Yorkshire, former county, N England. From 1889 to 1974 it formed three counties, the East Riding, North Riding, and West Riding of Yorkshire. In 1974, Yorkshire was divided among the nonmetropolitan counties of Humberside, Cleveland, and North Yorkshire and the metropolitan counties of South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire. All but North Yorkshire were later dissolved as units of local elected government, and the East Riding of Yorkshire was largely reestablished as a unitary authority in 1996. The East Riding of Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, and South Yorkshire remain ceremonial counties under the Lieutenancies Act.
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