ANCONA, a delegation or province of the Papal States, in Italy, a part of the ancient mark of Ancona. It is bounded on the north by Urbino, on the east by the Adriatic Sea, on the south by Macerata, and on the west by Urbino. Its extent is 646 square miles, or 418,440 acres. It is a mountainous district, with scarcely any plains; but between the projections of the Appenines there are some valleys, watered by the Musone, the Esino, the Aspino, and several smaller mountain rivers, which
yield good crops of corn, maize, garlic, fruit, almonds, tobacco, and some silk. Agriculture is much neglected, but more attention is paid to cattle. The delegation contains 3 cities, 17 market-towns, and 34 villages; and in 1816 the number of inhabitants was 147,355, who, besides agriculture, find employment in manufactures of linen, silk, stockings, paper, and some other articles. The country is remarkably healthful.