough College]], not including the three further education colleges - Wiltshire College, Salisbury College and Swindon College, all of which provide limited levels of higher education. There is also a [[sixth form college]] (New College) in Swindon. All schools in West Wiltshire have sixth forms, and only two in North Wiltshire do not. For the other two districts, it is half and half.


North Wiltshire has the largest school population, with Kennet the smallest. West and North Wiltshire have school year sizes around 200-250, whereas the other districts have school year sizes around 120.
====Casualties====
*KIA(Killed in Action): 1,194
*WIA(Wounded in Action): 5,168
*DOW(Died of Wounds): 234


There are no universities within Wiltshire, although the Oakfield campus of the [[University of Bath]] is situated 2 miles east of central Swindon.
====Deactivation====
1st Armored Division returned to the New York Port of Embarkation on [[April 24]], [[1946]], and was deactivated at [[Camp Kilmer]], [[New Jersey]] on [[April 25]], [[1946]].


==Demographics==
===Post World War II===
The county registered a population of 613,024 in the [[United Kingdom Census 2001|Census 2001]]. The [[population density]] is low at {{convert|178|PD/km2}}. In 1991 there were 230,109 dwellings in the county. In 1991 98.3% of the population was indigenous and 17.9% of the population were over 65.<ref>{{cite web | title=1991 Wiltshire Census Data | work=Office for National Statistics | url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/CCI/SearchRes.asp?term=Wiltshire Census Data | accessdate=2006-10-21}}</ref>
[[Image:DesertStormMap v2.svg|thumb|250px|Ground operations during [[Operation Desert Storm]], with the 1st Armored Division positioned at the center of the force.]]
The [[Korean War]] saw the US forces being built up again. As part of that buildup, the 1st Armored Division was reactivated on [[7 March]] [[1951]] at [[Fort Hood]]. It was the first US Army unit to receive the new [[M48 Patton tank]]. After a number of years in [[Texas]], the division was moved to [[Fort Polk]], [[Louisiana]], in 1956.


Population of Wiltshire:
The division was deployed to [[Texas]], [[Florida]], and [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], in response to the [[Cuban Missile Crisis]]. During the six week deployment, it received a visit from President [[John F. Kennedy]]. A few units fought in the [[Vietnam War]], and were returned to the division after the war. The 3d Brigade deployed to [[Chicago, Illinois]] to restore order after [[Martin Luther King Jr.]]'s marches. At that time, the division was based in [[Fort Hood]], Texas.
* 1801: 185,107
* 1851: 254,221
* 1901: 271,394
* 1951: 386,692
* 2001: 613,024


==Politics and administration==
As the Vietnam War wound down, there was a fundamental reorganisation of the Army. As part of this reorganisation, the 1st Armored Division was moved to Germany in 1971. It replaced the [[US 4th Armored Division|4th Armored Division]] in the Bavarian city of Ansbach. The Division remained in [[Ansbach]], with brigade units in the neighboring towns of [[Bamberg]], Illesheim, Katterbach, Crailsheim and [[Zirndorf]], [[West Germany]] for the next twenty years, as part of the American forces committed to [[NATO]].
Wiltshire is a shire county, mostly the responsibility of Wiltshire County Council. This area is divided into four local government districts, [[Kennet (district)|Kennet]], [[North Wiltshire]], [[Salisbury (district)|Salisbury]] and [[West Wiltshire]]. [[Swindon (borough)|Swindon Borough]] is a [[unitary authority]] that is part of the county for various functions but is outside the County Council's area of responsibility . The [[Department for Communities and Local Government]] announced on 25 July 2007 that Wiltshire County Council would become a [[unitary authority]], replacing the four district councils of West Wiltshire, North Wiltshire, Kennet and Salisbury as part of the [[2009 structural changes to local government in England]].


Following the elections in May 2005, 28 [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]], 16 [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]], three [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] members and two [[Independent (politician)|Independents]] (Christopher Newbury and John Syme) are members of Wiltshire County Council. Conservatives hold most of the more rural areas while the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] hold several towns, including [[Trowbridge]], [[Chippenham, Wiltshire|Chippenham]] and [[Bradford-on-Avon]]. The county divisions of [[Westbury, Wiltshire|Westbury Ham with Dilton]] and [[Warminster|Warminster West]] elected the two Independents, while the three Labour members hold their seats in the towns of [[Salisbury]], [[Melksham]] and [[Devizes]].
In August 1990, [[Iraq]] invaded [[Kuwait]]. US Army units were dispatched to protect [[Saudi Arabia]]. Later in the fall, President Bush, Sr. made the decision to deploy American heavy forces on a massive scale to eject the Iraqis from Kuwait. The lead unit for this deployment was the [[US VII Corps|VII Corps]] from Germany. 1st Armored Division was one of four American heavy divisions assigned to VII Corps in theater. In the ground attack of the [[Gulf War]], the Division led the VII Corps' flank attack on the Iraqis. It had the duty of destroying the elite [[Iraqi Republican Guard]] units. In eighty nine hours, the division moved 250 kilometers, destroyed 768 vehicles, and captured 1,064 [[prisoners of war]], at the cost of four dead. It returned to Germany on [[May 8]], [[1991]], and celebrated with a visit from [[Vice President]] [[Dan Quayle]].


At the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|parliamentary]] level Wiltshire is represented entirely by Conservative [[Members of Parliament]], except for the predominantly urban area of [[Swindon]] which is represented by Labour. Since 1992 [[Devizes (UK Parliament constituency)|Devizes]] has been represented by the [[front bench]] Conservative [[Michael Ancram]].
On December 18, 1995, under the command of Major General [[William L. Nash]], the division deployed to northeast [[Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnia]] as the command element of [[Task Force Eagle]], a powerful, multinational unit intended to keep the peace. (A Russian brigade, initially under the command of [[Colonel]] [[Aleksandr Ivanovich Lentsov]], was part of that effort. An account of the interactions of the Americans and Russians in Bosnia in 1996 may be found in James Nelson’s [http://www.buybooksontheweb.com/description.asp?ISBN=0-7414-2321-9 Bosnia Journal].) The 1AD returned in late [[1996]] to Germany.


