View source for West Yorkshire

{{short description|County of England}}
{{about|the ceremonial county|conurbation|West Yorkshire Built-up Area|the historic subdivision|West Riding of Yorkshire}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2014}}
{{Infobox English county
| official_name           = West Yorkshire
| image_main= {{multiple image
|border = infobox |perrow = 1/2
|total_width = 250
| image1 = Aspley_Basin_(edited,_cropped).jpg
| image2 = Piece Hall (40524583501).jpg
| image3 =Stones_on_Ilkley_Moor_(2438832878)_(edited).jpg
}}
| image_caption = [[Aspley, Huddersfield|Aspley]] Basin on the [[Huddersfield Broad Canal|Broad Canal]] ([[Huddersfield]]), the [[Piece Hall]] ([[Halifax, West Yorkshire|Halifax]]) and [[Ilkley Moor]] (near [[Ilkley]])
| locator_map             = West Yorkshire UK locator map 2010.svg
|map_caption=West Yorkshire within England
| coordinates             = {{coord|53|45|N|1|40|W|region:GB_type:adm1st|display=title, inline}}
| region                  = [[Yorkshire and the Humber]]
| established_date        = 1 April 1974
| preceded_by             = [[West Riding of Yorkshire]]
| origin                  = [[Local Government Act 1972]]
| lord_lieutenant_office  = Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire
| lord_lieutenant_name    = Edmund Anderson
| high_sheriff_office     = High Sheriff of West Yorkshire
| high_sheriff_name       = [[Adeeba Malik]] (2024-2025)<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=64345|page=5286|date=14 March 2024}}</ref>
| area_total_km2          = 2029
| area_total_rank         = 29th
| ethnicity               = {{ubl|76.6% White|15.9% Asian|3.1% Black|2.8% Mixed|1.7% Other}}<ref>{{cite web |title=West Yorkshire Demographics {{!}} Age, Ethnicity, Religion, Wellbeing |url=https://www.varbes.com/demographics/west-yorkshire-demographics |website=Varbes |access-date=10 February 2023 }}</ref>
| government             = [[West Yorkshire Combined Authority]]
| admin_hq                = [[Leeds]]
| mayor_name              = [[Tracy Brabin]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])
| mayor_office            = Mayor of West Yorkshire
| gss_code                =
 {{Unbulleted list
 |E11000006 (county)
 |E47000003 (city region)
 }}
| nuts_code               = TLE4
| districts_map           = [[File:West Yorkshire numbered districts.svg|200px]]
| districts_key           = {{Colorsample|#FEC1E9}} [[Metropolitan borough|Metropolitan districts]]
| districts_list          =
# [[City of Leeds|Leeds]]
# [[City of Wakefield|Wakefield]]
# [[Kirklees]]
# [[Calderdale]]
# [[City of Bradford|Bradford]]
| MPs                     = [[List of Parliamentary constituencies in West Yorkshire|List of MPs]]
| police                  = [[West Yorkshire Police]]
| website                 = {{URL|westyorks-ca.gov.uk}}
}}
'''West Yorkshire''' is a [[Metropolitan counties of England|metropolitan]] and [[Ceremonial counties of England|ceremonial county]] in the [[Yorkshire and the Humber]] region of England. It borders [[North Yorkshire]] to the north and east, [[South Yorkshire]] and [[Derbyshire]] to the south, [[Greater Manchester]] to the south-west, and [[Lancashire]] to the west. The city of [[Leeds]] is the largest settlement.

The county has an area of {{convert|2029|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} and a population of 2.3&nbsp;million, making it the fourth-largest ceremonial county by population. The centre of the county is urbanised, with Leeds located in the north-east, the city of [[Wakefield]] in the south-east, [[Huddersfield]] in the south-west, and the city of [[Bradford]] in the north-west. The outer areas of the county are rural. For local government purposes the county comprises five [[metropolitan borough]]s: [[City of Bradford|Bradford]], [[Calderdale]], [[Kirklees]], [[City of Leeds|Leeds]], and [[City of Wakefield|Wakefield]], which collaborate through [[West Yorkshire Combined Authority]]. The county was created in 1974, prior to which the area was within the [[West Riding of Yorkshire]].

The western part of West Yorkshire is in the [[South Pennines]], and contains a small part of the [[Peak District]] National Park. It is characterised by steep valleys and is the source of the [[River Calder, West Yorkshire|River Calder]], which flows past Wakefield before meeting the [[River Aire|Aire]], which flows through Leeds, near [[Castleford]]. The landscape becomes flatter in the east, and the eastern boundary of the county is on the edge of the [[Vale of York]].

Remnants of strong coal, wool and iron ore industries remain in the county, having attracted people over the centuries, and this can be seen in the buildings and architecture. Several railways and the [[M1 motorway|M1]], [[M621 motorway|M621]], [[M606 motorway|M606]], [[A1(M) motorway|A1(M)]] and [[M62 motorway|M62]] motorways traverse the county.

==Governance==
{{see also|List of civil parishes in West Yorkshire}}
{| class = "wikitable"
!Body !! Headquarters
|-
|[[West Yorkshire Combined Authority]]||[[Leeds City Centre]]
|-
|[[West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service]]||[[Birkenshaw, West Yorkshire|Birkenshaw]]
|-
|[[West Yorkshire Joint Services]]||[[Morley, West Yorkshire|Morley]]
|-
|[[West Yorkshire Police]]||[[Wakefield]]
|-
|[[City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council]]||[[Bradford City Hall]]
|-
|[[Calderdale Council]]|| [[Halifax Town Hall]]
|-
|[[Kirklees Council]]||[[Huddersfield Town Hall]]
|-
|[[Leeds City Council]]||[[Leeds Civic Hall]]
|-
|[[Wakefield Council]]||[[County Hall, Wakefield]]
|}

[[West Yorkshire County Council]] was abolished in 1986 and its five districts effectively became [[unitary authority|unitary authorities]]. The metropolitan county, covering an area of {{convert|2029|km2|sqmi}}, continues to exist in law and as a geographic frame of reference.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gazetteer of the old and new geographies of the United Kingdom|url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/ons_geography/Gazetteer_v3.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20031223023527/http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/ons_geography/Gazetteer_v3.pdf|archive-date=23 December 2003|access-date=14 December 2006|publisher=Office for National Statistics|page=48}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.statistics.gov.uk/geography/metropolitan.asp|title= Metropolitan Counties and Districts|work= Beginners' Guide to UK Geography|publisher= [[Office for National Statistics]]|date= 17 September 2004|access-date= 11 January 2007|url-status= dead|archive-url= http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20020606075048/http://www.statistics.gov.uk/geography/metropolitan.asp|archive-date= 6 June 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Yorkshire and Humber Counties|url=http://www.boundarycommittee.org.uk/your-area/yorkshire-humber.cfm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202233240/http://www.boundarycommittee.org.uk/your-area/yorkshire-humber.cfm|archive-date=2 February 2007|access-date=14 February 2007|publisher=The Boundary Commission for England}}</ref>

Since 1 April 2014, West Yorkshire has been a [[combined authority]] area, with the local authorities pooling some functions over transport and regeneration as the [[West Yorkshire Combined Authority]]. The first [[Mayor of West Yorkshire]], [[Tracy Brabin]], was [[2021 West Yorkshire mayoral election|elected]] on 6 May 2021, following a devolution deal announced by the government in the [[2020 United Kingdom budget|March 2020 budget]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Devolution deal worth £1.8bn agreed |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-51834313 |access-date=17 May 2020 |work=BBC News |date=11 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Beecham |first1=Richard |title=West Yorkshire mayor plans still on track for next May despite lockdown |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/politics/council/west-yorkshire-mayor-plans-still-track-next-may-despite-lockdown-2851817 |access-date=17 May 2020 |work=Yorkshire Evening Post |date=13 May 2020 }}</ref>

The conurbation of Bradford, Dewsbury, Halifax, Huddersfield, Leeds and  Wakefield makes up the [[West Yorkshire Built-up Area]], which is the [[List of urban areas in the United Kingdom|fourth-largest in the United Kingdom]] and the largest within the [[Historic counties of England|historic county boundaries]] of [[Yorkshire]].

