QUEEN'S COUNTY, province of Leinster, Ireland, is bounded N. by King's County; E. by the county of Kildare, a detached portion of King's County, and the county of Carlow; S. by the county of Kil kenny; and W. by Tipperary and King's County. It lies between 52° 45' and 53° 13' N. lat., 6° 54' and 7° 97' W. long. Its greatest length from east to west is 37 miles, and from north to south 33 miles. The area is 664 square miles, or 929,854 acres, of which 342,422 acres are amble, 69,289 acres uncultivated, 11,630 acres in plantations, 1117 acres in towns, and 396 acres under water. The population in 1841 was 153,930; in 1851 it was 111,623.
Surface, Hydrography, and county is for the most part comprehended in the basin of the Barrow, but a small portion on the north and a yet smaller portion on the west aide slope towards the Shannon. The Slieve Bloom Mountains occupy the north western part of the county, and for some miles separate it from King's County. These mountains are traversed on the border of the county by a narrow defile, the Gap of Glendiue, which forms the only com munication in this part with King's County. The Dysart Hills occupy the south-eastern part of the county, and separate the valley of the Barrow from that of its tributary the Nore. The rest of the county is flat, or varied only by gentle undulations. Bogs are numerous in the central portions of the county, between the Slieve Bloom and the Dysart Hills.
The principal rivers are the Barrow and tho Nero. The Barrow rises in the Slieve Bloom Mountains, and has a winding course to the border of the county, a little above Portarlingtou ; it continues its course eastward along the boundary, except just about the towns of Monasterevan and Athy in Kildare, till it quits the county a little below the town of Carlow. The Barrow is navigable for barges from Athy, about 90 miles from its source. The Nore rises in the adjacent county of Tipperary, enters Queen's County on the south-western side, not far from Borris-in-Ossory, and flows first north-eastward, then eastward to Castletown. Below Castletown it turns on the south east and flows to the border of the county, which, before finally quitting, it separates for a short distance from Kilkenny county. The
Lower or Little Brosna, or Brusna, which joins the Shannon below Banagher, rises within the western boundary of the county; and the Clodagh, whose waters fall into the Brosua, which joins the Shannon above Banagher, rises within the northern boundary. The only lake is Lough Annagh, on the northern border of the county; it does not exceed a mile in length.
A branch of the Grand Canal from Monasterevan enters the county at its north-eastern corner, and there divides into two branches, one of which runs westward about 12 miles to Mountmellick; the other, known as the Athy Canal, runs 12 miles southward, entering Kildare county near Athy, just below which town it joins the Barrow.
The Great Southern and Western railway crosses the county from north-east to south-west, connecting it with Dubliu on the one side and with Limerick and Cork on the other. The road from Dublin to Limerick passes through Ballybrittas, Maryborough, Mountmth, and Borris-in-Ossory. The road from Dublin, by Athy and Cashel, to Cork passes through Stradbally and Abbeyleix. A road from Dublin to Birr passes through Portarlington and Mountmellick. Other roads are numerous, and those to the market-towns are generally well laid out, and in good condition.
Geolo!ry, Mineralogy, &c.—The greater part of Queen's County is included in the limestone district which overspreads a large part of Ireland. The Slieve Bloom Mountains are composed chiefly of sand stone, with thin beds of limestone and coal. Mica-slate occurs on the summits and higher acclivities. A portion of the Dysart Huila ie formed by the coal-measures. An esker or gravel ridge, called the Ridge of 3Iaryborough, extends about eight miles northward from that town, continuing with intermissions to Kicg's County. Potters' clay is found, and is employed in making tiles, garden-pots, and other coarse earthenware. Sandstone of a soft texture, suited for hearth stones and chimney-piece; is quarried; as are also slates, and, in a few places, marble.