Devon is a ceremonial county in South West England, 2,590 square miles (6,707 km2) with coasts on both the Bristol Channel and the English Channel. About 1,218,600 people lived there at the 2021 census. Exeter is the county town and Plymouth is the largest city.
Three authorities cover it: Devon County Council with eight districts, plus the unitary authorities of Plymouth and Torbay.
| Country | England, United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Region | South West England |
| Area | 2,590 sq mi (6,707 km2) |
| Population (2021) | 1,218,643 |
| Density | 182 people per km2 |
| County town | Exeter |
| Largest city | Plymouth (264,768) |
| Councils | Devon County Council; Plymouth; Torbay |
| Highest point | High Willhays, 621 m (2,037 ft) |
Towns and Villages in Devon
GeoNames records about 1,145 named settlements in Devon, more than any other English county in the South West. The list below shows roughly 290 of them: every place with a recorded population, plus a spread of smaller villages and hamlets, grouped by authority.
Devon (236 of 1040 shown)
- Abbey
- Abbotskerswell
- Alminstone Cross
- Appledore
- Ashburton
- Ashcombe
- Aunk
- Axminster
- Axmouth
- Aylesbeare
- Barbrook
- Barnstaple
- Beaford
- Beaworthy
- Beer
- Bere Alston
- Berry
- Berrynarbor
- Bideford
- Bigbury on Sea
- Bishops Nympton
- Bishopsteignton
- Blackpool Corner
- Borough
- Bovey Tracey
- Bow
- Bradninch
- Bradworthy
- Brampford Speke
- Bratton Fleming
- Braunton
- Brendon Village
- Brixton
- Broadhembury
- Broadhempston
- Buckfastleigh
- Buckland
- Buckland Monachorum
- Budleigh Salterton
- Butterleigh
- Chagford
- Chapelton
- Chardstock
- Chawleigh
- Cheriton Bishop
- Cheriton Fitzpaine
- Chillaton
- Chittlehampton
- Christow
- Chudleigh
- Chudleigh Knighton
- Chulmleigh
- Churchwater
- Clyst Honiton
- Clyst Hydon
- Clyst St Mary
- Coffinswell
- Colaton Raleigh
- Colebrooke
- Colyton
- Combe Martin
- Combpyne
- Copplestone
- Cotleigh
- Crawley
- Crediton
- Croyde
- Cullompton
- Culmstock
- Dainton
- Dartington
- Dartmouth
- Dawlish
- Denbury
- Dexbeer
- Dittisham
- Dolton
- Dousland
- Drakeland Corner
- Dunkeswell
- East Budleigh
- East Down
- East Worlington
- Eggesford
- Exbourne
- Exeter
- Exminster
- Exmouth
- Felldownhead
- Fordton
- Fremington
- Garlandhayes
- Georgeham
- Goodleigh
- Gosford
- Great Torrington
- Guscott
- Halberton
- Ham
- Harpford
- Hartland
- Hatherleigh
- Heatherfield
- Hemyock
- Heybrook Bay
- High Bickington
- Higher Slade
- Holcombe
- Holcombe Rogus
- Holsworthy
- Holwell
- Honiton
- Horrabridge
- Huish
- Ilfracombe
- Ilsington
- Inner Hope
- Instow
- Ipplepen
- Ivybridge
- Kennford
- Kentisbeare
- Kenton
- Kersbrook
- Kilmington
- Kingsbridge
- Kingskerswell
- Kingsteignton
- Knightacott
- Lamerton
- Lapford
- Larkbeare
- Lifton
- Lincombe
- Loddiswell
- Longcause
- Lower Tale
- Lustleigh
- Lydford
- Lympstone
- Lynton
- Malborough
- Marldon
- Marwood
- Mary Tavy
- Membury
- Merton
- Millhayes
- Modbury
- Morchard Bishop
- Morebath
- Moretonhampstead
- Musbury
- Mutterton
- Newton Abbot
- Newton Ferrers
- Newton Poppleford
- Newton Saint Petrock
- Newton St Cyres
- North Huish
- North Molton
- North Tawton
- Northam
- Oakford
- Offwell
- Okehampton
- Otterton
- Ottery St Mary
- Patchacott
- Peter’s Finger
- Pizwell
- Powderham
- Princetown
- Rawridge
- Raymond’s Hill
- Rockbeare
- Salcombe
- Salcombe Regis
- Sampford Peverell
- Sandford
- Seaton
- Shaldon
- Shebbear
- Shobrooke
- Sidbury
- Sidmouth
- Silverton
- Slapton
- Sorley
- South Brent
- South Molton
- South Zeal
- Southdown
- St John’s Chapel
- Starcross
- Stockwell
- Stoke Canon
- Stoke Fleming
- Stoke Gabriel
- Stokeinteignhead
- Stokenham
- Strete
- Sutton
- Swimbridge
- Tavistock
- Teignmouth
- Templeton
- Thorverton
- Thrushelton
- Thurlestone
- Tiverton
- Topsham
- Totnes
- Trentishoe
- Tytherleigh
- Uffculme
- Upton
- Walkhampton
- Welcombe
- Wembury
- West Hill
- Weston
- Whimple
- Whiteworks
- Willand
- Winkleigh
- Winsford
- Witheridge
- Woodbury
- Woodland
- Woolacombe
- Woolfardisworthy
- Wyke Green
- Yealmpton
- Yelverton
- Zeal Monachorum
Plymouth (26 of 70 shown)
- Barbican
- Beaumont
- Camel’s Head
- Colebrook
- Crownhill
- Efford
- Ernesettle
- Ford Park
- Greenbank
- Higher Compton
- Laira
- Lower Compton
- Manadon
- Millbay
- Mount Wise
- Oreston
- Peverell
- Plymouth
- Plympton
- Plymstock
- Pomphlett
- Saint Budeaux
- St. Stephens Place
- Stonehouse
- Underwood
- Weston Mill
Torbay (26 of 35 shown)
- Babbacombe
- Barton
- Beechdown
- Brixham
- Chelston
- Churston Ferrers
- Cockington
- Combe Pafford
- Edginswell
- Ellacombe
- Hele
- Higher Blagdon
- Higher Yalberton
- Hillhead
- Little Blagdon
- Lower Blagdon
- Maidencombe
- Paignton
- Preston
- Shiphay
- Shorton
- St Michaels
- Torquay
- Torre
- Upton
- Watcombe
Geography
Cornwall lies to the west across the Tamar, Somerset to the north-east and Dorset to the east. Devon is the only English county with two separate coastlines, on the Bristol Channel in the north and the English Channel in the south.
