North Dorset

This article is about the former district. For the constituency, see North Dorset (UK Parliament constituency).

North Dorset District
Non-metropolitan district
North Dorset shown within Dorset
North Dorset shown within Dorset
Coordinates: 50°52′N 2°10′E / 50.86°N 2.17°E / 50.86; 2.17
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Constituent countryEngland
RegionSouth West England
Non-metropolitan countyDorset
StatusAbolished
Admin HQBlandford Forum
Incorporated1 April 1974 to 31 March 2019
Government
 • TypeNon-metropolitan district council
 • BodyNorth Dorset District Council
 • LeadershipLeader and Cabinet ( )
 • MPsSimon Hoare
Area
 • Total
235.2 sq mi (609.2 km2)
Population
 (mid-2018)
 • Total
71,100
 • Density300/sq mi (120/km2)
 • Ethnicity
98.6% White
Time zoneUTC0
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (BST)
ONS code19UE (ONS)
E07000050 (GSS)
OS grid referenceST8806

North Dorset was a local government district in Dorset, England, between 1974 and 2019. Its area was largely rural, but included the towns of Blandford Forum, Gillingham, Shaftesbury, Stalbridge and Sturminster Newton. Much of North Dorset was in the River Stour valley, known as the Blackmore Vale. The economy of North Dorset was largely based on dairy agriculture.

The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, from the municipal boroughs of Blandford Forum, Shaftesbury, Blandford Rural District, Shaftesbury Rural District and Sturminster Rural District. The district and its council were abolished on 1 April 2019 and, together with the other four Dorset districts outside the greater Bournemouth area, incorporated into a Dorset unitary authority.[1]

At the 2001 UK census North Dorset had a population of 61,905, a rise of 8,300 from 1991, with 25,248 households.

North Dorset is home to North Dorset Rugby Football Club.

District Council

Nordon, Salisbury Road, Blandford Forum: Council's headquarters, since demolished
Further information: North Dorset District Council elections

North Dorset District Council had its main offices at a large converted house called Nordon on Salisbury Road, Blandford Forum, which had previously been the offices of the Blandford Rural District Council, one of the council's predecessors.[2][3] Councillors were elected every four years; the final election before abolition was held in 2015.[4]

Settlements

Towns with a population over 2,500 are in bold.

See also

References

  1. ^ Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (25 May 2018). "The Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole (Structural Changes) Order 2018". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  2. ^ "Contact North Dorset District Council". Dorset For You. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ "No. 43342". The London Gazette. 5 June 1964. p. 4863.
  4. ^ "Results of the election to North Dorset District Council". Dorset For You. May 2015. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015 – via Internet Archive.

Media related to North Dorset District at Wikimedia Commons