North Northamptonshire is a unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of Northamptonshire, England, and was created in 2021. The council is based in Corby, the district's largest town. Other notable towns are Kettering, Wellingborough, Rushden, Raunds, Desborough, Rothwell, Irthlingborough, Thrapston and Oundle.
North Northamptonshire borders the City of Peterborough, Rutland, Milton Keynes, Huntingdonshire, Bedford, Harborough, West Northamptonshire and South Kesteven districts.
Northamptonshire (/nɔːrˈθæmptənʃər, -ʃɪər/ nor-THAMP-tən-shər, -sheer; abbreviated Northants.) is a ceremonial county in the East Midlands of England. It is bordered by Leicestershire, Rutland and Lincolnshire to the north; Cambridgeshire to the east; Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire to the south; Oxfordshire to the south west; and Warwickshire to the west. Northampton is the largest settlement.
The county has an area of 2,364 km (913 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 813,682 in 2024. Northampton is located in the centre of the county, and its other principal towns include Corby and Kettering in the north-east and Wellingborough in the centre. The east and south-west are rural. For local government purposes Northamptonshire comprises two unitary authority areas, North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire. The county historically included Peterborough and its surrounding area, called the Soke.
Oundle (/ˈaʊndəl/) is a market town and civil parish on the left bank of the River Nene in North Northamptonshire, England, which had a population of 6,254 at the time of the 2021 census. It is 69 miles (111 kilometres) north of London and 12 mi (19 km) south-west of Peterborough. The town is home to Oundle School.
Corby is a town and civil parish in North Northamptonshire, England, 23 miles (37 km) northeast of Northampton. In 2021 it had a population of 68,164. From 1974 to 2021, it was the administrative headquarters of the Borough of Corby; at the 2021 Census, the former borough had a population of 75,571.
Corby was once known as "Little Scotland" due to the large number of Scottish workers who came to work in its steelworks. Corby has undergone regeneration with the opening of Corby railway station and Corby International Pool in 2009 and the Corby Cube in 2010. The Cube houses a 450-seat theatre, public library and other community amenities.
Kettering is a market and industrial town in the North Northamptonshire district of Northamptonshire, England. It lies 45 miles (72 km) west of Cambridge, 31 miles (50 km) south-west of Peterborough, 28 miles (45 km) south-east of Leicester and 15 miles (24 km) north-east of Northampton; it is west of the River Ise, a tributary of the River Nene. The name means "the place (or territory) of Ketter's people (or kinsfolk)".
At the 2021 census, Kettering had a population of 63,150. It is part of the East Midlands, along with the rest of Northamptonshire.
Wellingborough (/ˈwɛlɪŋbrə/ WEL-ing-brə) is a market town in the North Northamptonshire, Unitary Authority area, England, 65 miles (105 km) from London and 11 miles (18 km) from Northampton, north of the River Nene.
Originally named "Wendelingburgh" (the stronghold of Wændel's people), the Anglo-Saxon settlement is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Wendelburie". The town's market was granted a royal charter in 1201 by King John. At the 2021 census, it had a population of 56,564. The built-up area also includes suburbs Wilby, Great Doddington, Little Irchester, Redhill Grange, Stanton Cross, Waendel View and Glenvale Park.