Administrative (pop., 2001: 629,676) and historic county of the East Midlands region, England.
It has remains of early settlements, including pre-Celtic and Roman. Norman and early English building styles coexist with mansions and country houses from as early as the 13th century. The county was largely pro-Parliament during the English Civil Wars . It combines traditional rural life with a modern economy of varied industries in centres such as Northampton , the county seat, and Corby.