The Happing Area consists of the small market town of Stalham together with its surrounding villages coinciding with a bygone district that was known as "The Happing Hundred". The name Happing was derived from an ancient tribe known as the Happings.

The Happing area now reaches out to include twenty-one modern parishes: Ashmanhaugh, Barton Turf, Brumstead, Catfield, East Ruston, Happisburgh, Hickling, Horning, Horsey, Hoveton, Ingham, Lessingham, Ludham, Neatishead, Potter Heigham, Sea Palling, Smallburgh, Stalham, Sutton, Tunstead and Walcott, with a total population of over 17,000 people.