In Parliament, 13 out of 22 of West Yorkshire's MPs are [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] and 9 are Conservative. At local level, the councils are generally divided, apart from the Wakefield district, which has long been one of the safest Labour councils in the country.

Some services are provided across the county by [[West Yorkshire Joint Services]] and the [[West Yorkshire Police]] and [[West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service]] are also county-wide.

==Geography==
[[File:Yorksgeology.jpg|thumb|left|Geology of Yorkshire]]
[[File:Ilkley Moor (29215324042).jpg|thumb|[[Ilkley Moor]]]]
The county borders, going anticlockwise from the west: [[Lancashire]], [[Greater Manchester]], [[Derbyshire]], [[South Yorkshire]] and [[North Yorkshire]]. The terrain of the county mostly consists of the [[Pennines]] and its foothills which dominate the west of the county and gradually descend into the [[Vale of York]] and [[Humberhead Levels]] in the east. Geologically, it lies almost entirely on rocks of carboniferous age which form the inner Southern Pennine fringes in the west<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.countryside.gov.uk/LAR/Landscape/CC/yorkshire_and_the_humber/yorkshire_southern_pennine_fringe.asp|title = Yorkshire Southern Pennine Fringe|publisher = www.countryside.gov.uk|access-date = 6 October 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080908043951/http://www.countryside.gov.uk/LAR/Landscape/CC/yorkshire_and_the_humber/yorkshire_southern_pennine_fringe.asp|archive-date = 8 September 2008|url-status = dead}}</ref> and the Yorkshire coalfield further eastwards.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.countryside.gov.uk/LAR/Landscape/CC/yorkshire_and_the_humber/nottinghamshire_derbyshire_and_yorkshire_coalfield.asp|title = Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Yorkshire Coalfield|publisher = www.countryside.gov.uk|access-date = 6 October 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080821113838/http://www.countryside.gov.uk/LAR/Landscape/CC/yorkshire_and_the_humber/nottinghamshire_derbyshire_and_yorkshire_coalfield.asp|archive-date = 21 August 2008|url-status = dead}}</ref> In the extreme east of the metropolitan county there are younger deposits of [[Magnesian Limestone]].<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.countryside.gov.uk/LAR/Landscape/CC/yorkshire_and_the_humber/southern_magnesian_limestone.asp|title = Southern Magnesian Limestone|publisher = www.countryside.gov.uk|access-date = 6 October 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080908044508/http://www.countryside.gov.uk/LAR/Landscape/CC/yorkshire_and_the_humber/southern_magnesian_limestone.asp|archive-date = 8 September 2008|url-status = dead}}</ref> Areas in the west such as Bradford and Calderdale are dominated by the scenery of the eastern slopes of the [[South Pennines]], dropping from upland in the west down to the east, and dissected by many steep-sided valleys while a small part of the northern [[Peak District]] extends into the south west of Kirklees. Large-scale industry, housing, public and commercial buildings of differing heights, transport routes and open countryside conjoin. The dense network of roads, canals and railways and urban development, confined by valleys creates dramatic interplay of views between settlements and the surrounding hillsides, as shaped the first urban-rural juxtapositions of [[David Hockney]]. Where most rural the land crops up in the such rhymes and folklore as [[On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at]], date unknown, the early 19th century novels and poems of the [[Brontë family]] often in and around [[Haworth]] and long-running light comedy-drama ''[[Last of the Summer Wine]]'' in the 20th century.

The carboniferous rocks of the Yorkshire coalfield further east have produced a rolling landscape with hills, escarpments and broad valleys in the outer fringes of the Pennines. In this landscape there is widespread evidence of both current and former industrial activity. There are numerous derelict or converted mine buildings and recently landscaped former spoil heaps.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}} The scenery is a mixture of built up areas, industrial land with some dereliction, and farmed open country. Ribbon developments along transport routes including canal, road and rail are prominent features of the area although some remnants of the pre industrial landscape and semi-natural vegetation still survive. However, many areas are affected by urban fringe pressures creating fragmented and downgraded landscapes and ever present are urban influences from major cities, smaller industrial towns and former mining villages.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}} In the [[Magnesian Limestone]] belt to the east of the Leeds and Wakefield areas is an elevated ridge with smoothly rolling scenery, dissected by dry valleys. Here, there is a large number of country houses and estates with parkland, estate woodlands, plantations and game coverts.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}} The rivers [[River Aire|Aire]] and [[River Calder, West Yorkshire|Calder]] drain the area, flowing from west to east.

