This section is from the book "Chambers's Concise Gazetteer Of The World", by David Patrick. Also available from Amazon: Chambers's Concise Gazetteer Of The World.
Wessex, the ancient kingdom of the West Saxons, comprising Berks, Hants, Wilts, Dorset, Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall. Mr Thomas Hardy, whose native county is Dorsetshire, has made the name once more familiar.
West Australia. See Western Australia.
West Bay City, a town of Michigan, on the Saginaw River, opposite Bay City, with a very large trade in lumber, etc. Pop. 13,120.
West'borough, a manufacturing town of Massachusetts, 32 miles by rail W. by S. of Boston, with a state reform school. Pop. 5429.
West'bury, a market-town of Wiltshire, 16 1/2 miles SSE. of Bath and 25 NW. of Salisbury. Returning till 1832 two members, and then till 1885 one, it has lost its clothing industry, but has iron-smelting works. The fine church has memories of Walter Map and Mackonochie. Westbury White Horse, on the S. slope of West-bury Down (775 feet), is 175 feet long, and was restored in 1778 and 1853. It probably commemorates Alfred the Great's victory of Ethandun (Edington) in 878. Pop. of urban district, 8305.
West Calder. See Calder.
West Chester, a town of Pennsylvania, 27 miles W. of Philadelphia. Pop. P530.
West Derby, a NW. suburb of Liverpool.
West Drayton. See Drayton.
Westerham, a market-town of Kent, 5 miles W. of Sevenoaks. General Wolfe was a native. Pop. of parish, 2900.
Westerkirk, a Dmnfriesshire parish, 6 miles NW. of Langholm. Telford was a native.
Westfield, a town of Massachusetts, 9 miles by rail W. of Springfield. Pop. 12,310.
Westgate-on-Sea, a western extension of Mar. gate (q.v.), with an asylum for inebriates.
West Ham. See Ham, West.
West Hartlepool. See Hartlepool.
Westhoughton, a town of Lancashire, 5 miles E. of Wigan, with manufactures of silk, cotton, and nails, and neighbouring collieries. Pop. (1851) 4547; (1901) 14,377.
Westland, a provincial district (capital, Hokit-ika) of New Zealand, occupies the W. portion of South Island. Area, 4641 sq. m.; pop. 15,887.
Westminster. See London, p. 424.
Weston-super-Mare (May'reh), a fashionable watering-place of Somerset, on the Bristol Channel, 20 miles SW. of Bristol. Grown from a fishing-village since 1805, it is sheltered by rocky, fir-clad Worle Hill (306 feet); commands a splendid view over to Wales; and has an esplanade (begun 1825) 3 miles long, a promenade pier (1867) 1040 feet long, the Prince Consort gardens, potteries, etc. Pop. (1901) 19,847.
West Point, the U.S. Military Academy, on the Hudson's right bank, 48 miles by rail N. of New York. Established in 1802, on the site of an older fort, it occupies a plateau 188 feet above the river, surrounded by the bold scenery of one of the finest river-passes in the world.
Westport, a Mayo seaport, at the head of Clew Bay, 13 miles SW. of Castlebar. Pop. 3890.
West Prussia. See Prussia.
 
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