==Sport==
In [[1999]], the unit was once again deployed, this time to [[Kosovo]], for [[Operation Allied Force]], and [[Operation Joint Guardian]].
The county is represented in the [[Football League]] by [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]], who play at the [[County Ground]] near [[Swindon]] town centre. They joined the [[Football League]] on the creation of the [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] in 1920, and have remained in the league ever since. Their most notable achievements include winning the [[Football League Cup]] in 1969, two successive promotions in 1986 and 1987 (taking them from the [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] to the [[Football League Second Division|Second]]), promotion to the [[Premier League]] as [[Football League First Division|Division One]] playoff winners in 1993 (as inaugural members), the Division Two title in 1996, and their recent promotion to [[Football League One|League One]] in 2007 after finishing third in [[Football League Two|League Two]].


==Principal settlements==
Afterwards, the unit trained heavily in [[Hohenfels]] and [[Grafenwöhr]] Training Areas in Germany, with realistic OPFOR (Opposition Forces) exercises. Some units were deployed into [[Iraq]] and other countries in the [[Middle East]] for the global [[War on Terrorism]].
[[Image:wiltshire.bridge.750pix.jpg|thumb|A bridge over the [[River Avon, Bristol|River Avon]] at [[Bradford on Avon]] in Wiltshire]]
Wiltshire has 21 [[town]]s and one [[city]]
*[[Amesbury]]
*[[Bradford on Avon]]
*[[Calne]]
*[[Chippenham, Wiltshire|Chippenham]]
*[[Corsham]]
*[[Cricklade]]
*[[Devizes]]
*[[Highworth]]
*[[Ludgershall, Wiltshire|Ludgershall]]
*[[Malmesbury, Wiltshire|Malmesbury]]
*[[Marlborough, Wiltshire|Marlborough]]
*[[Melksham]]
*[[Mere, Wiltshire|Mere]]
*[[Salisbury, England|Salisbury]] (city)
*[[Swindon]]
*[[Tidworth]]
*[[Tisbury]]
*[[Trowbridge]]
*[[Warminster]]
*[[Westbury, Wiltshire|Westbury]]
*[[Wilton]]
*[[Wootton Bassett]]
A list of settlements is at [[List of places in Wiltshire]].


==Places of interest==
In the build-up in the months prior the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, two [[battalions]] of the 1st Armored Division's 3d Brigade were deployed in support of [[Iraq War|Operation Iraqi Freedom]]. The 2-70 Armor and 1-41 Infantry battalion task forces augmented the [[U.S. 82nd Airborne Division|82nd Airborne Division]]("All-American"), the [[U.S. 3d Infantry Division|3d Infantry Division]]("Rock of the Marne"), and the [[101st Airborne Division]]("Screaming Eagles") throughout the campaign to oust Iraqi dictator [[Saddam Hussein]]. These units spearheaded the U.S assaults in As Samawah and Karbala and later occupied the southern area of Baghdad.
<div style="float: right; clear: both">
In April 2003, the remainder of the division deployed to Iraq and assumed responsibility for [[Baghdad]], under command of Brigadier General [[Martin E. Dempsey]], and the surrounding areas, relieving the 3d Infantry Division. The division was scheduled to return to Germany in April 2004, but was extended in order to defeat a Shia militia led by Moqtada Al Sadr. During the three month extension Task Force 1-37 AR ("Bandits") fought Al Sadr's forces in [[Karbala]] while Task Force 2-37 AR ("Dukes") fought in [[Diwaniya]], [[Sadr City]], [[Al-Kut]], and [[Najaf]]. Task Force 1-36 IN ("Spartans") became the CJTF-7 Operational Reserve and conducted operations throughout the theater in support of the 1st Cavalry Division. Forces from the 2d Brigade fought in [[Kut]]. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, the division lost more than 125 soldiers.
{{EngPlacesKey}}
</div>
Places of interest in Wiltshire include:
{|cellpadding=4 cellspacing=4 border=0
||
* [[Arc Theatre]] [[Image:HH icon.png|Wiltshire Audio Vision Show]]
* [[Ashcombe House]] [[Image:HH icon.png|Historic house]]
* [[Avebury]], Neolithic stone circle [[Image:UKAL icon.png|Accessible open space]]
* [[Avebury Manor & Garden]]
* [[Avon Valley Path]] [[Image:UKAL icon.png|Accessible open space]]
* [[Barbury Castle]] [[Image:CP icon.png|Country park]]
* [[Beckhampton Avenue]]
* [[Bentley Wood]] [[Image:UKAL icon.png|Accessible open space]]
* [[Bowood House]] [[Image:HH icon.png|Historic house]]
* [[Burlington (UK)|Burlington]], city-sized nuclear bunker with accommodation for 4000 people
* [[Castle Combe]]
* [[Castle Hill, Mere]] [[Image:UKAL icon.png|Accessible open space]]
* [[Cherhill White Horse]]
* [[Chisbury Chapel]] [[Image:AP Icon.PNG]]
* [[Coate Water Country Park|Coate Water]], East Swindon [[Image:CP icon.png|Country park]]
* [[Corsham Court]] [[Image:HH icon.png|Historic house]]
* [[Cotswold Water Park]]
* [[The Courts Garden|Courts Garden]]
* [[Crofton Pumping Station]]
* [[Edington Priory]] [[Image:AP Icon.PNG]]
* [[Fonthill Abbey]] [[Image:AP Icon.PNG]]
* [[Great Chalfield Manor]]
* [[Iford Manor]] and gardens [[Image:HH icon.png|Historic house]]
* [[Kennet & Avon Canal Museum]], [[Devizes]] [[Image:Museum icon (red).png|Museum]]
* [[King Alfred's Tower]]
* [[Lacock Abbey]] [[Image:AP Icon.PNG]]
|
* [[Littlecote House]] [[Image:HH icon.png|Historic house]]
* [[Longleat]] Safari Park [[Image:CP icon.png|Country park]][[Image:HH icon.png|Historic house]]
* [[Ludgershall Castle]], [[Ludgershall]]
* [[Lydiard Country Park|Lydiard Park and House]], West Swindon. [[Image:CP icon.png|Country park]][[Image:HH icon.png|Historic house]]
* [[Malmesbury Abbey]]
* [[Maud Heath's Causeway]]
* [[Mompesson House]]
* [[Old Sarum]], the former cathedral [[Image:UKAL icon.png|Accessible open space]]
* [[Philipps House & Dinton Park]]
* [[Salisbury Cathedral]] [[Image:AP Icon.PNG]]
* [[Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum]]
* [[Science Museum Swindon]], [[Wroughton]]
* [[Shearwater (lake)|Shearwater Lake]]
* [[Silbury Hill]]
* [[Stonehenge]]
* [[Stourhead]]
* [[Swindon Steam Railway Museum]] [[Image:HR icon.png|Heritage Railway]]
* [[Trafalgar House (Wiltshire)|Trafalgar House]] [[Image:HH icon.png|Historic house]]
* [[Wardour Castle]] [[Image:CL icon.PNG]]
* [[West Kennet Long Barrow]] [[Image:UKAL icon.png|Accessible open space]]
* [[Westbury White Horse]]
* [[Westwood Manor]]
* [[Woodhenge]] [[Image:UKAL icon.png|Accessible open space]]
* [[Wilton House]] [[Image:HH icon.png|Historic house]]
* [[Wilton Windmill]]
* [[Wilts and Berks Canal]]
* Part of [[Win Green]] (shared with [[Dorset]]) [[Image:UKAL icon.png|Accessible open space]]
|}
[[Image:caen.hill.locks.in.devizes.arp.jpg|thumb|right|The flight of 16 locks at [[Caen Hill Locks|Caen Hill]] on the [[Kennet and Avon Canal]].]]
;Areas of countryside in Wiltshire are:


