North Yorkshire Postcodes — England (ENG)

North Yorkshire

In terms of land area, North Yorkshire's 9,020 square kilometers make it the largest ceremonial county (lieutenancy area) in England (3,480 sq mi). The Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors, which together make up the majority of the county's total area, are both protected as national parks. East Riding of Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, and West Yorkshire are the other three counties in England with the name Yorkshire. Similarly, North Yorkshire is not a metropolitan county because of its large size (8,037 sq. km) (3,103 sq mi).

The City of York and the northern parts of the ceremonial county are not included in the non-metropolitan county managed by North Yorkshire County Council.

The majority of the county is included in the Yorkshire and the Humber region, but the northern portion is included in the North East England region.

Despite being managed by North Yorkshire County Council, the built-up areas of both Middlesbrough (with 174,700) and York (with 152,841) are considered separate settlements. The county council area has an estimated mid-2016 population of 602,300, according to the ONS. Harrogate, with a population of 75,070, is the administrative county seat and third most populated settlement in the ceremonial county (at 61,749). As the county seat, Northallerton has a population of 16,832. The cities of Redcar, Thornaby-on-Tees, Ingleby Barwick, Ripon, Knaresborough, Selby, and Skipton are also significant in the county.

Geography of North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire's scenery is a faithful reflection of the region's underlying geology. The North York Moors and much of the Yorkshire Dales are located inside the county, making it home to two of the eleven national parks in England and Wales. The Vales of Mowbray and York can be found between the North York Moors and the Pennine Hills. Towards the north are the Tees Lowlands and the Vale of Pickering, while the North York Moors are to the south. The coast of the North Sea forms its eastern border. Whernside, on the Cumbrian border, is the region's highest point, standing at 736 meters (2,415 ft).

The Swale and the Ure are the two largest rivers in the area. It is the confluence of the Swale and the Ure that gives rise to the River Ouse, which ultimately empties into the Humber Estuary at York. From its source in upper Teesdale, the River Tees runs south through Stockton-on-Tees and Middlesbrough before reaching the coast. This section of the border between North Yorkshire and County Durham is a natural feature of the landscape. Much of the county's southern boundary is made up by the River Wharfe, which also drains into the River Ouse.

Economy of North Yorkshire

Around 85% of North Yorkshire is classified as "rural or ultra sparse," making agriculture the dominant economic driver in many regions.

In 2019, some people also worked in forestry and fishing, while 19% of all occupations were in the service industry (mainly catering to tourists). Food production accounted for 11% of all jobs. Weekly salaries averaged £531 in 2018. A significant portion of the labor force (15%) identified themselves as independent contractors. According to a research from late in the year 2020, "North Yorkshire has a generally healthy and diverse economy which basically resembles the national picture in terms of productivity and jobs."

High technology is just one part of the economy, which also includes mineral exploration and electricity generation.

The tourism industry makes a considerable impact on national GDP. The Borough of Scarborough, which includes Filey, Whitby, and some of the North York Moors National Park, saw an average of 1.4 million annual visitors between 2013 and 2015, according to a review of visitor data. National Park Service data from 2016 shows even more outstanding figures: 7.93 million visitors bring in £647 million and support 10,900 full-time equivalent jobs in the park region.

Many people have also traveled to Yorkshire to see the Dales. There were 3.8 million people that went to the National Park in 2016, and 0.48 million of them stayed overnight. According to the Parks Department, this generated £252 million for the economy and supported 3,583 FTE jobs. More than 9.7 million tourists spent over £644 million in the Yorkshire Dales region. A couple of the most well-known places in all of England are the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales. 

North Yorkshire County Council runs numerous, smaller tourist information centers in outlying locations.

The importance of nature, or eco-tourism, has grown significantly in recent years. Some regions draw visitors not just for their hiking opportunities, but also for their wildlife, a component that has not yet been properly established. The Herriot Country Tourism Group is another organization doing its part to boost tourism in the area; they serve not just Thirsk, Northallerton, Easingwold, Great Ayton, and Bedale, but also the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales. 

York and Harrogate, both rich in history, are among the most popular places to visit in the region.

Visitors to York are in the millions, and a small percentage of them may be swayed to explore North Yorkshire beyond York. According to a study published in 2014 that used data from 2012, the city of York alone sees 6.9 million annual visitors, who together inject £564 million into the local economy and sustain well over 19,000. According to a 2017 poll by Condé Nast Traveller readers, York is the 12th best city in the UK. Condé Nast Traveler ranked York as number six out of ten "urban hotspots [in the UK] that got the greatest scores when it came to... nightlife, restaurants, and friendliness" in their 2020 edition. 

The average price of a home sold in North Yorkshire County for the 12 months from February 2020 to January 2021 was £240,000, an increase of £8,100 over the previous 12 months. When compared to the average of England and Wales, which was £314,000, this figure seems quite high. Harrogate (average value: £376,195), Knaresborough (£375,625), Tadcaster (£314,278), Leyburn (£309,165), and Ripon (£299,998), for example, had higher than average house prices for the county as of early 2021.