KENT, a county of forming the southeast extremity of Great Britain and 1 i ac i joining the counties of Essex (from which it is separated by the Thames), Middlesex. Surrey and Sussex. The Strait of Dover bounds it on the southeast. Its area is 1,570 square miles. Two principal ranges of hills, a continuation of the North Downs of Surrey and Hants ex tend through the county from• west to east, terminating in the cliffs of Dover, Folkston and Hythe, which is elsewhere diversified with many minor ranges. In the south are Romney marshes and the tract termed the °Weald,° formerly extensive forests. In the north are the islands of Sheppey and Thanet and the mouths of the Medway, Stour and Darent rivers. The products are varied. Fruit culture, sheep raising, wool manufacture and the manu factures of paper, tiles,. pottery, gunpowder, hopbags, etc., are extensively carried on. The
capital is Maidstone. In this county are dock yards, arsenals, the famous cathedral of Can terbury, the ports of Dover and Folkstone and several well-known watering places at Margate, Ramsgate and Tunbridge Wells. It was the ancient country of Cancium (q.v.) and the first established kingdom of the Saxon heptarchy. It was settled by the Jutes and became promi nent when its Icing, Ethelbert was converted to Christianity by Saint Augustine (597). It rapidly declined in power and in the course of the eighth century, lost all of its independence. It has eight parliamentary divisions apart from the parliamentary borough. Pop. 1,020,965. Consult Hasted, The History and• Topo graphical Survey of Kent' (Canterbury 1801); (Victoria History of the County of Kent' (London 1908).