* [[Cranborne Chase]] [[Image:UKAL icon.png|Accessible open space]]
The division's 3d Brigade deployed to the Iraqi Theatre once again in January 2005 for 'Operation Iraqi Freedom Three' from [[Fort Riley]], [[Kansas]], this after only eight months Stateside. There, they are attached to the 3d Infantry Division and are the major unit involved with [[Task Force Baghdad]].
* [[Marlborough Downs]] [[Image:UKAL icon.png|Accessible open space]]
* [[Salisbury Plain]] [[Image:UKAL icon.png|Accessible open space]]
* [[Vale of Pewsey]] [[Image:UKAL icon.png|Accessible open space]]


;Routes through Wiltshire include:
2nd Brigade Combat Team, or [[Brigade Combat Team|BCT]], deployed to [[Kuwait]] November 2005 in support of [[Operation Iraqi Freedom IV]], spending six months as a theater reserve. Following the Samarra mosque bombing TF 2-6IN deployed to Iraq in late February 2006. In May 2006 the two additional Task Forces (TF 1-6IN and TF 1-35AR) deployed to Ar Ramadi, Iraqi to help bring the volatile capital of the Anbar Province under control. In August 2006, the remainder of 2BCT (TF 4-27FA and HHC 2BCT) deployed to [[Baghdad]], mainly in support of joint Iraqi/U.S. operations in the municipality. The brigade deployed to Iraq again in April 2008.
* [[A4 road]]
* [[M4 motorway]] / [[M4 Corridor]]
* [[A303 road|A303]] trunk road
* [[Fosse Way]] old Roman road
* [[Great Western Main Line]] railway
* [[Wessex Main Line]] railway
* [[Kennet and Avon Canal]]
* [[Swindon and Cricklade Railway]] [[Image:HR icon.png|Heritage Railway]]
* [[Thames Path]], a [[long distance footpath]]
* [[The Ridgeway]] an ancient route
* [[Wiltshire Cycleway]]
* [[National Cycle Network|National Cycle Route]] 4


==References and footnotes==
The division's 1st Brigade("Ready First") deployed again to Iraq in January 2006 after months of intensive training in Grafenwöhr and Hohenfels, Germany. Many of the soldiers who fought with units like 2-37 Armor("Iron Dukes") and 1-37 ("Bandits") returned to Iraq for a second time. The Ready First Brigade was deployed to Northern Iraq in Nineveh province concentrating on the city of Tal' Afar. In May 2006 1st Brigade received orders to move south to the city of Ramadi in volatile Al Anbar Province. August 2006, seven months into their Iraq tour, 1st Brigade received news of a forty-six day extension. After nearly fourteen months, 1st Brigade redeployed from Iraq in mid-February 2007.
{{reflist}}


==See also==
In September 2007, the 1st Armored Division Headquarters deployed again to Iraq. The 1st Armored Division conducted a relief in place with the 25th Infantry Division and assumed command of Multi-National Division North, headquartered in Tikrit, Iraq, on 28 October 2007. Multi-National Division North was then comprised of five Maneuver Brigade Combat Teams, a Combat Aviation Brigade, a Fires Brigade, and an Engineer Brigade. Multi-National Division North includes the Iraqi provinces of Ninawa, Kirkuk (formerly At Tamin), Salah ad Din, and Diyala along with Dahuk, and As Sulaymaniah. The area also includes the critical cities of Tal Afar, Mosul, Bayji, Tikrit, Kirkuk, Samarra, Balad, Baqubah, Dahuk, and Sulaymaniah. The Division currently commands all Coalition Forces in Northern Iraq. Arbil province remains aligned as a separate Multi-National Division, North-East. The 1st Armored Division has tackled numerous complex problem sets in Northern Iraq applying both lethal and non-lethal means. The area includes ethnic fault lines between Arabs and Kurds, religious fault lines between Sunni and Shia Muslims, numerous tribal regions, and the complexities involving significant Former Regime Elements and the dynamics of energy.
* [[King's Play Hill]]
* [[Knapp and Barnett's Downs]]
* [[Knighton Downs and Wood]]
* [[List of civil parishes in Wiltshire]]
* [[Wikipedia:List of images/Places/Europe/United Kingdom/Counties/Wiltshire|List of photographs of Wiltshire]]
* [[List of places in Wiltshire]]
* [[Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire|List of Lords Lieutenant of Wiltshire]]
* [[Flag of Wiltshire]]
* Wiltshire is [[Thomas Hardy#Locations in novels|"Mid-Wessex"]] in the novels of [[Thomas Hardy]]


