An administrative county is a top-level administrative area in England and Wales, and formerly in Scotland. They have their roots in the early centuries of the 2nd millennium, when certain cities were granted the status of counties. These changes were reaffirmed by the Local Government Act, 1888, which created many more county boroughs and the County of London.

They should not be confused with the historic counties or ceremonial counties.

See also: administrative counties of England, subdivisions of Wales, subdivisions of Scotland

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