==History==
{{See also|History of Leeds|History of Yorkshire}}
Wakefield's Parish Church was raised to cathedral status in 1888 and after the elevation of Wakefield to diocese, Wakefield Council immediately sought city status and this was granted in July 1888.<ref>{{Harvnb|Beckett|2005|pp=39,40 }}</ref> However the [[Industrial Revolution]], which changed West and South Yorkshire significantly, led to the growth of Leeds and Bradford, which became the area's two largest cities (Leeds being the largest in Yorkshire). Leeds was granted city status in 1893 and Bradford in 1897. The name of [[Leeds Town Hall]] reflects the fact that at its opening in 1858 Leeds was not yet a city, while Bradford renamed its Town Hall as City Hall in 1965.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bradford.gov.uk/leisure_and_culture/hobbies_and_interests/history_of_city_hall.htm|title=History of City Hall|work=City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council|access-date=17 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006213238/http://www.bradford.gov.uk/leisure_and_culture/hobbies_and_interests/history_of_city_hall.htm|archive-date=6 October 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{{clear|right}}{{clear|left}}
{| class="wikitable" style="border:0px;text-align:left;"
! colspan="2" | [[Local Government Act 1972|Post-1974]]
! colspan="4" | [[Local Government Act 1888|Pre-1974]]
|-
! Metropolitan county
! Metropolitan borough
! [[County borough]]s
! [[Municipal borough|Non-county boroughs]]
! [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|Urban districts]]
! [[Rural district]]s
|-
|rowspan=5 width=450pt|[[File:West Yorkshire County.png|400px]]<br /><small>West Yorkshire is an amalgamation of 53 former local government districts, including five county boroughs and ten municipal boroughs.</small>
| [[City of Bradford|Bradford]]
| [[County Borough of Bradford|Bradford]]
| [[Municipal Borough of Keighley|Keighley]]
| [[Baildon Urban District|Baildon]]&nbsp;• [[Bingley]]&nbsp;• [[Denholme Urban District|Denholme]]&nbsp;• [[Ilkley Urban District|Ilkley]]&nbsp;• [[Queensbury and Shelf]]<ref group=Note name=Q&S/>&nbsp;•[[Silsden Urban District|Silsden]]&nbsp;• [[Shipley Urban District|Shipley]]
| [[Skipton Rural District|Skipton]]
|-
| [[Calderdale]]
| [[County Borough of Halifax|Halifax]]
| [[Municipal Borough of Brighouse|Brighouse]]&nbsp;• [[Municipal Borough of Todmorden|Todmorden]]
| [[Elland Urban District|Elland]]&nbsp;• [[Hebden Royd Urban District|Hebden Royd]]&nbsp;• [[Queensbury and Shelf]]<ref group=Note name=Q&S/>&nbsp;• [[Ripponden Urban District|Ripponden]]&nbsp;• [[Sowerby Bridge Urban District|Sowerby Bridge]]
| [[Hepton Rural District|Hepton]]
|-
| [[Kirklees]]
| [[County Borough of Huddersfield|Huddersfield]]&nbsp;• [[County Borough of Dewsbury|Dewsbury]]
| [[Municipal Borough of Batley|Batley]]&nbsp;• [[Municipal Borough of Spenborough|Spenborough]]
| [[Colne Valley Urban District|Colne Valley]]&nbsp;• [[Denby Dale Urban District|Denby Dale]]&nbsp;• [[Heckmondwike Urban District|Heckmondwike]]&nbsp;• [[Holmfirth Urban District|Holmfirth]]&nbsp;• [[Kirkburton Urban District|Kirkburton]]&nbsp;• [[Meltham Urban District|Meltham]]&nbsp;• [[Mirfield Urban District|Mirfield]]
|
|-
| [[City of Leeds|Leeds]]
| [[County Borough of Leeds|Leeds]]
| [[Municipal Borough of Morley|Morley]]&nbsp;• [[Municipal Borough of Pudsey|Pudsey]]
| [[Aireborough Urban District|Aireborough]]&nbsp;• [[Garforth Urban District|Garforth]]&nbsp;• [[Horsforth Urban District|Horsforth]]&nbsp;• [[Otley Urban District|Otley]]&nbsp;• [[Rothwell Urban District (Yorkshire)|Rothwell]]
| [[Tadcaster Rural District|Tadcaster]]&nbsp;• [[Wharfedale Rural District|Wharfedale]]&nbsp;• [[Wetherby Rural District|Wetherby]]
|-
| [[City of Wakefield|Wakefield]]
| [[County Borough of Wakefield|Wakefield]]
| [[Municipal Borough of Castleford|Castleford]]&nbsp;• [[Municipal Borough of Ossett|Ossett]]&nbsp;• [[Municipal Borough of Pontefract|Pontefract]]
| [[Featherstone Urban District|Featherstone]]&nbsp;• [[Hemsworth Urban District|Hemsworth]]&nbsp;• [[Horbury Urban District|Horbury]]&nbsp;• [[Knottingley Urban District|Knottingley]]&nbsp;• [[Normanton Urban District|Normanton]]&nbsp;• [[Stanley Urban District, Yorkshire|Stanley]]
| [[Hemsworth Rural District|Hemsworth]]&nbsp;• [[Osgoldcross Rural District|Osgoldcross]]&nbsp;• [[Wakefield Rural District|Wakefield]]
|-
|}
{{reflist|group=Note |refs=
<ref name=Q&S>[[Queensbury and Shelf Urban District]] was split between Bradford and Calderdale in 1974: Queensbury civil parish became part of Bradford; Shelf civil parish became part of Calderdale.</ref>
}}
West Yorkshire was formed as a metropolitan county in 1974, by the [[Local Government Act 1972]], and corresponds roughly to the core of the [[Historic counties of England|historic]] [[West Riding of Yorkshire]] and the county boroughs of Bradford, Dewsbury, Halifax, Huddersfield, Leeds, and Wakefield.

West Yorkshire Metropolitan County Council inherited the use of [[County Hall, Wakefield|West Riding County Hall]] at [[Wakefield]], opened in 1898, from the West Riding County Council in 1974. Since 1987 it has been the headquarters of Wakefield City Council.<ref>
{{cite web | url = http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/CultureAndLeisure/HistoricWakefield/Highlights/Buildings/CountyHall/default.htm | title = County Hall | publisher = Wakefield City Council | date = 20 November 2004 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061111211212/http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/CultureAndLeisure/HistoricWakefield/Highlights/Buildings/CountyHall/default.htm | archive-date = 11 November 2006 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

The county initially had a two-tier structure of local government with a strategic-level county council and five districts providing most services.<ref>Redcliffe-Maud and Wood, B., ''English Local Government Reformed'', (1974)</ref> In 1986, throughout England the metropolitan county councils were abolished. The functions of the county council were devolved to the boroughs; joint-boards covering fire, police and public transport; and to other special joint arrangements.<ref>Kingdom, J., ''Local Government and Politics in Britain'', (1991)</ref> Organisations such as the [[West Yorkshire Police]] (governed by the [[West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner]]) continue to operate on this basis.

Although the county council was abolished, West Yorkshire continues to form a [[metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England|metropolitan]] and [[ceremonial counties of England|ceremonial]] county with a [[Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire]] and a [[High Sheriff of West Yorkshire|High Sheriff]].

===Green belt===
{{further|South and West Yorkshire Green Belt}}
West Yorkshire contains [[Green belt (United Kingdom)|green belt]] interspersed throughout the county, surrounding the West Yorkshire Urban Area. It was first drawn up in the 1950s. All the county's districts contain large portions of green belt.

===Parish===
West Yorkshire has close ties with Lancashire in terms of history, local identity and infrastructure including with the [[War of the Roses]] and [[Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/wars-roses-how-rivalry-between-yorkshire-and-lancashire-still-exists-today-47277|title=Wars of the roses: How the rivalry between Yorkshire and Lancashire still exists today|work=The Yorkshire Post|access-date=9 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Wars of the Roses: A History of Lancashire vs. Yorkshire Cricket Matches|first=Dean|last=Hayes|date=1 October 2000|id={{ASIN|1903158117|country=uk}}}}</ref> Up until the 19th&nbsp;century, the town of [[Todmorden]] was in Lancashire but was moved into Yorkshire.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/yorkshire-town-wishes-lancashire-19208458|title=The Yorkshire town that wishes it was in Lancashire|first1=Dave|last1=Himelfield|first2=Jon|last2=Macpherson|date=2 November 2020|website=LancsLive|access-date=9 June 2021}}</ref> In the 1974 boundary review, the towns of [[Earby]] and [[Barnoldswick]] were moved into the [[Borough of Pendle|Pendle]] district of Lancashire.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/history/two-more-towns-arent-quite-19696912|title=More towns which aren't sure if they're in Lancashire or Yorkshire|first=Dave|last=Himelfield|date=30 January 2021|website=YorkshireLive|access-date=9 June 2021}}</ref> The civil parish of [[Saddleworth]] in [[Metropolitan Borough of Oldham|Oldham]] was the only part of West Riding of Yorkshire to be moved into the county of Greater Manchester. The villages in the parish border the towns of [[Huddersfield]] and [[Holmfirth]]. There is a strong identity debate with Saddleworth residents who still maintain close connections with Yorkshire including the Saddleworth White Rose Society.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-news/saddleworth-white-rose-yorkshire-fight-19288364|title=The fight to keep these historic villages in Yorkshire nearing a sad end|first=Megan|last=Shaw|date=6 December 2020|website=YorkshireLive|access-date=9 June 2021}}</ref>

===Local legislation===
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title = West Yorkshire Act 1980
| type = Act
| parliament = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title = An Act to re-enact with amendments and to extend certain local enactments in force within the metropolitan county of West Yorkshire; to confer further powers on the West Yorkshire Metropolitan County Council, the City of Bradford Metropolitan Council, the Borough Council of Calderdale, the Council of the Borough of Kirklees, the Leeds City Council and the Council of the City of Wakefield; to make further provision with regard to the environment, local government and improvement of the county; and for other purposes.
| year = 1980
| citation = [[List of acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1980|1980]] c. xiv
| introduced_commons = 
| introduced_lords = 
| territorial_extent = 
| royal_assent = 1 May 1980
| commencement = 
| expiry_date = 
| repeal_date = 
| amends = 
| replaces = 
| amendments = {{ubli|[[Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982]]}}
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation = 
| status = amended
| legislation_history = 
| theyworkforyou = 
| millbankhansard = 
| original_text = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/1980/14/pdfs/ukla_19800014_en.pdf
| revised_text = 
| use_new_UK-LEG = 
| UK-LEG_title = 
| collapsed = yes
}}
The {{visible anchor|West Yorkshire Act 1980}} (c. xiv) was passed to amend existing local acts of Parliament in the West Yorkshire area, and to confer specific powers on [[West Yorkshire County Council]], as well as the [[City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council]], [[Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council]], [[Kirklees Council]], [[Leeds City Council]] and [[Wakefield Council]].