==External links==
===Move to Fort Bliss===
{{commonscat|Wiltshire}}
In [[2005]] the [[Base Realignment and Closure| Base Realignment and Closure]] or BRAC commission decided to move the 1st Armored Division to [[Fort Bliss|Fort Bliss, Texas]] not later than 2012. As part of the current Army-wide transformation, several division units will be inactivated or converted to other units. As the complete move to Bliss will take place after 2008, the effect of the [[Iraq war| Iraq War]] and the projected troop surge is unknown.
* [http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk Wiltshire County Council]
* [http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/community/ Wiltshire Community History]
* [http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/councillors-general-information/councillor-by-name.htm List of Councillors]
* [http://www.wiltshire.police.uk Wiltshire Constabulary Online]
* [http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/libraries Wiltshire Libraries]
* [http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/merlin Merlin local information]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/ BBC Wiltshire]
* [http://www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/ Wiltshire Tourist Office]
* [http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext04/nhwil10.txt John Aubrey's The Natural History of Wiltshire]
* [http://www.wiltshire-web.co.uk/history/horse.htm White horses of Wiltshire]
* [http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk Wiltshire Gazette & Herald]
* [http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk Wiltshire Times & Chippenham News]
* [http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/macnn/mineralsplanfig1.pdf Geology map of Wiltshire] ([[PDF]])
* [http://www.intelligencenetwork.org.uk Wiltshire & Swindon Intelligence Network]


{{coord|51|19|11|N|2|12|32|W|display=title}}
* Division Headquarters: The division headquarters, currently serving in Iraq, is planned to relocate to Fort Bliss in 2011.
{{Wiltshire}}
* 1st Brigade: The 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division cased its colors at Friedberg, Germany on April 20, 2007, ending 65 years of military presence in Germany. <ref>{{cite web
{{England counties}}
|url=http://www.rfct.1ad.army.mil/home.htm
|title="Ready First" Combat Team ends more than 60 year Germany run
|accessdate=2008-05-10
|format=html
|first=Alfredo
|last=Jimenez
|date=2008-03-03
}}</ref> 1st Brigade is scheduled to activate at Fort Bliss, Texas on August 16, 2008 as a modular Heavy Brigade Combat Team (HBCT). <ref name= "bliss active">
{{cite web
|url=https://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=49155
|title=Combat Team Reflagging to Mark Start of 1st Armored Division's U.S. Standup
|accessdate=2008-05-10
|format=html
|first=Donna
|last=Miles
|work=American Forces Press Service News Articles
|date=2008-03-03
}}</ref>
* 2d Brigade: 2d Brigade, 1st Armored Division in Baumholder, Germany, remains assigned to USAREUR until September 2010, when it is planned to reflag to [[170th Infantry Brigade]] and subsequently reactivate in Fort Bliss as modular HBCT. As part of the Grow the Army Plan announced 19 Dec 2007, the 170th is one of two HBCTs that will be activated and retained in Germany until 2012 and 2013. The other HBCT is the [[172d Infantry Brigade]] in [[Schweinfurt, Germany]], which reflagged from 2d Brigade, 1st Infantry Division on March 16, 2008. <ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.hqusareur.army.mil/news/releases/2008-03-06_02_RELEASE20080202%20_2_.pdf
|title=Army Announces Next Steps in USAREUR Transformation
|accessdate=2008-05-10
|format=pdf
|first=
|last=
|work=News release of HQ U.S. Army Europe and 7th Army
|date=2008-03-06
}} </ref><ref name= "bliss active"/>
* 3d Brigade: On March 28, 2008, the 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division (HBCT) inactivated at Fort Riley and reflagged as 2d (Dagger) Brigade, 1st Infantry Division (HBCT). Activation date for 3rd HBCT at Ft Bliss is not published.<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.1id.army.mil/NewsViewer.aspx?id=1245
|title=2nd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division Colors Move to Fort Riley
|accessdate=2008-05-10
|format=html
|work=1st Infantry Division News Viewer
|date=March 2008}}
</ref>
* 4th Brigade: On March 4, 2008, 4th Brigade, 1st Armored Division activated at Fort Bliss as a HBCT and reflagged from the [[4th Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division]]. <ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.hood.army.mil/1stcavdiv/news/2008/mar/mar13.htm
|title=Sun sets on Long Knife, rises on Highlanders
|accessdate=2008-05-10
|format=html
|first=Bradley J.
|last=Clark
|work=First Team News
|date=March 2008}}
</ref>
* 5th Brigade: In 2007, a new unit, 5th Brigade, 1st Armored Division, activated at Fort Bliss as an Army Evaluation Task Force. 5th BCT tested the [[Future Force Warrior]] system.
* Aviation Brigade: 1st Armored Division’s 4th Aviation Brigade inactivated on June 7, 2006 at Hanau, Germany and relocated to Fort Riley, Kansas to reflag as the modular 1st Infantry Division Combat Aviation Brigade. <ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.1ad.army.mil/1ADINFOMAIN/Stories/2006/Jun06_press_release/Press%20Release%2006-06-03%20Germany%20bids%20farewell%20to%204th%20Brigade.pdf
|title=Germany bids farewell to 4th Brigade
|accessdate=2008-05-10
|format=pdf
|first=Karl
|last=Weisel }}
</ref> The Army will move a combat aviation brigade from Fort Hood to join the division in Fort Bliss.
* Engineer Brigade: The 1st Armored Division Engineer Brigade, the last of its kind in the Army, cased its colors and inactivated at Giessen, Germany on April 26, 2007. <ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.vcorps.army.mil/News/2007/2007-04-27_DivEngInactivation_release.pdf
|title=Ceremony Bids Farewell to 'Iron Sappers' of 1st Armored Engineer Brigade
|accessdate=2008-05-10
|format=pdf
|first=Alfredo
|last=Jimenez }}
</ref>
* Division Artillery: The 1st Armored Division Artillery, cased its colors and inactivated at Baumholder, Germany on May 1, 2007. The 1st AD DIVARTY was the last standing Division Artillery unit in the Army. <ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.vcorps.army.mil/News/2007/2007-05-02_DIVARTY_inactivation_release.pdf
|title=1st Armored Division Artillery Cases Colors in Baumholder Ceremony
|accessdate=2008-05-10
|format=pdf
|first=Mark S.
|last=Patton }}
</ref>


