Status details for Rural District

Status:Rural District
Identifier:RD
Number of units in system: 786
Geographical Level: 9 (Middle-level District)
ADL Feature Type:countries, 3rd order divisions
Is a status within:Local Government District

Full Description:

Due to the subdivision of the Administrative County with the Local Government Act of 1894 (57 &58 Vict, c58), the existing system of sanitary districts was replaced by Urban and Rural Districts, which held increased local government functions, and the Sanitary boards were replaced by District Councils with Councillors. Most Rural Districts, as described by Hasluck (1948), contained market-towns of differing size and by 1965 there were 473 in England and Wales (Jackson, 1966, p.11). The County Reviews of the 1930s led to the abolition of 206 Urban Districts and 236 Rural Districts which were too small, too poor, or were irregular and they were merged or amalgamated with wealthier or larger Districts. All Rural Districts were abolished in 1974.