==Demography==
{{see also|List of settlements in West Yorkshire by population}}
[[File:West Yorkshire population density map, 2011 census.png|thumb|right|350px|Population density in the 2011 census in West Yorkshire]]
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+The county's boroughs
|-
! District
! Area km<sup>2</sup>
! Population
! Density 
|-
| {{sort|Bradford|[[City of Bradford]]}}
| 366.42
| 523,100
| 1,346
|-
| [[Calderdale]]
| 363.92
| 200,100
| 545
|-
| [[Kirklees]]
| 408.61
| 401,000
| 975
|-
| {{sort|Leeds|[[City of Leeds]]}}
| 551.72
| 761,100
| 1,360
|-
| {{sort|Wakefield|[[City of Wakefield]]}}
| 338.61
| 321,600
| 949
|}{{clear}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+The county's settlements by metropolitan borough
! Metropolitan borough || Seat || Other places
|-
| [[City of Bradford]]<br/>[[File:WYorks-Bradford.png|60px]]
| [[Bradford City Hall]], [[Bradford]]
| [[Addingham]], [[Baildon]], [[Bingley]], [[Burley in Wharfedale]], [[Cottingley, Bradford|Cottingley]], [[Crossflatts]], [[Cross Roads, West Yorkshire|Cross Roads]], [[Cullingworth]], [[Denholme]], [[East and West Morton]], [[Eccleshill, West Yorkshire|Eccleshill]], [[Eldwick]], [[Esholt]], [[Great Horton]], [[Gilstead]], [[Harden, West Yorkshire|Harden]], [[Haworth]], [[Ilkley]], [[Keighley]], [[Manningham, Bradford|Manningham]], [[Menston]], [[Oakworth]], [[Oxenhope]], [[Queensbury, West Yorkshire|Queensbury]], [[Riddlesden]], [[Saltaire]], [[Sandy Lane, West Yorkshire|Sandy Lane]], [[Shipley, West Yorkshire|Shipley]], [[Silsden]], [[Stanbury]], [[Steeton with Eastburn|Steeton]], [[Thornbury, West Yorkshire|Thornbury]], [[Thornton, West Yorkshire|Thornton]], [[Tong, West Yorkshire|Tong]], [[Bolton and Undercliffe|Undercliffe]], [[Wibsey]], [[Wilsden]].
|-
| [[Calderdale]]<br/>[[File:WYorks-Calderdale.png|60px]]
| [[Halifax Town Hall]], [[Halifax, West Yorkshire|Halifax]]
| [[Bailiff Bridge]], [[Boothtown]], [[Brighouse]], [[Copley, West Yorkshire|Copley]], [[Cragg Vale]], [[Elland]], [[Greetland]], [[Hebden Bridge]], [[Heptonstall]], [[Hipperholme]], [[Holywell Green]], [[Luddendenfoot]], [[Mytholmroyd]], [[Norwood Green, West Yorkshire|Norwood Green]], [[Rastrick]], [[Ripponden]], [[Rishworth]], [[Shelf, West Yorkshire|Shelf]], [[Shibden]], [[Sowerby Bridge]], [[Todmorden]]
|-
| [[Kirklees]]<br/>[[File:WYorks-Kirklees.png|60px]]
| [[Huddersfield Town Hall]], [[Huddersfield]]
| [[Almondbury]], [[Batley]], [[Birkby, West Yorkshire|Birkby]], [[Birkenshaw, West Yorkshire|Birkenshaw]], [[Birstall, West Yorkshire|Birstall]], [[Cleckheaton]], [[Dalton, West Yorkshire|Dalton]], [[Denby Dale]], [[Dewsbury]], [[Emley, West Yorkshire|Emley]], [[Golcar]], [[Gomersal]], [[Hartshead]], [[Hartshead Moor]], [[Heckmondwike]], [[Holmfirth]], [[Honley]], [[Kirkburton]], [[Kirkheaton]], [[Linthwaite]], [[Liversedge]], [[Marsden, West Yorkshire|Marsden]], [[Meltham]], [[Mirfield]], [[New Mill, West Yorkshire|New Mill]], [[Norristhorpe]], [[Roberttown]], [[Scammonden]], [[Shelley, West Yorkshire|Shelley]], [[Shepley]], [[Skelmanthorpe]], [[Slaithwaite]], [[Thornhill, West Yorkshire|Thornhill]]
|-
| [[City of Leeds]]<br/>[[File:WYorks-Leeds.png|60px]]
| [[Leeds Civic Hall]], [[Leeds]]
| [[Allerton Bywater]], [[Beeston, West Yorkshire|Beeston]], [[Boston Spa]], [[Collingham, West Yorkshire|Collingham]], [[Garforth]], [[Guiseley]], [[Harewood, West Yorkshire|Harewood]], [[Harehills]], [[Headingley]], [[Holbeck]], [[Horsforth]], [[Hyde Park, Leeds|Hyde Park]], [[Gipton]], [[Kippax, West Yorkshire|Kippax]], [[Kirkstall]], [[Ledsham, West Yorkshire|Ledsham]], [[Ledston]], [[Methley]], [[Middleton, Leeds|Middleton]], [[Morley, West Yorkshire|Morley]], [[New Farnley]], [[Otley]], [[Oulton, West Yorkshire|Oulton]], [[Pool-in-Wharfedale]], [[Pudsey]], [[Rothwell, West Yorkshire|Rothwell]], [[Rawdon, West Yorkshire|Rawdon]], [[Scarcroft]], [[Scholes, Leeds|Scholes]], [[Stourton, Leeds|Stourton]], [[Swillington]], [[Walton, Leeds|Walton (Leeds)]], [[Wetherby]], [[Yeadon, West Yorkshire|Yeadon]], [[Woodhouse, Leeds|Woodhouse]]
|-
| [[City of Wakefield]]<br/>[[File:WYorks-Wakefield.png|50px]]
| [[West Riding County Hall]], [[Wakefield]]
| [[Ackworth, West Yorkshire|Ackworth]], [[Alverthorpe]], [[Castleford]], [[Crigglestone]], [[Crofton, West Yorkshire|Crofton]], [[Durkar]], [[Fairburn Ings]], [[Featherstone]], [[Ferrybridge]], [[Fitzwilliam, West Yorkshire|Fitzwilliam]], [[Hemsworth]], [[Horbury]], [[Knottingley]], [[Newmillerdam]], [[Normanton, West Yorkshire|Normanton]], [[Nostell]], [[Ossett]], [[Outwood, West Yorkshire|Outwood]], [[Pontefract]], [[Ryhill]], [[Sandal, Wakefield|Sandal]], [[Sharlston]], [[Stanley, West Yorkshire|Stanley]], [[Walton, Wakefield|Walton (Wakefield)]], [[West Bretton]], [[Wrenthorpe]]
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! rowspan="3" |Ethnic Group
! colspan="12" |Year
|-
! colspan="2" |1971 estimations<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1t8915s |title=Explaining ethnic differences: Changing patterns of disadvantage in Britain |date=2003 |publisher=Bristol University Press |edition=1|doi=10.2307/j.ctt1t8915s |jstor=j.ctt1t8915s }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1981 estimations<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/ethnicityin1991c0000unse |title=Ethnicity in the 1991 census: Vol 3 - Social geography and ethnicity in Britain, geographical spread, spatial concentration and internal migration |date=1996 |publisher=London : HMSO |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-0-11-691655-6}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |1991 census<ref name=":03">{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/ethnicityin1991c0000unse |title=Ethnicity in the 1991 census: Vol 3 - Social geography and ethnicity in Britain, geographical spread, spatial