==Lineage==
===HHC, 1st Armored Division===
*Constituted [[1932-01-16]] in the Regular Army as Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 7th Cavalry Brigade (Mechanized)
*Headquarters activated [[1932-03-01]] at [[Fort Knox]], Kentucky; Headquarters Troop activated in December 1934 at [[Fort Knox]], Kentucky
*'''Reorganized and redesignated [[1940-07-15]] as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Armored Division'''
*'''Inactivated [[1946-04-25]] at [[Camp Kilmer]], New Jersey'''
*'''Activated [[1951-03-07]] at [[Fort Hood]], Texas'''

===HHC, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division===
*'''Organized [[1942-01-01]] in the Regular Army at [[Fort Knox]], Kentucky, as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Combat Command A, 1st Armored Division'''
*'''Reorganized and redesignated [[1944-07-20]] as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Combat Command A, 1st Armored Division'''
*Converted and redesignated [[1946-05-01]] as Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3d Constabulary Regiment, and relieved from assignment to the 1st Armored Division
*Inactivated [[1947-09-20]] in [[Germany]]
*'''Converted and redesignated [[1951-02-27]] as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Combat Command A, 1st Armored Division'''
*'''Activated [[1951-03-07]] at [[Fort Hood]], Texas'''
*'''Reorganized and redesignated [[1962-02-03]] as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division'''

===HHC, 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division===
*'''Organized [[1942-01-01]] in the Regular Army at [[Fort Knox]], Kentucky, as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Combat Command B, 1st Armored Division'''
*'''Reorganized and redesignated [[1944-07-20]] as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Combat Command B, 1st Armored Division'''
*Inactivated [[1946-04-09]] at [[Camp Kilmer]], New Jersey
*'''Activated [[1951-03-07]] at [[Fort Hood]], Texas'''
*'''Inactivated [[1957-12-23]] at [[Fort Polk]], Louisiana'''
*'''Redesignated [[1962-02-03]] as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Brigade, 1st Armored Division, and activated at [[Fort Hood]], Texas'''

===HHC, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division===
*Constituted [[1944-06-27]] in the Regular Army as Headquarters, Reserve Command, 1st Armored Division
*'''Activated [[1944-07-20]] in [[Italy]]'''
*'''Inactivated [[1946-04-25]] at [[Camp Kilmer]], New Jersey'''
*'''Redesignated [[1951-02-27]] as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Reserve Command, 1st Armored Division'''
*'''Activated [[1951-03-07]] at [[Fort Hood]], Texas'''
*Reorganized and redesignated [[1954-06-26]] as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Combat Command C, 1st Armored Division
*'''Inactivated [[1957-12-23]] at [[Fort Polk]], Louisiana'''
*'''Redesignated [[1962-02-03]] as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d Brigade, 1st Armored Division, and activated at [[Fort Hood]], Texas'''
*Inactivated [[1995-04-15]] at [[Fort Lewis]], Washington
*Activated [[1996-02-16]] at [[Fort Riley]], Kansas
*Inactivated [[2008-03-28]] at Fort Riley, Kansas

===HHB, 1st Armored Division Artillery===
*'''Constituted [[1940-07-15]] in the Regular Army as the Artillery Section, Headquarters, 1st Armored Division, and activated at [[Fort Knox]], Kentucky'''
*Redesignated [[1940-11-15]] as the Artillery Section, Division Headquarters, 1st Armored Division
*Reorganized and redesignated [[1942-03-01]] as Headquarters, Division Artillery Command, Headquarters, 1st Armored Division
*'''Consolidated [[1944-07-20]] with the Service Company, 1st Armored Division (less Military Police Platoon) (constituted [[1942-01-01]] in the Regular Army and activated [[1942-01-08]] at [[Fort Knox]], Kentucky), and consolidated unit reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, Division Artillery, 1st Armored Division'''
*Inactivated [[1946-04-18]] at New York Port of Embarkation, New York
*'''Activated [[1951-03-07]] at Fort Hood, Texas'''
*Reorganized and redesignated [[1955-07-01]] as Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Armored Division Artillery
*'''Inactivated [[1957-12-23]] at Fort Polk, Louisiana'''
*'''Activated [[1962-02-03]] at Fort Hood, Texas'''
*'''Inactivated [[2007-05-01]] at Smith Barracks, Baumholder, Germany'''

===HHC, 1st Armored Division Support Command===
*'''Constituted [[1942-01-01]] in the Regular Army as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 1st Armored Division Trains'''
*Activated [[1942-01-10]] at [[Fort Knox]], Kentucky
*Reorganized and redesignated [[1942-01-24]] as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Armored Division Trains
*'''Inactivated [[1946-04-25]] at [[Camp Kilmer]], New Jersey'''
*'''Activated [[1951-03-07]] at [[Fort Hood]], Texas'''
*Reorganized and redesignated [[1957-02-15]] as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 1st Armored Division Trains
*'''Consolidated [[1962-02-03]] with the 1st Armored Division Band (organized in 1943) and consolidated unit reorganized and redesignated as Headquarters, Headquarters and Band, 1st Armored Division Support Command'''
*Reorganized and redesignated [[1968-04-15]] as Headquarters, Headquarters Company and Band, 1st Armored Division Support Command
*Reorganized and redesignated [[1972-08-21]] as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Armored Division Support Command (Band element concurrently withdrawn - hereafter separate lineage)
*'''Inactivated [[2008-08-15]] at Wiesbaden Army Airfield, Wiesbaden, Germany'''

===HHC, Aviation Brigade, 1st Armored Division===
*Constituted [[1986-04-16]] in the Regular Army as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Aviation Brigade, 1st Armored Division, and activated in [[Germany]].

