Dorset Administrative County (pre-1974)

Created: 1889   Abolished: 1974

Statistics

Population

Population

Densities and rates of growth. Age structure: concentrations of young people, and of the old.
Industry

Industry

How people made their living: identifying farming communities, pit villages, mill towns and so on.
Social Structure

Social Structure

Social class and socio-economic groups. Concentrations of professionals, and of unskilled labourers.
Learning & Language

Learning & Language

How many people were at school. The distribution of graduates, and of the unqualified.
Agriculture & Land Use

Agriculture & Land Use

How we use the land; crops and farm animals.
Life & Death

Life & Death

Numbers of babies born. Deaths, especially infant deaths. Causes of death by age and gender.
Work & Poverty

Work & Poverty

Unemployment rates and poor relief. What proportions of men and of women did paid work?
Housing

Housing

Numbers of houses. Overcrowding: persons per room. Amenities: central heating, baths and WCs.
Birthplace & Religion

Birthplace & Religion

Numbers going to church, and the kinds of churches they went to. The different religions of modern Britain.
Place marker map of Great Britain and Ireland

The following alternate names exist for this unit:

Name Status Language Start End Authority
DORSET Preferred English     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 591.
DORSETSHIRE Alternate English     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 591.

This unit contained the following units:

Name Type Start End Authority
BEAMINSTER RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
BLANDFORD RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
BRIDPORT RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
CERNE PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
DORCHESTER PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
POOLE RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
SHAFTESBURY RegD/Inc/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
SHERBORNE RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
STURMINSTER RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
WAREHAM AND PURBECK RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
WEYMOUTH RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
WIMBORNE AND CRANBORNE RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
BEAMINSTER RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 595.
BLANDFORD RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 595.
BLANDFORD FORUM MB Local Government District 1835 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 592.
BRANKSOME UD Local Government District 1894 1905 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 595.
BRIDPORT RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 595.
BRIDPORT MB Local Government District 1835 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 592.
CERNE RD Local Government District 1894 1933 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 595.
DORCHESTER MB Local Government District 1835 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 593.
DORCHESTER RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 595.
LYME REGIS MB Local Government District 1835 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 593.
POOLE MB Local Government District 1835 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 593.
POOLE RD Local Government District 1894 1933 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 595.
PORTLAND UD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 596.
SHAFTESBURY RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 596.
SHAFTESBURY MB Local Government District 1835 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 593.
SHERBORNE UD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 596.
SHERBORNE RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 596.
STURMINSTER RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 596.
SWANAGE UD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 596.
WAREHAM MB Local Government District 1886 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 593.
WAREHAM AND PURBECK RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 596.
WEYMOUTH RD Local Government District 1894 1933 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 596.
WEYMOUTH AND MELCOMBE REGIS MB Local Government District 1835 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 593.
WIMBORNE AND CRANBORNE RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 596.
WIMBORNE MINSTER UD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 596.
BRIDPORT Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
DORCHESTER Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
POOLE Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
PORTLAND Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
SHERBORNE Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
WAREHAM Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
WEYMOUTH Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project

This unit was associated with the following other units:

Nature of association Other unit involved Type of unit Authority
was preceded by DORSET Poor Law/Registration County F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 595.
was succeeded by DORSET Modern (post 1974) County Census of Population (2001 Key Statistics)
was preceded by DORSET Ancient County F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 595.

This unit was part of the following units:

Name Type Start End Authority
ENGLAND Dep Country 1889 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 591.

This unit was affected by the following changes:

Date Type of change Other unit involved Area transferred Authority
01 Apr 1940 was reduced to enlarge HAMPSHIRE part of Wimborne and Cranborne RD Area: 1 acres.   1951 Census of England and Wales, Table 5, 'Intercensal changes of Boundary (between 30th June, 1934, and 8th April, 1951)', for 'Administrative Areas (excluding Wards)'.; The Gosport Corporation Act, 1939 and 15.8.1947 M. of H. Order under Section 145 of the LGA, 1933 (Alteration of watercourses)
15 Aug 1947 was reduced to enlarge HAMPSHIRE part of Wimborne and Cranborne RD Area: 1 acres.   1951 Census of England and Wales, Table 5, 'Intercensal changes of Boundary (between 30th June, 1934, and 8th April, 1951)', for 'Administrative Areas (excluding Wards)'.; M. of H. Order under Section 145 of the LGA, 1933 (Alteration of watercourses)
15 Aug 1947 was enlarged by gaining part of HAMPSHIRE part of Ringwood and Fordingbridge RD Area: 1 acres.   1951 Census of England and Wales, Table 5, 'Intercensal changes of Boundary (between 30th June, 1934, and 8th April, 1951)', for 'Administrative Areas (excluding Wards)'.; M. of H. Order under Section 145 of the LGA, 1933 (Alteration of watercourse)
01 Apr 1966 was enlarged by gaining part of DEVON part of Axminster RD Area: 278 acres.   1971 Census of England and Wales, Table 4, 'Intercensal changes of Boundary (between 23rd April, 1961, and 25th April, 1971)', for 'AC, LAA, CP, NT'.; The South Western Counties Order, 1965
01 Apr 1966 was reduced to enlarge DEVON part of Bridport RD Area: 11 acres.   1971 Census of England and Wales, Table 4, 'Intercensal changes of Boundary (between 23rd April, 1961, and 25th April, 1971)', for 'AC, LAA, CP, NT'.; The Cornwall and Devon (Broadwoodwidger) Order, 1965; The South Western Counties Order, 1965
01 Apr 1966 was reduced to enlarge DEVON part of Bridport RD Area: 11 acres.   1971 Census of England and Wales, Table 4, 'Intercensal changes of Boundary (between 23rd April, 1961, and 25th April, 1971)', for 'AC, LAA, CP, NT'.; The Cornwall and Devon (Broadwoodwidger) Order, 1965; The Exeter Order, 1966; The South Western Counties Order, 1965
01 Apr 1966 was enlarged by gaining part of SOMERSET parts of Chard, Wincanton RDs Area: 520 acres.   1971 Census of England and Wales, Table 4, 'Intercensal changes of Boundary (between 23rd April, 1961, and 25th April, 1971)', for 'AC, LAA, CP, NT'.; The South Western Counties Order, 1965
01 Apr 1966 was reduced to enlarge SOMERSET parts of Beaminster, Shaftesbury RDs Area: 110 acres.   1971 Census of England and Wales, Table 4, 'Intercensal changes of Boundary (between 23rd April, 1961, and 25th April, 1971)', for 'AC, LAA, CP, NT'.; The Bristol Order, 1966; The South Western Counties Order, 1965
01 Apr 1966 was reduced to enlarge SOMERSET parts of Beaminster, Shaftesbury RDs Area: 110 acres.   1971 Census of England and Wales, Table 4, 'Intercensal changes of Boundary (between 23rd April, 1961, and 25th April, 1971)', for 'AC, LAA, CP, NT'.; The Bristol Order, 1966; The South Western Counties Order, 1965

Boundary Map of Dorset Administrative County (pre-1974)

If the boundaries of the Administrative County changed over time, this map will show all the different boundaries.

Maps Census reports

How to reference this page:

GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, Dorset Administrative County (pre-1974) through time, A Vision of Britain through Time.

URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10107416

Date accessed: 08th April 2026