county town
shire town

These counties are typically (though not always) named after their county town.

It has usually been the county town for hundreds of years.

There is often a university in or near the county town.

Until the early 19th century it was the county town of Cornwall.

About half of those live in the county town Aylesbury.

Every fourth or fifth community will be a county town, built around a square.

The bridge was meant to be the new landmark of the county town.

It is also the smallest main county town in the country.

During the 11th and 12th century it was the county town of Somerset.

This includes the county, towns and school districts that do not fall in one community.