==Honors==
===HHC, 1st Armored Division===
====Campaign Participation Credit====
*[[World War II]]:
#[[Tunisia]];
#[[Naples-Foggia]];
#[[Rome-Arno]];
#[[Anzio]];
#[[North Apennines]];
#[[Po Valley]]
*[[Southwest Asia]]:
#[[Defense of Saudi Arabia]];
#[[Liberation and Defense of Kuwait]];
# Cease-Fire
*[[Global War on Terrorism]]
#[[Iraq War|Operation Iraqi Freedom]]; May 03-July 2004 (Baghdad, Karbala)
#Operation Iraqi Freedom; Jan 05-Feb 07 (Sinjar, Ar Ramadi)
#Operation Iraqi Freedom; Oct 07-Current (Tikrit)

====Decorations====
#[[Meritorious Unit Commendation]] (Army) for SOUTHWEST ASIA
#[[Army Superior Unit Award]] for 1995-1996
#[[Valorous Unit Award]] For Operation Iraqi Freedom I

===HHC, 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division===
====Campaign Participation Credit====
*World War II:
#Tunisia;
#Naples-Foggia;
#Anzio;
#Rome-Arno;
#North Apennines;
#Po Valley
====Decorations====
#Army Superior Unit Award for 1995-1996

===HHC, 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division===
====Campaign Participation Credit====
*World War II:
#Algeria-French Morocco (with arrowhead);
#Tunisia;
#Naples-Foggia;
#Anzio;
# Rome-Arno;
#North Apennines;
#Po Valley
*Southwest Asia:
#Defense of Saudi Arabia;
# Liberation and Defense of Kuwait;
# Cease-Fire
====Decorations====
#Valorous Unit Award for IRAQ
#Army Superior Unit Award for 1995-300000

===HHC, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division===
====Campaign Participation Credit====
*World War II:
#Rome-Arno;
#North Apennines;
#Po Valley
*Southwest Asia:
#Defense of Saudi Arabia;
#Liberation and Defense of Kuwait;
#Cease-Fire
====Decorations====
#Valorous Unit Award for IRAQ-KUWAIT

===HHB, 1st Armored Division Artillery===
====Campaign Participation Credit====
*World War II:
#Tunisia;
#Naples-Foggia;
#Rome-Arno;
#Anzio;
#North Apennines;
#Po Valley
*Southwest Asia:
#Defense of Saudi Arabia;
#Liberation and Defense of Kuwait
====Decorations====
#Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for SOUTHWEST ASIA

===HHC, 1st Armored Division Support Command===
====Campaign Participation Credit====
*World War II:
#Tunisia;
#Naples-Foggia;
#Rome-Arno;
#North Apennines;
#Po Valley
*Southwest Asia:
#Defense of Saudi Arabia;
#Liberation and Defense of Kuwait;
#Cease-Fire
====Decorations====
#Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for SOUTHWEST ASIA

===HHC, Aviation Brigade, 1st Armored Division===
====Campaign Participation Credit====
*Southwest Asia:
#Defense of Saudi Arabia;
#Liberation and Defense of Kuwait;
#Cease-Fire
====Decorations====
#Valorous Unit Award for IRAQ-KUWAIT
#Army Superior Unit Award for 1995-1996

==References==
<references/>
# {{cite book | title = The Battle History of the 1st Armored Division | author = George F. Howe | year = 1979 | publisher = The Battery Press, Inc | id = ISBN 0-89839-025-7}} covers its first (WWII era) incarnation.
*{{cite web
|url=https://www.bliss.army.mil/5thbde/
|title=5th BCT 1st Armored Division}} Formerly the EBCT now Army Evaluation Task Force

==External links==
* [http://www.1ad.army.mil/default.asp 1st Armored Division Website]


[[Category:Wiltshire]]
[[Category:Armored divisions of the United States Army|01st Armored Division, U.S.]]
[[Category:World War II divisions of the United States|Armored Division, U.S. 01st]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of the United States in World War II]]
[[Category:Military Units and formations of the War on Terror]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1932]]


[[ang:Wiltunscir]]
[[de:1. US-Panzerdivision]]
[[ca:Wiltshire]]
[[fr:1re division blindée (États-Unis)]]
[[cy:Wiltshire]]
[[ja:第1機甲師団 (アメリカ軍)]]
[[da:Wiltshire]]
[[no:1. panserdivisjon (USA)]]
[[de:Wiltshire]]
[[pl:1 Dywizja Pancerna (USA)]]
[[et:Wiltshire]]
[[sl:1. oklepna divizija (ZDA)]]
[[es:Wiltshire]]
[[fi:Yhdysvaltain 1. panssaridivisioona]]
[[eo:Wiltshire]]
[[eu:Wiltshire]]
[[fr:Wiltshire]]
[[hi:विल्टशायर]]
[[id:Wiltshire]]
[[is:Wiltshire]]
[[it:Wiltshire]]
[[kw:Wiltshire]]
[[la:Comitatus Wiltoniensis]]
[[lv:Viltšīra]]
[[lb:Wiltshire]]
[[nl:Wiltshire]]
[[ja:ウィルトシャー]]
[[no:Wiltshire]]
[[pl:Wiltshire]]
[[pt:Wiltshire]]
[[ro:Wiltshire]]
[[ru:Уилтшир]]
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[[vo:Wiltshire]]
[[zh:威爾特郡]]

Revision as of 13:10, 10 October 2008

Not to be confused with Wilshire.
Wiltshire
Geography
Status Ceremonial & (smaller) Non-metropolitan county
Region: South West England
Area
- Total
- Admin. council
- Admin. area 		Ranked 14th
1,346 sq. miles (3,485 km²)
Ranked 13th
1,257 sq. miles (3,255 km²)
Admin HQ: Trowbridge
ISO 3166-2: GB-WIL
ONS code: 46
NUTS 3: UKK15
Demographics
Population
- Total (2022)
- Density
- Admin. council
- Admin. pop. 		Ranked 34th
720,060
207 / km²
Ranked
Ethnicity: 97.5% White
Politics

Wiltshire County Council
http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/
Executive  
Members of Parliament
Districts
  1. Salisbury
  2. West Wiltshire
  3. Kennet
  4. North Wiltshire
  5. Swindon (Unitary)

Wiltshire (also abbreviated Wilts) is a ceremonial county in the south west of England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon. The county covers 858,931 acres (3,476 km²). Wiltshire is characterised by its high downland and wide valleys. Salisbury Plain is famous as the location of Stonehenge stone circle and other ancient landmarks. The city of Salisbury is notable for its cathedral. The county town is Trowbridge (originally Wilton). The town of Mere in Wiltshire County is famous as the location of Stourhead, one of the most renowned English gardens in all of England's National Trust.

