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County Population: 1,600,000 (estimate)
Kent,
also known as the "Garden of England" because of the fruit,
hops, and other crops grown in the county, is bounded on the north by
the River Thames estuary and by the Strait of Dover to the south, with
the chalk ridge of the North Downs bisecting the county from west to east.
The Kentish Weald occupies the area north and south of the downs, with
the famous white chalk cliffs of the Kent coastline facing France, approximately
34 km (21 miles) across the English Channel.
The
earliest settlers came from Europe in about 200 BC, only to be forced
out by Julius Caesar and the Romans who arrived in 55 BC. The Romans established
Canterbury as their administrative centre, which they called Durovernum,
but by the early 5th century Kent was invaded by Jutes and Saxons. In
597 Ethelbert, a Saxon King, was converted to Christianity by St Augustine.
A monastery later founded by Augustine at Canterbury became the centre
of the Christian Church in England, and Canterbury is now the ecclesiastical
centre of Protestant England and the world-wide Anglican Communion, dominated
by its massive cathedral, seat of the archbishops of Canterbury, Primates
of All England.
Over
the centuries, due to its strategic position, Kent has played an important
role in defending Britain from invasion, and this is demonstrated by the
numerous castles scattered throughout the county, and the number of ports
along its coastline. Road and rail links with London have changed parts
of north Kent into a highly urbanized dormitory suburb of the capital.
Due to its proximity to the Continent, many of the ports developed in
the defence of the nation are now used to transport freight and passengers
to Europe, with ferry services from Dover, Folkestone, and Ramsgate, and
the Channel Tunnel entrance at Cheriton.
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