Lancashire (/ˈlæŋkəʃər/, /ˈlæŋkəʃɪər/ or, locally, [ˈɫaŋkɪʃə(ɻ)]; archaically the County Palatine of Lancaster; abbreviated Lancs.) is a county in the north west of England. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, the county's administrative centre is Preston. It has a population of 1,449,300 and an area of 1,189 square miles (3,080 km²).