Rural District
A Rural District ( German Rural district) was a local government unit as part of a county in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Their territory extended exclusively to rural areas, while urban areas urban districts were. Just as they had the Rural Districts an elected council ( Rural District Council ) and shared the tasks of local government with the County Council ( County Council ).
The Rural Districts were established in the late 19th century in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. In the Republic of Ireland they were abolished in 1925 and its functions were transferred to the counties. In Northern Ireland they were in 1973, as well as the urban districts, dissolved and replaced by larger districts. In England and Wales, where they had been formed in 1894, they were eliminated in the course of municipal reform of 1974 and replaced by new, bigger districts. Earlier, the number of Rural Districts was significantly decreased by mergers.
East Midlands • East of England • North East England • North West England • South East England • South West England • West Midlands • Yorkshire and the Humber • Greater London
Counties with two-stage management - Unitary Authorities - Ceremonial counties - Traditional counties
Metropolitan Boroughs - London Boroughs
Strathclyde • Dumfries and Galloway • Scottish Borders • Central • Tayside • Lothian • Fife • Highlands • Western Isles • Shetland • Orkney
Traditional counties • former administrative counties
Council Areas • Lieutenancy Areas
Traditional counties - Preserved Counties
Traditional counties
Shire • County • Metropolitan County • District • Rural District • Urban District • Unitary Authority • Borough
Bailiwick of Jersey Bailiwick of Guernsey • • Isle of Man
- Administrative divisions of the United Kingdom
- Administrative divisions of Ireland
- Agricultural History