concentration and internal migration |date=1996 |publisher=London : HMSO |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-0-11-691655-6}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2001 census<ref>{{cite web |title=KS006 - Ethnic group - Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics |url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/datasets/ks006 |access-date=21 August 2023 |website=www.nomisweb.co.uk}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2011 census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20160105160709/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/rft-table-ks201ew.xls|title=2011 Census: Ethnic Group, local authorities in England and Wales, ONS}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2021 census<ref>{{cite web |title=TS021 - Ethnic group - Nomis - Official Census and Labour Market Statistics |url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/datasets/c2021ts021 |access-date=21 August 2023 |website=www.nomisweb.co.uk}}</ref>
|-
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
![[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]: Total
!–
!96.6%
!1,937,375
!93.7%
!1,911,618
!91.7%
!1,842,813
!88.6%
!1,819,818
!81.8%
!1,801,352
!76.6%
|-
|White: [[White British|British]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|1,798,413
|86.5%
|1,746,295
|78.4%
|1,693,845
|72.0%
|-
|White: [[White Irish|Irish]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|18,859
|0.9%
|14,910
|0.7%
|13,893
|0.6%
|-
|White: [[White Gypsy or Irish Traveller|Gypsy or Irish Traveller]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|1,660
|0.1%
|2,311
|0.1%
|-
|White: Roma
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|3,982
|0.2%
|-
|White: [[Other White|Other]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|25,541
|1.2%
|56,953
|2.6%
|87,321
|3.7%
|-
![[British Asian|Asian or Asian British]]: Total
!–
!–
!100,191
!4.8%
!136,824
!6.6%
!185,907
!9%
!291,547
!13.1%
!372,728
!15.9%
|-
|Asian or Asian British: [[British Indians|Indian]]
|–
|–
|29,352
|
|36,762
|
|42,430
|2.0%
|53,152
|2.4%
|62,407
|2.7%
|-
|Asian or Asian British: [[British Pakistanis|Pakistani]]
|–
|–
|60,803
|
|84,978
|
|122,210
|5.9%
|189,708
|8.5%
|250,497
|10.7%
|-
|Asian or Asian British: [[British Bangladeshis|Bangladeshi]]
|–
|–
|3,845
|
|6,344
|
|8,213
|0.4%
|15,632
|0.7%
|20,099
|0.9%
|-
|Asian or Asian British: [[British Chinese|Chinese]]
|–
|–
|2,912
|
|3,969
|
|5,734
|0.3%
|10,783
|0.5%
|12,516
|0.5%
|-
|Asian or Asian British: Other Asian
|–
|–
|3,279
|
|4,771
|
|7,320
|0.4%
|22,272
|1.0%
|27,209
|1.2%
|-
!Black or Black British: Total
!–
!–
!20,770
!1%
!25,135
!1.2%
!20,771
!1%
!46,476
!2.1%
!72,257
!3.1%
|-
|Black or Black British: African
|–
|–
|2,236
|
|2,634
|
|4,216
|0.2%
|24,685
|1.1%
|47,888
|2.0%
|-
|Black or Black British: [[British African-Caribbean people|Caribbean]]
|–
|–
|13,088
|
|15,552
|
|14,409
|0.7%
|15,581
|0.7%
|15,588
|0.7%
|-
| Black or British: |Other Black
|–
|–
|5,446
|
|6,949
|
|2,146
|0.1%
|6,210
|0.3%
|8,781
|0.4%
|-
!Mixed or British Mixed: Total
!–
!–
!–
!–
!–
!–
!25,081
!1.2%
!48,126
!2.2%
!64,947
!2.8%
|-
|Mixed: White and Black Caribbean
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|11,263
|0.5%
|20,827
|0.9%
|23,573
|1.0%
|-
|Mixed: White and Black African
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|1,842
|0.1%
|4,624
|0.2%
|7,756
|0.3%
|-
|Mixed: White and Asian
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|8,049
|0.4%
|15,098
|0.7%
|21,014
|0.9%
|-
|Mixed: Other Mixed
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|3,927
|0.2%
|7,577
|0.3%
|12,604
|0.5%
|-
!Other: Total
!–
!–
!8,363
!
!10,923
!
!4,639
!0.2%
!20,091
!0.9%
!40,295
!1.7%
|-
|Other: [[British Arab|Arab]]
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|–
|9,212
|0.4%
|11,515
|0.5%
|-
|Other: Any other ethnic group
|–
|–
|
|
|
|
|4,639
|0.2%
|10,879
|0.5%
|28,780
|1.2%
|-
!Non-White: Total
!–
!3.4%
!129,326
!6.3%
!172,882
!8.3%
!236,398
!11.4%
!406,240
!18.2%
!550,227
!23.4%
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
!Total
!–
!100%
!2,066,701
!100%
!2,084,500
!100%
!2,079,211
!100%
!2,226,058
!100%
!2,351,579
!100%
|}
West Yorkshire is ethnically diverse, hosting large populations of multiple ethnic minority groups. Most notably, the city of [[Bradford]] is well known for its large concentration of [[British Pakistanis]], the highest by percentage in the country. [[Leeds]] and [[Kirklees]] also have large British Pakistani populations. Kirklees also hosts a large population of [[British Indians]]. West Yorkshire is home to a large Eastern European population, particularly [[Poles in the United Kingdom|British Poles]]. Ethnic minorities totalled to over 21% of West Yorkshire's population in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20160105160709/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/rft-table-ks201ew.xls|title=2011 Census: Ethnic Group, local authorities in England and Wales, ONS}}</ref>
{{Gallery
|title=Distribution of ethnic groups in West Yorkshire according to the 2021 census.
|width=225
|align=center
|File:West Yorkshire Whites.png|White (2021)
|File:West Yorkshire White British.png|White-British
|File:West Yorkshire Irish.png|White-Irish
|File:West Yorkshire Other Whites.png|White-Other
|File:West Yorkshire Asians.png|Asian (2021)
|File:West Yorkshire Indians.png|Asian-Indian
|File:West Yorkshire Pakistanis.png|Asian-Pakistani
|File:West Yorkshire Bangladeshis.png|Asian-Bangladeshi
|File:West Yorkshire Chinese.png|Asian-Chinese
|File:West Yorkshire Blacks.png|Black (2021)
|File:West Yorkshire Africans.png|Black-African
|File:West Yorkshire Caribbeans.png|Black-Caribbean
|File:West Yorkshire Arabs.png|Other-Arab
|File:West Yorkshire Other Ethnic Group.png|Other-Other ethnic group
}}

