Knutsford was an enclave and independent urban district surrounded by Bucklow RD, as was Altrincham until it expanded enough to link up with other districts in the north.
The district was formed in 1894 based on Altrinchamrural sanitary district by the Local Government Act 1894. It was known as the Altrincham Rural District until 1895. The three civil parishes of Northenden, Northen Etchells and Baguley were also part of the Bucklow Rural District until 1931, when Manchester Corporation, which had been given the Wythenshawe estate for municipal housing development, successfully petitioned Parliament to enable their transfer into Manchester.[2]