Somerset (redirected from Yarford)

Somerset, cities, United States

Somerset.

1 City (1990 pop. 10,733), seat of Pulaski co., S Ky., in a farm, coal, and limestone area of the Cumberland foothills; inc. 1810. A railroad center, it has agriculture (tobacco, corn, wheat, livestock, poultry, and dairying) and diversified manufactures, including jewelry; metal, glass, and wood products; building materials; lumber; and granite monuments.

2 Residential town (1990 pop. 17,655), Bristol co., SE Mass., on the Taunton River; settled 1677, set off from Swansea and inc. 1790. It has varied manufacturing, including varnishes.

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Somerset, county, England

Somerset, county (1991 pop. 459,100), 1,333 sq mi (3,453 sq km), SW England, on the Bristol Channel. The county seat is Taunton. The terrain is level in the center, with the Mendip Hills to the east and Exmoor National Park and the Quantock Hills to the west. The principal rivers are the Bristol Avon, the Exe, and the Parrett and tributaries, whose fertile valleys are devoted to agriculture. Dairy farming (cheddar cheese), cider production, and fruit growing are important, and much of the land is devoted to cattle grazing. Woolens, leather goods, and other products are manufactured. Coal and limestone were once extracted. There are prehistoric remains at Cheddar and Glastonbury. At Bath, which reached its greatest importance as a fashionable watering place in the 18th cent., are located some of the most important Roman remains in Britain. As a resort town modern Bath is rivaled by Weston-super-Mare. In the early Middle Ages the region became a part of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex. The county has associations with King Alfred and the legend of King Arthur, and Glastonbury is important in England's religious legend and history. The churches of the county are famous, notably the Cathedral of Bath and Wells. In 1974, Somerset was reorganized as a nonmetropolitan county.

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Somerset

Administrative (pop., 2001: 498,093), geographic, and historic county, southwestern England. Its county seat is Taunton. The remains of prehistoric villages have been found in the region. The Romans mined lead and built villas there; from the 7th century AD, Somerset formed the westernmost part of the kingdom of Wessex. A large part of western Somerset is made up of Exmoor National Park, and long stretches of coastline are protected. It is mainly an agricultural county and is known for its cider. Tourism draws visitors to its Bristol Channel resorts and historic mansions.

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Somerset¹

1st Duke of, title of Edward Seymour. ?1500--52, English statesman, protector of England (1547--49) during Edward VI's minority. He defeated the Scots (1547) and furthered the Protestant Reformation: executed

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Somerset²

a county of SW England, on the Bristol Channel: the Mendip Hills lie in the north and Exmoor in the west: the geographical and ceremonial county includes the unitary authorities of North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset (both part of Avon county from 1975 until 1996): mainly agricultural (esp dairying and fruit). Administrative centre: Taunton. Pop. (excluding unitary authorities): 507 500 (2003 est.). Area (excluding unitary authorities): 3452 sq. km (1332 sq. miles)