{{Gallery
|title=Distribution of religions in West Yorkshire according to the 2011 census.
|width=225
|align=center
|File:Christianity West Yorkshire 2011 census.png|Christianity
|File:Islam West Yorkshire 2011 census.png|Islam
|File:Judaism West Yorkshire 2011 census.png|Judaism
|File:Hinduism West Yorkshire 2011 census.png|Hinduism
|File:Sikhism West Yorkshire 2011 census.png|Sikhism
|File:Buddhism West Yorkshire 2011 census.png|Buddhism
|File:Other Religion West Yorkshire 2011 census.png|Other religion
|File:Noreligion West Yorkshire 2011 census.png|No religion
}}

==Economy==
{{See also|List of ceremonial counties in England by gross value added}}
{{More citations needed|section|date=August 2025}}

===Industries===
Leeds has since attracted investment from financial institutions, to become a recognised financial centre, with many [[bank]]s, [[building societies]] and [[insurance companies]] having offices in the city.  Wakefield has also attracted many service-based industries, in particular [[call centres]]. Two of the big four supermarkets are from West Yorkshire. [[Morrisons]] is based in Bradford, while [[Asda]] is based in Leeds.

West Yorkshire grew up around several industries. Wakefield, Castleford, Pontefract and South and East Leeds were traditional [[coal mining]] areas.

;Wool
[[Bradford]], [[Halifax, West Yorkshire|Halifax]] and [[Huddersfield]] grew through the development of [[Woolen|woollen]] mills. Leeds' traditional industry was the manufacturing of cloth while heavier engineering industries facilitated growth in South Leeds.

The [[Heavy Woollen District]] covered towns such as [[Dewsbury]], [[Batley]], [[Morley, West Yorkshire|Morley]], [[Ossett, West Yorkshire|Ossett]], [[Cleckheaton]] and [[Heckmondwike]]. The woollen and cloth industries declined throughout the twentieth century.

;Rhubarb
The [[Rhubarb Triangle]] is wholly in West Yorkshire and still produces the vegetable in considerable quantities.<ref>{{cite book|last=Shell|first=Hanna Rose|title=Shoddy: From Devil's Dust to the Renaissance of Rags|publisher=University of Chicago|year=2020|isbn=9780226377759|location=Chicago|pages=159}}</ref> Twelve farmers who farm within the Rhubarb Triangle applied to have the name "Yorkshire forced rhubarb" added to the list of foods and drinks that have their names legally protected by the European Commission's Protected Food Name scheme.<ref name="Application">{{citation|title=Application to register: Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb|url=http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/food/industry/regional/foodname/products/documents/indoor-yorks-rhubarb-pdo.pdf|publisher=DEFRA|access-date=25 February 2010|url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130822084033/http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/food/industry/regional/foodname/products/documents/indoor-yorks-rhubarb-pdo.pdf|archive-date=22 August 2013}}</ref> The application was successful and the farmers in the Rhubarb Triangle were awarded Protected Designation of Origin status (PDO) in February 2010. Food protected status accesses European funding to promote the product and legal backing against other products made outside the area using the name. Other protected names include [[Stilton cheese]], [[Champagne (wine)|Champagne]] and Parma Ham.

;Coal
The last pit in West Yorkshire to close was Hay Royds Colliery at [[Denby Dale]] in 2012 after a flood.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Drift remembers Yorkshire's industrial past|url=http://www.bolton.ac.uk/MediaCentre/Articles/2014/Jan2014-09.aspx |date=27 January 2014 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729175650/http://www.bolton.ac.uk/MediaCentre/Articles/2014/Jan2014-09.aspx|archive-date=29 July 2017|access-date=29 July 2017|publisher=University of Bolton}}</ref>

===Film and television productions===

Several films and television series have been filmed in West Yorkshire's historic areas, particularly around the town of [[Halifax, West Yorkshire|Halifax]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Productions at North Light Film Studios|url=http://www.northlightfilmstudios.co.uk/productions-at-north-light-film-studios/|access-date=10 February 2017|website=North Light Film Studios }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Film & TV|newspaper=Examiner|location=Huddersfield|url=http://www.examiner.co.uk/whats-on/film-tv|access-date=10 February 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170515132900/http://www.examiner.co.uk/whats-on/film-tv/ |archive-date= 15 May 2017 }}</ref> For example, portions of the BBC television series ''[[Happy Valley (TV series)|Happy Valley]]'' were filmed in Huddersfield; in addition to exteriors, some of the studio filming was done at North Light Film Studios at Brookes Mill, Huddersfield. As well, interiors for the BBC's ''[[Jamaica Inn (2014 TV series)|Jamaica Inn]]'', for the BBC's ''[[Remember Me (TV series)|Remember Me]]'' and for ITV series ''[[Black Work]]'', were also filmed at the studios.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ballinger|first=Lauren|date=5 December 2014|title=North Light Film Studios – Remember Me filming locations|newspaper=Examiner|location=Huddersfield|url=http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/north-light-film-studios---8234505|access-date=10 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Rees|first=Caroline|date=3 November 2013|title=Sally Wainwright: not the same old|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/nov/03/sally-wainwright-last-tango-halifax|access-date=19 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Bremner|first=Jade|date=11 December 2013|title=Last Tango in Halifax actress Sarah Lancashire begins shooting new crime drama in Yorkshire|work=Radio Times|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-12-11/last-tango-in-halifax-actress-sarah-lancashire-begins-shooting-new-crime-drama-in-yorkshire|access-date=19 January 2014|archive-date=9 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209012415/http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-12-11/last-tango-in-halifax-actress-sarah-lancashire-begins-shooting-new-crime-drama-in-yorkshire|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=29 April 2014|title=Creative England provides filming location and crew support to new BBC drama Happy Valley when filming in Yorkshire|work=Creative England|url=http://www.creativeengland.co.uk/index.php/2014/creative-england-provides-filming-location-and-crew-support-to-new-bbc-drama-happy-valley-when-filming-in-yorkshire/|access-date=12 June 2014|archive-date=30 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140530113921/http://www.creativeengland.co.uk/index.php/2014/creative-england-provides-filming-location-and-crew-support-to-new-bbc-drama-happy-valley-when-filming-in-yorkshire/|url-status=dead}}</ref> More recently, many of the exteriors of the BBC series ''[[Jericho (2016 TV series)|Jericho]]'' were filmed at the nearby Rockingstone Quarry and some interior work was done at North Light Film Studios.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gildea|first=Samantha|date=1 February 2016|title=Jericho filming locations|newspaper=Examiner|location=Huddersfield|url=http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/tv/jericho-filming-locations-take-video-10706918|access-date=10 February 2017}}</ref>

===Tourism===
[[File:Saltaire from Leeds and Liverpool Canal.jpg|thumb|left|[[Titus Salt]]'s mill in [[Saltaire]], [[Shipley, West Yorkshire|Shipley]], is an [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]].]]
{{see also|#Places of interest}}
Urban tourism include national and internationally significant sports stadiums, museums, theatre and galleries. The Royal Armouries is in Leeds, as is the [[Leeds Playhouse]] (formerly the West Yorkshire Playhouse), [[Opera North]] and The Grand Theatre. The [[First Direct Arena]] in Leeds seats around 15,000 people. [[Sheffield Arena]] is also popular, as are the [[Bradford Alhambra]], St Georges Hall and the [[National Science and Media Museum]] in Bradford. 

Leeds is the most popular shopping destination in West Yorkshire, and the wider region, with several notable retail destinations. Briggate and The Headrow are the most important shopping streets, while [[Trinity Leeds]], [[Kirkgate Market]] (the biggest indoor market in Europe) and the [[White Rose Centre]] are regionally dominant shopping destinations. [[Victoria Leeds]] is nationally known for hosting many 'first outside of London' labels such as [[Harvey Nichols]] and [[Anthropologie]]. 

Leeds is also a popular weekend destination for nightlife, with several famous bars and clubs across a variety of different districts. The city's gay village is the largest in Yorkshire.

A wide range of towns and cities are connected by rail to [[Leeds railway station]], which is the busiest station in northern England and the main national gateway to West Yorkshire. The [[M62 motorway]] is the main east-west motorway in the county, connecting the largest towns and cities of West Yorkshire, while the M1 forms a key north-south axis from Leeds to Wakefield and beyond towards London.