Etymology

The county, formerly 'Wiltonshire' or 'Wiltunscir' (9th century), is named after the former county town of Wilton (itself named after the river Wylye, one of eight rivers that drain the county). The new county town is Trowbridge.

The local nickname for Wiltshire natives is moonrakers. This originated from a story of smugglers who managed to foil the local Excise men by hiding their alcohol, possibly French brandy in barrels or kegs, in a village pond. When confronted by the excise men they raked the surface in order to conceal the submerged contraband with ripples, and claimed that they were trying to rake in a large round cheese visible in the pond, really a reflection of the full moon. The police took them for simple yokels or mad and left them alone, allowing them to continue with their illegal activities. An alternative version was that the smugglers would try and retrieve their ill-gotten gains under the cover of moonlight by using rakes and if caught would claim they were trying to catch the large cheese in the pond.

History

Main article: History of Wiltshire
Stonehenge

Wiltshire is notable for its pre-Roman archaeology. The Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age people that occupied southern Britain built settlements on the hills and downland that cover Wiltshire. Stonehenge and Avebury are perhaps the most famous Neolithic sites in the UK.

In the 6th and 7th centuries Wiltshire was at the western edge of Saxon Britain, as Cranborne Chase and the Somerset Levels prevented the advance to the west. The Battle of Bedwyn was fought in 675 between Escuin, a Wessex nobleman who had seized the throne of Queen Saxburga, and King Wulfhere of Mercia.[1] In 878 the Danes invaded the county, and, following the Norman Conquest, large areas of the country came into the possession of the crown and the church.

At the time of the Domesday Survey the industry of Wiltshire was largely agricultural; 390 mills are mentioned, and vineyards at Tollard and Lacock. In the succeeding centuries sheep-farming was vigorously pursued, and the Cistercian monasteries of Kingswood and Stanley exported wool to the Florentine and Flemish markets in the 13th and 14th centuries.

In the 17th century English Civil War Wiltshire was largely Parliamentarian. The Battle of Roundway Down, a decisive Royalist victory, was fought near Devizes.

Around 1800 the Kennet and Avon Canal was built through Wiltshire providing a route for transporting cargoes from Bristol to London until the development of the Great Western Railway.

Information on the 261 civil parishes of Wiltshire is available on the Wiltshire Community History website, run by the Libraries and Heritage services of Wiltshire County Council. This site includes maps, demographic data, historic and modern pictures, thumbnail histories, faqs, and information on schools and churches.

Geology, landscape and ecology

Cherhill White Horse

Wiltshire is a mostly rural landscape, two thirds of the county lying on chalk, a kind of soft, white, porous limestone that is resistant to erosion, giving it a high chalk downland landscape. This chalk is part of the Southern England Chalk Formation that underlies large areas of Southern England from the Dorset Downs in the west to Dover in the east. The largest area of chalk in Wiltshire is Salisbury Plain, a semi-wilderness used mainly for arable agriculture and by the British Army as training ranges. The highest point of the county is the Tan Hill-Milk Hill ridge in the Pewsey Vale on the northern edge of Salisbury Plain, at 294m (965 ft) above sea level.

The chalk runs northeast into West Berkshire in the Marlborough Downs ridge, and southwest into Dorset as Cranborne Chase. Cranborne Chase, which straddles the border, has, like Salisbury Plain, yielded much Stone Age and Bronze Age archaeology. The Marlborough Downs are part of the North Wessex Downs AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), a 1,730 km² (668 square mile) conservation area.

In the north west of the county, on the border with Gloucestershire and Bath and North East Somerset, the underlying rock is the resistant oolite limestone of the Cotswolds. Part of the Cotswolds AONB is also in Wiltshire.

Between the areas of chalk and limestone downland are clay valleys and vales. The largest of these vales is the Avon Vale. The Avon cuts diagonally through the north of the county, flowing through Bradford on Avon and into Bath and Bristol. The Vale of Pewsey has been cut through the chalk into Greensand and Oxford Clay in the centre of the county. In the south west of the county is the Vale of Wardour. The south east of the county lies on the sandy soils of the New Forest.

Chalk is a porous rock so the chalk hills have little surface water. The main settlements in the county are therefore situated at wet points. Notably, Salisbury is situated between the chalk of Salisbury Plain and marshy flood plains.


Climate

As with the rest of South West England, Wiltshire has a temperate climate which is generally wetter and milder than the rest of England. The annual mean temperature is 10 °C (50 °F) and shows a seasonal and a diurnal variation. January is the coldest month with mean minimum temperatures between 1 and 2 °C (33-35°F). July and August are the warmest months in the region with mean daily maxima around 21 °C (70 °F).

The number of hours of bright sunshine is controlled by the length of day and by cloudiness. In general December is the dullest month, June the sunniest. The south-west of England has a favoured location with respect to the Azores high pressure when it extends its influence north-eastwards towards the UK, particularly in summer. Convective cloud often forms inland, especially near hills, and acts to reduce sunshine amounts. The average annual sunshine totals 1600 hours.

