Tyrone (Tir-Eogain, 'Owen's country'), an inland county in the heart of Ulster, Ireland, 48 miles long, with an average breadth of 28. Area, including part of Lough Neagh, is 1260 sq. m. or 806,658 acres, of which 110,000 acres are barren mountain, 72,000 bog, 32,000 water, roads, &c.
The surface in general is hilly, and often extremely picturesque, this county lying for the most part between the two mountainous districts which traverse Ulster from east to west; the highest point is Sawell (2236) in the north-east. With the exception of Lough Neagh, the lakes, which are numerous, are small. The principal rivers are the Foyle, Mourne, Blackwater, and the Ballinderry. The geological structure is very much diversified, including mica and primitive limestone in the mountains; old red sandstone occupies much of the plain. Between Dungannon and Stewartstown there is a small coalfield, the produce of which is rich; marble is quarried; and there are traces of iron, copper, and lead. The climate is moist, and the low lands are often flooded. The soil of the plain is a well-tilled fertile loam; that of the hilly districts, sandy or gravelly. There is a large proportion of bog. There are manufactures of linens, coarse woollens, earthenware, whisky, and soap. The chief towns are Omagh (the capital), Strabane, Dungannon, Cookstown, and Anghnacloy; Clogher gives its name to the episcopal see both in the Episcopal and Roman Catholic churches. The county has four parliamentary districts, and returns four members to the imperial parliament. Pop. (1841) 313,011; (1861) 238,500; (1881) 197,719; (1891) 171,278, of whom 93,569 were Catholics, 38,909 Episcopalians, and 33,710 Presbyterians. See ULSTER.