Outside of the main cities, signposted walks follow rivers and the escarpment of the Pennines, which is scaled in meandering stages and tunnels by the recreational [[Leeds-Liverpool Canal]] and [[Rochdale Canal]], navigable by barge, canoe or kayak. The [[Yorkshire Sculpture Park]] and [[The Hepworth]] in Wakefield are major national art attractions, while [[Haworth]] is visited for being the home of the [[Bronte Sisters]]. [[Ilkley]], [[Otley]], [[Hebden Bridge]] and [[Holmfirth]] are popular smaller towns featuring farmer's markets, breweries, tea rooms, stately homes and are popular with hikers.

==Transport==
{{see also|Transport in Leeds}}
{{More citations needed|section|date=August 2025}}
[[File:LBIA terminal 1.jpg|thumb|right|[[Leeds Bradford Airport]]]]
Major national transport routes pass through West Yorkshire, principally the [[M62 Motorway|M62]], [[M1 Motorway|M1]] and the [[A1(M)]] and the county also contains the internal urban motorways in [[Leeds]] and [[Bradford]]. West Yorkshire has two mainline railway stations, [[Leeds railway station|Leeds]] and [[Wakefield Westgate railway station|Wakefield Westgate]]. Leeds railway station is the only [[Network Rail]] principal station in Yorkshire and [[North East England]], and one of only three in the North of England along with [[Manchester Piccadilly railway station|Manchester Piccadilly]] and [[Liverpool Lime Street railway station|Liverpool Lime Street]]. Other important railway stations in West Yorkshire include [[Bradford Interchange]], [[Bradford Forster Square railway station|Bradford Forster Square]], [[Huddersfield railway station|Huddersfield]], [[Halifax railway station (West Yorkshire)|Halifax]], [[Dewsbury railway station|Dewsbury]], [[Keighley railway station|Keighley]] and [[Shipley railway station|Shipley]]. West Yorkshire also has Yorkshire's largest airport, [[Leeds Bradford Airport]].{{cn|date=August 2025}}

Unlike South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire has no light transit system; the [[Leeds Supertram]] was proposed but was later cancelled after the withdrawal of government funding.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC - Leeds - Travel - Supertram: A lost cause? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/articles/2005/07/27/travel_supertram_timeline_feature.shtml |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hutchinson |first=Andrew |date=2020-02-04 |title=How the Leeds Supertram dream hit the buffers |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/retro/how-the-leeds-supertram-dream-hit-the-buffers-1383230 |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=Yorkshire Evening Post |language=en}}</ref> As of 2025, consultation and planning for a new tram proposal is ongoing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mykkanen |first=Noora |date=2025-06-05 |title=Inside the new £2,500,000,000 Leeds tram system with airport connection |url=https://metro.co.uk/2025/06/05/inside-new-2-500-000-000-leeds-tram-system-airport-connection-23336131/ |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=Metro |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Nilson |first=Peter |date=2024-07-25 |title=The rise, fall, and rise again of the Leeds tram |url=https://www.railway-technology.com/features/rise-fall-rise-again-leeds-tram/ |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=Railway Technology |language=en-US}}</ref>  Public transport is run under the authority of [[West Yorkshire Metro]].{{cn|date=August 2025}}

In October 2021, £830&nbsp;million of funding was announced for the [[West Yorkshire Combined Authority]] to develop [[West Yorkshire mass transit system|mass transit]] for the region.<ref>{{cite web |date=22 October 2021 |title=£830m Government boost set to kickstart mass transit scheme - including line through West Leeds |url=https://westleedsdispatch.com/830m-government-boost-set-to-kickstart-mass-transit-scheme-including-line-through-west-leeds/ |access-date=19 June 2022 |website=West Leeds Dispatch }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=West Yorkshire Mayor welcomes £830 million funding to progress work on transforming the region's transport system |url=https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/all-news-and-blogs/funding-to-transform-the-region-s-transport-system/ |access-date=19 June 2022 |website=West Yorkshire Combined Authority }}</ref>

In 2022, the [[West Yorkshire Combined Authority]] won its bids for the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme and Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) scheme, the successful ZEBRA funding will see the introduction of between 179 and 245 zero-emission [[electric bus]]es with the necessary infrastructure whilst the BSIP plan will give the [[West Yorkshire Combined Authority]] £70&nbsp;million out of a desired £168&nbsp;million to implement the improvements outlined in the authority's BSIP.<ref>{{cite web |title='Tough decisions' needed after funding for bus improvement plan falls £98m short |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/20044413.tough-decisions-needed-funding-bus-improvement-plan-falls-98m-short/ |access-date=19 June 2022 |website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus |date=4 April 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mayor cautiously welcomes £900 million funding to improve transport across West Yorkshire |url=https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/all-news-and-blogs/mayor-cautiously-welcomes-900-million-funding-to-improve-transport-across-west-yorkshire/ |access-date=19 June 2022 |website=West Yorkshire Combined Authority }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Over 240 electric buses could soon be rolled out through £81m scheme |url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/20219362.240-electric-buses-soon-rolled-81m-scheme/ |access-date=19 June 2022|website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus |date=19 June 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=23 June 2022 |title=Capital Spending and Project Approvals |url=https://westyorkshire.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s26995/Item%2015%20-%20Capital%20Spending%20and%20Project%20Approvals.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=19 June 2022 |website= |page=6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007023541/https://westyorkshire.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s26995/Item%2015%20-%20Capital%20Spending%20and%20Project%20Approvals.pdf |archive-date=7 October 2022 }}</ref>

==Sport==
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2025}}
{{see also|Sport in Leeds|Rugby league in Yorkshire|West Yorkshire derbies}}
[[File:England v India day 2 test, Headingley Stadium (26 August 2021) 019.jpg|thumb|[[Headingley Cricket Ground]] in 2021]]
Major [[Association football|football]] clubs in West Yorkshire include [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]], [[Huddersfield Town F.C.|Huddersfield Town]], and [[Bradford City F.C.|Bradford City]].

[[Rugby league]] is also big in West Yorkshire. The teams who are, or have been, in the [[Super League]] are [[Bradford Bulls]], [[Castleford Tigers]], [[Halifax R.L.F.C.|Halifax Panthers]], [[Huddersfield Giants]], [[Leeds Rhinos]], and [[Wakefield Trinity]]. Other rugby league clubs in West Yorkshire include [[Batley Bulldogs]], [[Dewsbury Rams]], [[Featherstone Rovers]], [[Hunslet R.L.F.C.|Hunslet Hawks]] and [[Keighley Cougars]]. Any combination of these teams playing against each other would be called a West Yorkshire derby even if the rivalry is not as great as other rivalries between teams in the area. The main rugby union club in the county is [[Yorkshire Carnegie]].

[[Elland Road]] is the largest stadium in the area, hosting [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]]. The [[Headingley Stadium]], a stadium complex also in [[Leeds]], consists of a cricket and a rugby ground. The cricket ground is home of the [[Yorkshire County Cricket Club]] and the rugby ground is home to Leeds Rhinos. In [[Huddersfield]], the [[John Smith's Stadium]] is home to Huddersfield Town and Huddersfield Giants. In [[Bradford]], [[Valley Parade]] is the home of Bradford City, whereas the [[Odsal Stadium]] is the home of the Bradford Bulls. Other stadiums include [[The Jungle (Wheldon Road)|Wheldon Road]] (Castleford), [[The Shay]] (Halifax), [[Belle Vue (Wakefield)|Belle Vue]] (Wakefield), [[Mount Pleasant, Batley|Mount Pleasant]] (Batley), [[Crown Flatt]] (Dewsbury), [[Post Office Road]] (Featherstone), [[John Charles Centre for Sport]] (Hunslet) and [[Cougar Park]] (Keighley).

