a county of England nearly of a circular form, bounded on the east by Worcester and Gloucester, on the south by Monmouthshire, on the west by Radnorshire and Brecknockshire, and on the north by Shropshire. Its length from north to south is 46 miles, its breadth from east to west 40. It contains 8 market towns, 87 vicarages, 176 parishes, and 391 villages. This county contains, according to the returns made to the house of commons, in consequence of an act of parliament, passed in 1801 for ascertaining the population of the kingdom, 17,003 houses, occupied by 18,822 families; of this number 43,955 were males, and 45,236 females; 31,261 persons were employed in agriculture, and 8,88 in trade, manufactures, &c. The total number amounted to 89,191 persons. It is divided into 11 hundreds, and sends eight members to parliament, namely, two knights for the shire, and two for each of the following towns, Hereford, Lempster or Leominster, and Weobly.

The air of this county is allowed to be as pleasant, sweet, and wholesome, as that of any other in England, there being nothing either in the soil or situation to render it otherwise. The soil throughout is excellent, and inferior to none, either for grain, fruit, or pasture, supplying the inhabitants plentifully with all the necessaries of life: but that by which it is distinguished from most others, is its fruit, especially apples, of which it produces such quantities, that the cyder made of them is not only sufficient for their own consumption, though it is their ordinary drink, but also in a great measure for that of London and other parts. That in particular which is made from the apple called redtrek, is much admired, and has a body almost equal to that of white-wine. The county is well supplied with wood and water; for, besides lesser streams, there are the rivers Frome, Loden, Lug, Wye, Wadell, Arro, Dare, and Monow; the last of which is large, and all of them are well stored with fish, particularly the Wye, which breeds salmon. It lies in the diocese of Hereford, and Oxford circuit.