West Dorset District | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms | |
 West Dorset shown within Dorset | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Constituent country | England |
| Region | South West England |
| Non-metropolitan county | Dorset |
| Status | Abolished |
| Admin HQ | Dorchester |
| Incorporated | 1 April 1974 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Non-metropolitan district council |
| • Body | West Dorset District Council |
| • Leadership | Leader & Cabinet ( ) |
| Area | |
• Total | 417.6 sq mi (1,081.5 km2) |
| Population (2017) | |
• Total | 102,100 |
| • Density | 244.5/sq mi (94.41/km2) |
| • Ethnicity | 98.7% White |
| Time zone | UTC0 (GMT) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (BST) |
| ONS code | 19UH (ONS) E07000052 (GSS) |
| OS grid reference | SY5785299047 |
| Website | www |
West Dorset was alocal government district inDorset, England. The district was formed on 1 April 1974 under theLocal Government Act 1972, and was a merger of theboroughs ofBridport,Dorchester andLyme Regis, along withSherborneurban district and therural districts ofBeaminster,Bridport,Dorchester andSherborne. Its council was based in Dorchester.
The district and its council were abolished on 1 April 2019 and, together with the other four districts outside the greater Bournemouth area, replaced by a newDorset unitary authority.[1]
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At the2001 census, West Dorset registered a population of 92,350. The population structure reflected the rural nature of the district. The area was a popular retirement area which also exported young people due to the lack of career options. This was reflected in the age structure, with 12.3% of the population over 75, compared to 7.5% in the whole of England; 51.7% were between 15 and 59, compared to 59.1% in England. 34.4% of dwellings were pensioner households, compared to 23.8% in England.
The district was an example of the lowethnic minority populations in rural areas, with 96.7% white British ethnicity, compared to 87.0% in England.
The district had a high level of car ownership, at 83.1% of households compared to 73.2% in England.
Almost all of the West Dorset area fell within theWest Dorset constituency; a small part was inSouth Dorset.
The main settlements in West Dorset wereDorchester,Sherborne andBridport. Dorchester, in the south of the district, is the county town of Dorset and has been an important settlement sinceRoman times. Sherborne, in the north, is an importantmarket town which was, for a time, the capital ofWessex. Bridport, in the west, is popular with tourists visiting theJurassic Coast, as is the smaller coastal town ofLyme Regis at the county border withDevon.
