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	County Town: Chichester County Population: 800,000 (estimate)
	Crossed by a ridge of chalk that forms the extensive range of hills known as the South Downs, West Sussex is an undulating and wooded county, with St Leonard's Forest just east of Horsham, and The Weald, a formerly densely wooded area, running the width of the county. Chichester harbour, the High Weald and the Sussex Downs have all been designated as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
	Prehistoric people who lived on the wooded Downs first settled West Sussex, but the modern history of the county did not begin until the Romans founded a small kingdom on the present day site of Chichester. Constantly raided by the Danes, Saxons settled in the area but were later pushed out by the Normans, who built a number of castles in the region, including the well-preserved and sizeable stronghold at Arundel. In the 15th and 16th centuries the Sussex Weald was the prime centre of the English iron industry, but during the 18th century the industry moved to the coal rich Midlands and was replaced by agriculture. Following the development of the rail system during the 19th century, seaside resorts sprang up along the south coast, and commuter towns began to develop to the north of the county.
	Today West Sussex is still widely farmed, retains much of its woodland, picturesque scenery and villages. Due to its warm climate and relatively close proximity to London, it has a prosperous tourist industry.
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