In local government on the British Isles, a rural district was a predominantly rural area used for local government. Rural districts had elected councils, which shared local government activities with the county councils.
The districts were initially based on poor law unions, with any urban districts or boroughs with the area of the union excluded. Thus, the typical shape of a district was a doughnut around a small town. Many rural districts were fragmentary, consisting of a number of detached parts.
In the Republic of Ireland they were abolished in 1925; and their functions transferred to the county councils. In Northern Ireland they were abolished (along with all other local government) in 1973 and replaced with a system of unitary districts.
In England and Wales they had been created in 1894 along with urban districts, and survived until 1974, although their numbers much lessened due to mergers, when they were replaced (along with urban districts) with a uniform pattern of districts, which tended to be much larger.
The typical shape of a ruraldistrict was a doughnut shaped ring around a town (which would be either an urban district or a municipal borough).
Many ruraldistricts were fragmentary, consisting of a number of detached parts.
All ruraldistricts in England and Wales were abolished in 1974 (by the Local Government Act 1972) and were typically merged with nearby urban districts or boroughs to form a uniform pattern of districts, which contained urban and rural areas.
The districts were initially based on poor law unions, with any urban districts or boroughs with the area of the union excluded.
Ruraldistricts were established both on Great Britain and Ireland in the late 19th century.
In England and Wales they had been created in 1894 along with urban districts, and survived until 1974, although their numbers much lessened due to mergers, when they were replaced (along with urban districts) with a uniform pattern of districts, which tended to be much larger.
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