The Shire was a peaceful and beautiful land in Eriador in northwestern Middle-earth. The race of people known as Hobbits lived there, largely forgotten by the outside world until events at the end of the Third Age brought them and their land to the attention of powers both good and evil.
The Shire was a rich, pastoral land. Much of the land was devoted to growing crops. The marshlands along the Brandywine, known as the Marish, were ideal for the cultivation of Mushrooms, a Hobbit delicacy. The warm, sheltered climate of the southern part of the Shire, particularly around Longbottom, was conducive to growing pipe-weed. Barley used for brewing beer was grown in the Northfarthing and there were vineyards in the Southfarthing where grapes were grown for making wine such as the popular Old Winyards.
Several smaller rivers flowed into the Brandywine: The Water began in the North Moors and flowed through Hobbiton and Bywater; the River ShireBourn,ThistleBrook, and Stockbrook all sprang from the Green Hill Country.
The Hobbits
Bilbo Baggins
A jovial, but eccentric Hobbit of the Shire, Bilbo is the much loved uncle of Frodo Baggins. Bilbo enjoyed a long and prosperous life after his earlier adventures with the wizard Gandalf and the Dwarves,in part,due to preserving qualities of the mysterious, magic Ring he had found in his travels. He surrendered the Ring to Frodo in Fellowship and made his way to Rivendell to end his days among the Elves.
Frodo Baggins
A Hobbit, small and quiet, but possessing a true and noble spirit, Frodo becomes the bearer of the One Ring when it is left to him by his famous Uncle Bilbo. The task therefore falls to him to do what no one else can, and destroy the ring by casting it into the fires of Mount Doom.
Samwise Gamgee
The loyal friend and gardener of Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee is a stout hearted Hobbit. Though simple in outlook, he is dependable and brave. When Gandalf chooses him to accompany Frodo on his quest, Sam makes a simple promise not to lose his master and friend.
Rose Cotton Gamgee
Rose Cotton was born in 2984 to Tolman Cotton and Lily Brown Cotton. She had four brothers: Tolman (called Tom), Wilcome (called Jolly), Bowman (called Nick), and Carl (called Nibs).
Meriadoc Brandybuck
A Hobbit from the Shire, Merry joins Frodo on his quest to destroy the One Ring as a member of the Fellowship of the Ring.
Peregrin Took
A Hobbit from the Shire, Pippin joins Frodo on his quest to destroy the One Ring as a member of the Fellowship of the Ring.
Events
Last birthday party of Bilbo Baggins held in the Shire . On Thursday, September 22, 3001, Bilbo threw a party of special magnificence in honor of his eleventy-first - or 111th - birthday. It was also the thirty-third birthday of Bilbo's heir Frodo Baggins, who came of age that year.
Bilbo intended to leave the Ring behind for Frodo, but he found himself strangely reluctant to do so. With the help of his old friend Gandalf, Bilbo was able to voluntarily give up the Ring. He felt better at once, though without the Ring he soon began to age.
Frodo intended to go to Rivendell accompanied by his gardener Sam Gamgee.