North Yorkshire (district)

North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan county and unitary authority area (legally known as the County of North Yorkshire), in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. It covers seven former districts: Craven, Hambleton, Harrogate, Scarborough, Richmondshire, Ryedale and Selby.

The non-metropolitan county has an area of 2483 sqmi, and, with the City of York and the boroughs of Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees (south of the River Tees), forms the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire. It is governed by North Yorkshire Council.

History
The non-metropolitan county became a unitary authority area on 1 April 2023, following the merger of the above boroughs and districts as part of the 2019–2023 structural changes to local government in England.

Governance
North Yorkshire Council has 90 councillors which elect a council leader, who in turn appoints up to nine councillors to form an executive cabinet. It replaces the former non-metropolitan county which had a cabinet-style council of 72 councillors.

Geography
The area is the largest local authority area in England. Larger towns and settlements include Harrogate, Scarborough, Northallerton, Selby, Skipton, Richmond, Malton, Thirsk, Stokesley, Great Ayton, Norton-on-Derwent, Catterick Garrison, Pickering, Helmsley and Knaresborough while Ripon is the only city in the area.

Education
North Yorkshire LEA has a mostly comprehensive education system with 42 state schools secondary (not including sixth form colleges) and 12 independent schools.