Dictionary of Meaning
<<Back
Please select a letter:
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
I |
J |
K |
L |
M |
N |
O |
P |
Q |
R |
S |
T |
U |
V |
W |
X |
Y |
Z |
0-9
Click here for Shopping
Urban District
*** Shopping-Tip: Urban District
In the
British Isles an '''urban district''' was a type of
local government district which covered an
urbanised area. Urban districts had an elected '''Urban District Council''' (UDC), which shared local government responsibillities with a
county council.
England and Wales
In
England and Wales, urban districts and
rural districts were created in
1894 (by the
Local Government Act 1894 Local Government Act of 1894) as subdivisions of
administrative county administrative counties.
They replaced the earlier system of
sanitary districts (based on
poor law unions) the functions of which were taken over by the district councils. The district councils also had wider powers over local matters such as parks, cemeteries and local planning.
Urban areas were considered to have more problems with
public health than rural areas, and so urban district councils had more funding, and powers than their corresponding rural districts.
Urban districts usually covered smaller towns, usually with populations of less than 30,000, From the
1930s onwards, many urban and rural districts were merged, and so many urban districts often covered some rural areas as well. Larger towns became
municipal boroughs (already created, in 1835 under the
Municipal Reform Act 1835) which had a slightly higher status, and the right to appoint a
Mayors in the United Kingdom mayor.
All urban districts in England and Wales were abolished in
1974, (by the
Local Government Act 1972) and replaced with a uniform system of larger
Districts of England districts, which usually covered both urban and rural areas. Many
civil parish parish councils were created for towns previously covered by urban districts.
See
List of rural and urban districts in England and
List of rural and urban districts in Wales for lists of the remaining urban districts that were abolished in
1974.
Ireland
In
Ireland urban districts were created in
1898 by the
Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898. In what is now the
Republic of Ireland they existed but were recently renamed simply 'towns'. The corresponding
rural districts were abolished long ago.
In
Northern Ireland, they were abolished in
1973, and replaced with a system of unitary
Districts of Northern Ireland districts.
See also:
List of rural and urban districts in Northern Ireland
{{Subnational entity}}
Category:Local government in the Republic of Ireland
Category:Local government of the United Kingdom
Category:Subnational entities
de:Urban District
{{geo-term-stub}}
see
Urban district
*** Shopping-Tip: Urban District
