Things you didn't know about... County Durham

Hillary Rodham Clinton's family hail from County Durham
The wife of Bill Clinton, and former First Lady of the United States, can trace her ancestry to a mining family in County Durham. Her great-grandfather Jonathan Rodham came from Oxhill, near Stanley. He emigrated to America in 1881 seeking work in Pennsylvania's coal mines. Interestingly, George Washington, the first president of the United States, can also trace his family back to County Durham.

County Durham breeds prime ministers as well as presidents
Anthony Eden was born in Bishop Auckland in County Durham. He was elected a Conservative MP 1923, and served as foreign secretary for three periods including during World War II. He was Winston Churchill's loyal lieutenant, and even married Churchill's niece, Clarissa Spencer-Churchill in 1952. Eden succeeded Churchill as leader of Conservative party, and was prime minister from 1955 to 1957.

From County Durham to Hollywood
Brothers David and William Horsley, who founded Hollywood, the centre of the U.S. film industry, were born in Stanley, County Durham.

Why the Bishop of Durham is a new monarch's right-hand man
During any coronation the Bishop of Durham holds the new monarch's right hand, underlining the importance of the post.

They're a good looking lot in County Durham
Ivy Close—a native of County Durham—won Britain's first beauty contest in 1908.

County Durham relishes the entrepreneurial spirit
What's a hotdog without a slather of mustard? Thankfully, it's something we can all take for granted thanks to the culinary and business prowess of one Mrs Clements, of County Durham. Her secret mustard recipe became so popular throughout the country that, in 1720, the canny lady set up the world's first commercial production of the peppery yellow stuff in Durham City.

County Durham was the first to get congestion charging
It was introduced to the city of Durham in 2002.

Anscomb church in County Durgham is the oldest church in its original form in England
It also houses the oldest sundial in Britain.

County Durham ran the first commercially successful public railway
The world's first train journey began in Darlington, County Durham, on 27 September 1825. The train, which shipped coal from the mines of south Durham, moved at an average of 12 mph up the line to Stockton-on-Tees, where it terminated.

County Durham likes to make things
John Walker, the inventor of the humble friction match, was born in Stockton, County Durham, in 1781. And the furniture maker Thomas Sheraton was born in the same town 30 years earlier.