North Dorset

North Dorset District
Non-metropolitan district

North Dorset shown within Dorset
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Constituent country England
Region South West England
Non-metropolitan county Dorset
Status Non-metropolitan district
Admin HQ Blandford Forum
Incorporated 1 April 1974
Government
  Type Non-metropolitan district council
  Body North Dorset District Council
  Leadership Leader and Cabinet (Conservative)
  MPs Robert Walter
Area
  Total 235.2 sq mi (609.2 km2)
Area rank 69th (of 326)
Population (2011 est.)
  Total 69,000
  Rank 302nd (of 326)
  Density 290/sq mi (110/km2)
  Ethnicity 98.6% White
Time zone GMT (UTC0)
  Summer (DST) BST (UTC+1)
ONS code 19UE (ONS)
E07000050 (GSS)
OS grid reference ST8862706885
Website www.dorsetforyou.com/northdorset

North Dorset is a local government district in Dorset, England. It is largely rural, but includes the towns of Blandford Forum, Gillingham, Shaftesbury, Stalbridge and Sturminster Newton. Much of North Dorset is in the River Stour valley and is called the Blackmore Vale. The economy of North Dorset is largely dairy agriculture based.

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.

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

Settlements

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

External links

Coordinates: 50°51′38.92″N 2°9′41.77″W / 50.8608111°N 2.1616028°W