Rainfall tends to be associated with Atlantic depressions or with convection. The Atlantic depressions are more vigorous in autumn and winter and most of the rain which falls in those seasons in the south-west is from this source. In summer, convection caused by solar surface heating sometimes forms shower clouds and a large proportion of rainfall falls from showers and thunderstorms at this time of year. Average rainfall is around 800–900 mm (31–35 in). About 8–15 days of snowfall is typical. November to March have the highest mean wind speeds, with June to August having the lightest winds. The predominant wind direction is from the South West.[2]

Economy

This is a chart of trend of regional gross value added (GVA) of Wiltshire at current basic prices[3] with figures in millions of British Pounds Sterling.

Year Regional gross value added[4] Agriculture[5] Industry[6] Services[7]
1995 4,354 217 1,393 2,743
2000 5,362 148 1,566 3,647
2003 6,463 164 1,548 4,751

The Wiltshire economy benefits from the "M4 corridor effect", which attracts business, and the attractiveness of its countryside, towns and villages. The northern part of the county is richer than the southern part, particularly since Swindon is home to national and international corporations such as Honda, Intel, Motorola, Alcatel-Lucent and Nationwide, with Dyson (company) located in nearby Malmesbury. Wiltshire’s employment structure is distinctive in having a significantly higher number of people in various forms of manufacturing (especially electrical equipment and apparatus, food products, and beverages, furniture, rubber, and plastic goods) than the national average.

In addition, there is higher than average employment in public administration and defence, due to the military establishments around the county, particularly around Amesbury and Corsham. Wiltshire is also distinctive in having a high proportion of its working age population who are economically active – (86.6% in 1999-2000), and its low unemployment rates. The Gross domestic product (GDP) level in Wiltshire did not reach the UK average in 1998, and was only marginally above the rate for South West England.[8]

Education

Wiltshire has a mostly comprehensive education system with two grammar schools and three secondary modern schools in the Salisbury district. There are 29 state and 13 independent secondary schools - notably Marlborough College, not including the three further education colleges - Wiltshire College, Salisbury College and Swindon College, all of which provide limited levels of higher education. There is also a sixth form college (New College) in Swindon. All schools in West Wiltshire have sixth forms, and only two in North Wiltshire do not. For the other two districts, it is half and half.

North Wiltshire has the largest school population, with Kennet the smallest. West and North Wiltshire have school year sizes around 200-250, whereas the other districts have school year sizes around 120.

There are no universities within Wiltshire, although the Oakfield campus of the University of Bath is situated 2 miles east of central Swindon.

Demographics

The county registered a population of 613,024 in the Census 2001. The population density is low at 178 inhabitants per square kilometre (460/sq mi). In 1991 there were 230,109 dwellings in the county. In 1991 98.3% of the population was indigenous and 17.9% of the population were over 65.[9]

Population of Wiltshire:

  • 1801: 185,107
  • 1851: 254,221
  • 1901: 271,394
  • 1951: 386,692
  • 2001: 613,024

Politics and administration

Wiltshire is a shire county, mostly the responsibility of Wiltshire County Council. This area is divided into four local government districts, Kennet, North Wiltshire, Salisbury and West Wiltshire. Swindon Borough is a unitary authority that is part of the county for various functions but is outside the County Council's area of responsibility . The Department for Communities and Local Government announced on 25 July 2007 that Wiltshire County Council would become a unitary authority, replacing the four district councils of West Wiltshire, North Wiltshire, Kennet and Salisbury as part of the 2009 structural changes to local government in England.

Following the elections in May 2005, 28 Conservatives, 16 Liberal Democrats, three Labour Party members and two Independents (Christopher Newbury and John Syme) are members of Wiltshire County Council. Conservatives hold most of the more rural areas while the Liberal Democrats hold several towns, including Trowbridge, Chippenham and Bradford-on-Avon. The county divisions of Westbury Ham with Dilton and Warminster West elected the two Independents, while the three Labour members hold their seats in the towns of Salisbury, Melksham and Devizes.

At the parliamentary level Wiltshire is represented entirely by Conservative Members of Parliament, except for the predominantly urban area of Swindon which is represented by Labour. Since 1992 Devizes has been represented by the front bench Conservative Michael Ancram.

Sport

The county is represented in the Football League by Swindon Town, who play at the County Ground near Swindon town centre. They joined the Football League on the creation of the Third Division in 1920, and have remained in the league ever since. Their most notable achievements include winning the Football League Cup in 1969, two successive promotions in 1986 and 1987 (taking them from the Fourth Division to the Second), promotion to the Premier League as Division One playoff winners in 1993 (as inaugural members), the Division Two title in 1996, and their recent promotion to League One in 2007 after finishing third in League Two.

Principal settlements

A bridge over the River Avon at Bradford on Avon in Wiltshire

Wiltshire has 21 towns and one city

A list of settlements is at List of places in Wiltshire.

Places of interest

Key
Abbey/Priory/Cathedral
Accessible open space Accessible open space
Amusement/Theme Park
Castle
Country Park Country Park
English Heritage
Forestry Commission
Heritage railway Heritage railway
Historic house Historic House
Places of Worship Places of Worship
Museum (free)
Museum		 Museum (free/not free)
National Trust National Trust
Theatre
Zoo

Places of interest in Wiltshire include:

The flight of 16 locks at Caen Hill on the Kennet and Avon Canal.
Areas of countryside in Wiltshire are
Routes through Wiltshire include

References and footnotes

  1. ^ Pearson, Michael (2003). Kennet & Avon Middle Thames:Pearson's Canal Companion. Rugby: Central Waterways Supplies. ISBN 0-907864-97-X.
  2. ^ "About south-west England". Met Office. Retrieved 2006-05-28.
  3. ^ "Regional Gross Value Added (pp.240-253)" (PDF). Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 2006-10-21.
  4. ^ Components may not sum to totals due to rounding
  5. ^ includes hunting and forestry
  6. ^ includes energy and construction
  7. ^ includes financial intermediation services indirectly measured
  8. ^ "Wiltshire Strategic Analysis (2002)" (PDF). Wiltshire CPRE. Retrieved 2006-10-21.
  9. ^ Census Data "1991 Wiltshire Census Data". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 2006-10-21. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)

See also

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wiltshire.

51°19′11″N 2°12′32″W / 51.31972°N 2.20889°W / 51.31972; -2.20889

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