Hampshire, HANTS, or, officially, the county of SOUTHAMPTON, a maritime county in the south of England, is bounded W. by Dorset and Wilts, N. by Berks, E. by Surrey and Sussex, and S. by the English Channel. The county, including the Isle of Wight, has an area of 1621 sq. m., or 1,037,764 acres, 700,000 of which are generally under culture. Pop. (1801) 219,290; (1841) 354,682; (1861) 481,815; (1881) 593,465; (1891) 690,086. The surface is diversified by the North and South Downs, the loftiest points being Sidown Hill (940 feet), and, on the Berkshire border, Inkpen Beacon (1011 feet), the highest chalk-down in England. The south-western portion of the county, almost wholly detached from the main portion by the Southampton Water, is occupied mainly by the New Forest, 92,365 acres in extent, the property of the crown. In the south-east and east there are remains of the forests of Bere, Woolmer, and Waltham Chace. The principal rivers are the Test, the Itchen, and the Avon, all flowing southward; the last named forms the western boundary of the New Forest. The climate of the county is in general mild, and favourable to vegetation; indeed, in the south of the Isle of Wight it is believed to be milder than in any other portion of Great Britain. All the usual crops are produced, the wheat being especially good as a rule; hops are cultivated; and the bacon cured here is famous. The Downs afford pasturage for an excellent breed of sheep. Honey is a speciality of the county. The manufactures are inconsiderable, except at Portsmouth and Gosport. Southampton and Portsmouth, both termini of important railways, are the chief centres of trade. The county, exclusive of the parliamentary boroughs of Portsmouth, Southampton, Winchester, and Christchurch, and the Isle of Wight, returns five members for its five divisions—North or Basingstoke, West or Andover, East or Petersfield, South or Fareham, and New Forest. The county council consists of 100 members. Hampshire is wholly in the diocese of Winchester. Towns other than the four boroughs are Aldershot, Alton, Andover, Basingstoke, Bishops Waltham, Bournemouth, Fareham, Gosport, Havant, Lymington, Petersfield, Ringwood, Romsey, and Titchfield. The chief edifices in the county possessing historical or architectural interest are those at Winchester (q.v.); Porchester Castle, at the head of Portsmouth Harbour; Carisbrooke Castle in the Isle of Wight; Calshot and Hurst Castles, now occupied as coastguard stations, erected in the time of Henry VIII.; Netley and Beaulieu Abbeys, and the Priory of St Denis, all in the neighbourhood of Southampton. Hampshire is exceedingly rich in Roman remains. Among
Hampshire's worthies have been Jane Austen, Walter Besant, Charles Dickens, William Gilpin, Keble, Kingsley, Archbishop Warham, Gilbert White, William of Wyckham, and Edward Young. See ISLE OF WIGHT, NEW FOREST; and the histories by Woodward (1861-69) and Shore (1892).
Hampshire Basin. See EOCENE SYSTEM.