| |
| Languages | |
| Official | Cornish, English, Welsh |
| Other | Anglo-Saxon |
| State Religion: | Vulpine paganism |
| Other Religion(s): | none |
| Capital: | Porth Ia |
| King | Evan X |
| Chief of state: | Hopkin ap Dynfwal |
| Area: | 10,270 km² |
| Population | 300,000 inhabitants |
| Currency: | Pound |
Cornwall (Cornish: Kernow), also sometimes referred as Dumnonia, is a country and unitary authority of the United Kingdom, forming the tip of the south-western peninsula of Great Britain. It is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by Wessex . Including the Isles of Scilly, Cornwall has a population of 534,300, and covers an area of 3,563 km2 (1,376 sq mi). The administrative centre is Porth Ia.
The area now known as Cornwall was first inhabited in the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic periods. It continued to be occupied by Neolithic and then Bronze Age peoples, and later (in the Iron Age) by Celts. There is little evidence that Roman rule was effective west of Exeter and few Roman remains have been found. Cornwall was a division of the Dumnonii tribe known as the Cornovii, separated from Wales after the Battle of Deorham.
Historically tin mining is important in the Cornish economy, becoming significant during the Middle Ages and expanding greatly during the 19th century when rich copper mines were also in production. In the mid-nineteenth century, however, the tin and copper trades entered a period of decline. Subsequently china clay extraction became more important and metal mining had virtually ended by the 1990s. Traditionally fishing (particularly of pilchards), and agriculture (particularly of dairy products and vegetables), were the other important sectors of the economy. The railways led to the growth of tourism during the 20th century and it is now of greater importance economically than the other industries. The area is noted for its wild moorland landscapes, its extensive and varied coastline, its many place names derived from the Cornish language, and its very mild climate.