Dartmoor fills the middle south: a granite upland of tors, blanket bog and open moor, with High Willhays at 621 metres the highest ground in southern England. Exmoor straddles the northern boundary with Somerset and falls in cliffs to the sea at Lynmouth and Countisbury.
Between the moors the land is deep red sandstone farmland, cut by narrow sunken lanes and high hedgebanks. The Exe, Dart, Teign, Taw, Torridge and Tamar are the main rivers. The Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site begins at Orcombe Point in Exmouth and runs east past Sidmouth and Beer into Dorset.
Demographics
The 2021 census counted 1,218,643 residents: 814,435 across the eight districts of the county council area, 264,768 in Plymouth and 139,440 in Torbay. East Devon (152,065), Teignbridge (135,189) and Exeter (129,527) are the largest districts; West Devon (57,480) and Torridge (68,444) the smallest.
Devon’s age profile is among the oldest in England, particularly along the East Devon coast around Sidmouth and Budleigh Salterton. Exeter and Plymouth pull the average back down: both are university cities, and Exeter has grown faster than almost any other city in the South West over the past two decades.
Economy and Local Life
Defence is the single largest employer. HMNB Devonport in Plymouth is the largest naval base in Western Europe, refitting submarines and surface ships and supporting thousands of civilian jobs. The Royal Marines are based at Bickleigh and Lympstone.
The Met Office moved its headquarters to Exeter in 2003 and runs one of the most powerful supercomputing operations in the country there. Exeter also carries regional government, insurance and university employment.
Farming is mostly dairy and beef on the red land, with sheep on the moors; Devon gave its name to two cattle breeds and to clotted cream. Brixham lands more fish by value than any other port in England in most years. Tourism fills the resorts on both coasts, Torbay in the south, Ilfracombe and Woolacombe in the north, and Dartmoor and Exmoor inland.
History
Devon was the eastern half of the British kingdom of Dumnonia, from which its name comes, and was absorbed into Wessex during the eighth and ninth centuries. Exeter kept its Roman walls and became the regional capital.
Plymouth’s story is maritime. Francis Drake sailed from there against the Armada in 1588, and the Mayflower left the Barbican in September 1620 carrying the Pilgrims to New England. The dockyard at Devonport was founded in 1690 and made the town a naval centre for good.
Tin was streamed and mined on Dartmoor under Stannary law, with the Stannary Parliament meeting at Crockern Tor. Dartmoor Prison opened at Princetown in 1809 to hold prisoners of the Napoleonic Wars. Plymouth was heavily bombed in 1941, losing most of its city centre, which is why the centre today is a planned post-war grid.
Getting There
The M5 ends at Exeter, junction 31. From there the A38 Devon Expressway runs south-west to Plymouth and Cornwall, and the A30 crosses Dartmoor’s northern edge to Okehampton and Launceston. The A361 North Devon Link Road connects Tiverton to Barnstaple, and the A39 follows the north coast.
Great Western Railway runs from London Paddington to Exeter St Davids in about two hours, then along the sea wall at Dawlish to Newton Abbot and Plymouth. Branches serve Barnstaple on the Tarka Line, Paignton on the Riviera Line, Exmouth on the Avocet Line and Okehampton, which regained a regular service in 2021. Exeter also has the slower West of England line to London Waterloo via Salisbury.
Exeter Airport handles domestic and short-haul flights, including the link to the Isles of Scilly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Devon?
1,218,643 at the 2021 census, including 264,768 in Plymouth and 139,440 in Torbay.
What is the largest town in Devon?
Plymouth, a city of 264,768 people. Exeter follows at 129,527, then the Torbay towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, and Barnstaple in the north.
Which councils cover Devon?
Devon County Council with eight district councils, plus Plymouth City Council and Torbay Council, both unitary authorities.
Where is the highest point in Devon?
High Willhays on northern Dartmoor, at 621 metres (2,037 feet). It is also the highest point in England south of the Peak District.
What are the postcode areas for Devon?
EX for Exeter, Exmouth, Barnstaple and Bideford; PL for Plymouth, Tavistock and Ivybridge; TQ for Torquay, Paignton, Newton Abbot and Totnes; and a small part of TA in the north-east.