n.
Administrative (pop., 2001: 609,579), historic, and geographic county, central England.
It is located in the East Midlands region; the geographic county encompasses the entire administrative county together with the unitary authority of Leicester . The Soar River crosses the county from south to north on its way to join the River Trent . East of the Soar valley lies a territory famous for its fox hunts. Leicestershire has a pastoral agricultural tradition and is noted for production of Stilton cheese. Manufacturing industries are also important, at Leicester, for example.