Black Country

Central area of England, to the west and north of Birmingham, incorporating the towns of Dudley, Walsall, Wolverhampton, and Sandwell. Heavily industrialized, it gained its name in the 19th century from its belching chimneys and mining spoil. Anti-pollution laws and the decline of heavy industry have changed the region's landscape. Coalmining in the area ceased in 1968.

The Black Country Museum was opened in 1975 at Dudley to preserve the region's industrial heritage. The area evolved with a dialect and culture distinct from that of nearby Birmingham.

There is still some quarrying in the region, and engineering, metal-processing, and the manufacture of motor accessories are important.