Cornwall is a country with its own language, culture and distinct history. It has the constitutional status of a Duchy and has never had any Act of Union of Joinder with England. Cornwall forms the extreme part of the South West peninsula of Britain.

Cornwall is not a county of England although the London Government asserts otherwise and at the present time treats Cornwall in many ways as if it were part of England - but legally it is not.

Cornwall is a Duchy founded on the ancient kingdom of Cornwall. The three Duchy Charters of 1337/38 along with the body of Stannary law enacted by its Stannary Parliament ("the origins of which go back beyond the mind of man") form its legal and constitutional basis.

It is an indisputable fact that Cornwall has never had any Act of Union or Joinder with England or any other territory, and much evidence including legislation and charters enacted by various Dukes of Cornwall confirm Cornwall's separate sovereignty.

Cornwall has its own Keltic language (Kernewek) which is closely related to Breton and Welsh. There are probably only a few hundred speakers, but the number is increasing.

The Cornish are a distinct people with a distinct linguistic cultural, historical and legal heritage and a clearly defined territory.

Several Cornish language and cultural organisations started in the early 20th Century and gradually gained support. A political dimension then developed. In 1951 Mebyon Kernow (literally 'sons of Cornwall') started as a cultural and political pressure group for Cornish autonomy and soon became a political party. It is now called Mebyon Kernow - the Party for Cornwall and has at the time of writing six members on Cornwall Council.

The pressure within Cornwall for political independence is growing although it is not yet as advanced as similar movements in Wales and Scotland.

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/What_is_the_area_of_Cornwall#ixzz1oYzkESCl