West Midlands (region) Facts for Kids

West Midlands

The West Midlands is an official region in England. It covers the western part of the larger area called the Midlands. This region is a mix of busy cities and quiet countryside.

Geography
- Main Towns and Cities
How the Region is Governed
Local Areas and Counties
What the West Midlands Makes and Does
News and Media
Images for kids
See also

Geography

This official region includes a large area with many towns and cities close together. This area is called a conurbation. It includes big cities like Birmingham and Wolverhampton. The region also has mostly rural areas. These are called shire counties. They include Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire.

Sometimes, people get confused by the name "West Midlands." This is because there is also a much smaller area called the West Midlands county. Many local groups, like the West Midlands Police, use this smaller county name.

The highest point in the region is Black Mountain. It stands tall at 703 metres (about 2,306 feet).

Main Towns and Cities

Here are some of the major towns and cities you can find in the West Midlands region:

Birmingham, Bromsgrove, Burton upon Trent
Coventry
Droitwich Spa, Dudley
Evesham
Hereford
Kenilworth, Kidderminster
Leamington Spa, Lichfield
Newcastle-under-Lyme, Nuneaton
Redditch, Rugby
Shrewsbury, Stafford, Stoke-on-Trent, Stratford-upon-Avon, Solihull, Sutton Coldfield
Tamworth, Telford
Walsall, Warwick, West Bromwich, Wolverhampton, Worcester

How the Region is Governed

The main group representing the West Midlands region is the West Midlands Regional Assembly. This group helps with things like planning for the region and improving its economy. It does not have a lot of power.

The assembly members are not elected by the public. Instead, they are chosen from local councils across the region. Members also come from groups interested in the region. These include businesses, environmental groups, and trade unions.

Local Areas and Counties

The West Midlands region is divided into several smaller areas. These are often called counties or unitary authorities. Here are the main ones:

Herefordshire: This is a county known for its beautiful countryside.
Shropshire: This county includes the town of Shrewsbury. It also has the unitary authority of Telford and Wrekin.
Staffordshire: This county is home to Stoke-on-Trent. Stoke-on-Trent is a separate unitary authority.
Warwickshire: This county includes historic towns like Warwick and Stratford-upon-Avon.
West Midlands (county): This is a metropolitan county. It includes the big cities of Birmingham, Coventry, and Wolverhampton.
Worcestershire: This county is known for its famous sauce.

What the West Midlands Makes and Does

The West Midlands has a rich history of industry. In the past, coal mining was very important in an area called the Black Country.

Today, many famous companies are based here. Cadbury's chocolate factory is in Bournville, Birmingham. Brewing companies like Coors Brewers are in Burton on Trent. The spread for toast, Marmite, is also made there. JCB, a company that makes construction equipment, is based in Staffordshire.

News and Media

The West Midlands has its own local media. The BBC's regional office is in Birmingham. They produce the regional news show Midlands Today. ITV Central also broadcasts from Birmingham. Their regional news programme is Central Tonight.

There are several local BBC radio stations. These include BBC WM, BBC Coventry & Warwickshire, and BBC Radio Stoke. Many commercial radio stations also broadcast here. Examples are BRMB and Mercia FM.

Local newspapers keep people informed. These include the Birmingham Post, the Birmingham Mail, and the Express & Star in Wolverhampton.