In the Norman rule the county was appoved by Norman kings, who set up the New Forest as a hunting ground forest. The county was registered in the Domesday Book, which divided it into 44 hundreds. After 12th century onwards, the ports grew in significance, further fuelled by trading in the continent. Wool and cloth production in the county, the fishing firms and a shipbuilding industry was built.



A number of forts and castles were erected along the coast of the Solent to defend the ports at Southampton and Portsmouth over several centuries.

Notably Southampton and Portsmouth were important ports, especially when some arch rivals, such as Bristol and Poole, went down as they were along with the few locations that had both shelters with deep waters. Southampton was more important as it had been a host to many of the popular ships, which included the Mayflawer and the Titanic, the latter had most of the staff of natives of Southampton.

Hampshire played a major role during World War II, due to its huge Royal Navy harbor at Portsmouth. The military camp at Aldershot and the militarys Netley Hospital that is situated on Southampton Water, along with its closeness to the military training ranges on Salisbury Plain and the Isle of Purbeck.

Supermarine, the architectes of the Spitfire and many other military aircraft, were all based in Southampton, which led to severe bombing during the war. Aldershot still remains one of the British Armys major enduring camps. Farnborough is the main base for the Royal Air Force.

The administrative countys name was changed from County of Southampton to County of Hampshire on 1 April 1959. Hants is the short form of its name, which is usualy used in postal addresses In the Domesday Book of 1086 this got shrunked to Hantescire.

Traditionally, the Isle of Wight was treated as a part of Hampshire for some functions, but now it is administratively independent for more than a century, it obtained a county council by its own in 1890. In 1974, the Islands belonging to Wight became a complete ceremonial county. Except sharing police force and health services there was now no formal administrative links shared by the Isle of Wight and Hampshire. Although many bodies still see Hampshire and the Isle of Wight collectively.

The cities of Bournemouth and Christchurch too fall in the old and traditional county of Hampshire. These were surrendered to Dorset in the reshuffling of local government in 1974.

Portsmouth and Winchester cities provide the highest jobs in the county and thereby making the commuters attracted to the cities. However, Southampton gains with higher number in offering jobs and floating population became very high.

Traditionally, most rural areas of Hampshire were dependant on agriculture, although, the county was less reliable on agriculture rather than most counties that surround it and was most of the people concentrate on dairy farming. The real value of agriculture as an employer, employee and wealth maker has come down since the start of the 20th century and agriculture presently employs 1.32% of the total population.