DURHAM, a maritime co. of the n.e. of England, between the Tyne and Tees, bounded n. by Northumberland, e. by the German ocean, s. by Yorkshire, w. by Cum berianq and Westmoreland. It is 48 m. long, by 39 broad, with 32 m. of coast, generally low, but with some cliffs; area, 973 sq.m., five sevenths being arable. The surface is hilly, and slopes to the east. In the w., which is waste but rich in, minerals, are branches of the Pennine chain, rising in Kilbope law, 2,196 ft.; Colber law, 1678; and Pontop pike. 1018. The two chief branches inclose the valley of the Wear, and send forth several parallel ranges, declining toward thO coast, and inelosing many fertile tracts and sheltered valleys. The chief rivers are the Wear, Tyne, and Tees, navigable• respectively for 12, 15, and 10 miles. The rocks are new red sandstone, magnesian lime stone, millstone grit, carboniferous limestone, rich in lead; and coal-measures, forming the valuable D. coal-field, 25 by 10 m., with many faults, and with about 40 beds of coal, 3 to 10 ft. thick. Basalt and greenstone trap dikes intersect the w. part of Durham. The mineral products are coal, limestone, black marble, freestone, ironstone, firestone, slate, millstone, grindstone, and lead. Large furnaces for the production of iron are in operation in various parts of the county. D. is one of the chief counties in England for the production and export of coal: 500 ships, besides a fleet of steamers, are employed at Sunderland for this export alone. There are 240 collieries. Five of the
coal-seams, at the depth of 20 to 100 fathoms, are worked horizontally for many miles: 212 miles of railway connect the mines and ports. The soil is a clayey or dry loam. The chief crops are oats, barley, wheat, turnips, beans, and pease. The Teeswater or Holderness breed of cattle is famed for fattening, quantity of milk, and early maturity. The D. horses are famed for draught and the saddle. Mans- sheep are pastured on the hills. There are manufactures of iron, pottery, glass. alkalies and chemicals, and salt, and much ship-building at Sunderland, South Shields, Jarrow, Hartlepool, and Stock ton. Coal is the chief export. D. is divided into four wards, 15 poor-law unions, and 60 parishes, many of which have been subdivided, owing to the increase of population. In 1871, the pop. amounted to 685,089, being almost double of what it was in 1851. The chief town's are Durham, the co. town, Sunderland, Darlington, Gateshead, South Shields, Stockton, and Hartlepool. The co. sends four members to parliament. D. has some ancient barrows, and has afforded many Roman antiquities, as altars, urns, and coins. There are the remains of a fine Roman station at Lanchester. D. formed part of the Saxon kingdom of Northumbria (5.7 to 827). Subsequently, it suffered severely from the incursions of the Scots.