There are two racecourses in West Yorkshire: [[Pontefract Racecourse|Pontefract]] and [[Wetherby Racecourse|Wetherby]].

West Yorkshire also used to host regular [[Motorcycle speedway|speedway]] meetings, having the [[Halifax Dukes]] and the [[Bradford Dukes]] teams. [[Odsal Stadium]] used to host [[BriSCA Formula 1 Stock Cars|BriSCA]] stock cars. Leeds has a hill climb event at [[Harewood speed Hillclimb]].

==Places of interest==
===Historic environment===
{{See also|List of museums in England#West Yorkshire|List of country houses in the United Kingdom#West Yorkshire|List of castles in England#West Yorkshire|l1=List of Museums in West Yorkshire|l2=List of historic houses in West Yorkshire|l3=List of castles in West Yorkshire}}
{{EngPlacesKey|align=right}}
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* [[Bretton Hall, West Yorkshire|Bretton Hall]]
* [[Cartwright Hall]]
* Cliffe Hall, also known as [[Cliffe Castle]], [[Keighley]]
* [[East Riddlesden Hall]] [[File:HH icon.svg|Historic House]] [[File:NTE icon.svg]]
* [[Esholt Hall]], [[Esholt]]
* [[Firsby Hall]]
* [[Harewood House]] [[File:HH icon.svg|Historic House]]
* [[Kershaw House]]
* [[Keighley & Worth Valley Railway]] [[File:HR icon.svg|Heritage Railway]]
* [[Kirklees Hall]]/Priory [[File:HH icon.svg|Historic House]]
* [[Kirkstall Abbey]] [[File:AP Icon.svg|16px|Abbey]]
* Roman [[Lagentium]] ([[Castleford]])
* [[Ledston Hall]], [[Ledston]]
* [[Linthwaite Hall]], [[Linthwaite]]
* [[Linton Hall]]
* [[Lister Park]], [[Bradford]]
* [[Lotherton Hall]]
* [[Middleton Railway]], the world's oldest steam railway [[File:HR icon.svg|Heritage Railway]]
* [[Nostell Priory]] [[File:HH icon.svg|Historic House]] [[File:NTE icon.svg]]
* [[Oakwell Hall]]
* [[Oulton Hall]], [[Oulton, West Yorkshire|Oulton]]
* [[Piece Hall]], Halifax
* [[Pontefract Castle]] [[File:CL icon.svg|Castle]]
* [[Pontefract Priory]], [[Pontefract]] [[File:AP Icon.svg|16px|Abbey]]
* [[Queen's Park, Castleford|Queen's Park]], [[Castleford]]
* [[Roundhay Park]] Leeds
* [[Saltaire]], a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]]
* [[Sandal Castle]] [[File:CL icon.svg|Castle]]
* [[Scarcroft Watermill]], [[Scarcroft]]
* [[Shelley Hall]], [[Shelley, West Yorkshire|Shelley]]
* [[Shibden Hall]]
* [[Shipley Glen Tramway]]
* [[Tong Hall]], [[Tong, West Yorkshire|Tong]]
* [[Wetherby Castle]], [[Wetherby]] [[File:CL icon.svg|Castle]]
}}

===Museums===
<!--- Please only list Museums that have a Wikipedia article to link to --->
* [[Abbey House Museum]], Leeds
* [[Armley Mills Industrial Museum]], Leeds
* [[Bagshaw Museum]], Batley
* [[Bankfield Museum]], [[Halifax, West Yorkshire|Halifax]]
* [[Bradford Industrial Museum]], [[Eccleshill, West Yorkshire|Eccleshill]]/Fagley, [[Bradford]]
* [[Brontë Parsonage Museum]], [[Haworth]]
* [[Colne Valley Museum]], [[Golcar]], [[Huddersfield]]
* [[Eureka! (museum)|Eureka]], Halifax
* [[Leeds City Museum]], Leeds
* [[National Coal Mining Museum for England]] [[Overton, Wakefield|Overton]], [[Wakefield]]
* [[National Media Museum]], Bradford
* [[Pennine Farm Museum]], [[Ripponden]], Halifax
* [[Pontefract Museum]]
* [[Royal Armouries Museum]], Leeds
* [[Thackray Museum]], Leeds
* [[The Hepworth Wakefield]]
* [[Thwaite Mills]], Leeds
* [[Tolson Museum]], [[Dalton, West Yorkshire|Dalton]], Huddersfield
* [[Wakefield Museum]], Wakefield
* [[West Yorkshire Folk Museum]], [[Shibden Hall]], Halifax
* [[Yorkshire Sculpture Park]], [[West Bretton]], Wakefield

===Natural environment===
* [[Emley Moor]], site of the tallest self-supporting structure in the UK (a TV mast)
* [[Harewood House|Harewood Estate]] – Leeds Country Way public footpath runs through the estate, landscaped gardens and home to Red Kites amongst many other birds
* [[Ilkley Moor]], part of Rombalds Moor
* New [[Swillington]] Ings Nature Reserve
* [[The Chevin|Otley Chevin]] – extensive wooded parkland on high ground with extensive views North over Wharfedale and South as far as the Peak District
* [[RSPB Fairburn Ings]] and [[St Aidan's]] – wetland centres for birds
* Seckar Woods LNR, a [[Local Nature Reserve]]
* [[Walton Hall, West Yorkshire]], home of naturalist [[Charles Waterton]] and the world's first [[nature reserve]]

===Waterways===
* [[Scammonden Reservoir]], [[Deanhead Reservoir]] – both in the moors near [[Ripponden]]
* [[River Aire]], [[River Calder, West Yorkshire|River Calder]], [[River Hebble]], [[River Spen]], [[River Worth]]
* [[Aire and Calder Navigation]]
* [[Calder and Hebble Navigation]]
* [[Huddersfield Broad Canal]]
* [[Huddersfield Narrow Canal]], [[Standedge Tunnels|Standedge Tunnel]]
* [[Leeds and Liverpool Canal]]
* [[Rochdale Canal]]

==See also==
* [[Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire|List of Lord Lieutenants of West Yorkshire]]
* [[High Sheriff of West Yorkshire|List of High Sheriffs of West Yorkshire]]
* The Kingdom of [[Elmet]]
* [[West Yorkshire Urban Area]]
* [[West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service]]
* [[West Yorkshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's Own)]]
* [[List of ceremonial counties in England by gross value added]]
* [[Listed buildings in West Yorkshire]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
{{refbegin}}
* {{citation |last=Beckett  |first=J. V.|title=City status in the British Isles,1830–2002 |publisher=Ashgate Publishing|year=2005|isbn = 0-7546-5067-7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jqqSSOyjBEoC&q=wakefield+city+status+1888&pg=PA40 }}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
{{wikivoyage}}
* [http://www.wyjs.org.uk/ West Yorkshire Joint Services]
* [http://viewfinder.english-heritage.org.uk/search/results.aspx?index=0&mainQuery=&searchType=all&form=basic&theme=&county=WEST%20YORKSHIRE&district=&placeName= Images of West Yorkshire] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731090303/http://viewfinder.english-heritage.org.uk/search/results.aspx?index=0&mainQuery=&searchType=all&form=basic&theme=&county=WEST%20YORKSHIRE&district=&placeName= |date=31 July 2013 }} at the [[English Heritage Archive]]

{{West Yorkshire}}
{{Yorkshire}}
{{Yorkshire and the Humber}}
{{England counties}}
{{Metropolitan counties}}
{{Portal bar |United Kingdom |England |Yorkshire}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:West Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Metropolitan counties]]
[[Category:Counties of England established in 1974]]