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Wiltshire (district)

Coordinates: 51°21′07″N 1°58′41″W / 51.352°N 1.978°W / 51.352; -1.978
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Wiltshire
Clockwise from top: Salisbury Cathedral; Trowbridge Town Hall; Lacock Abbey; Stonehenge; and Chippenham Market Place
Coat of arms of Wiltshire
Shown within the ceremonial county of Wiltshire
Shown within the ceremonial county of Wiltshire
Wiltshire is located in England
Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Location within England
Wiltshire is located in the United Kingdom
Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Location within the United Kingdom
Wiltshire is located in Europe
Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Location in Europe
Coordinates: 51°21′07″N 1°58′41″W / 51.352°N 1.978°W / 51.352; -1.978
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
CountryEngland
RegionSouth West England
CountyWiltshire
Unitary Authority1 April 2009
Government
 • TypeNon-metropolitan district
 • Local AuthorityWiltshire Council
 • Council LeaderRichard Clewer
Population
 (2022)
 • Total515,885 (Ranked 11th)
Ethnicity (2021)
 • Ethnic groups
List
Religion (2021)
 • Religion
List
Time zoneUTC+0 (Greenwich Mean Time)
Postcode
Post town
Bath, Salisbury, Swindon and Reading
Dialling code01249 and others
ISO 3166 codeGB-WIL
PoliceWiltshire Police
FireDorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service
AmbulanceSouth Western
Websitewww.wiltshire.gov.uk

Wiltshire is a unitary authority area[2][3] in the ceremonial county of Wiltshire,[4] South West England. It was formed in April 2009 following the abolition of Wiltshire County Council and the districts of Kennet, North Wiltshire, Salisbury, and West Wiltshire. They were all replaced by Wiltshire Council,[5] which is based at County Hall in Trowbridge. The remaining part of the ceremonial county is the Borough of Swindon, administered by a separate unitary authority. In 2022 it had a population of 515,885.

Salisbury is the only city in the district and its largest settlement.[6] After the city, the next largest urban areas are Chippenham and Trowbridge.

History

[edit]

Until 2009, Wiltshire had four districts – Kennet, North Wiltshire, Salisbury, and West Wiltshire[7][8] – together with the Borough of Swindon which had been made a separate unitary authority in 1997. Proposals were made to abolish the four districts and form one unitary area to cover the county of Wiltshire, outside the Borough of Swindon. In April 2009, Wiltshire Council assumed the roles and responsibilities of the four former districts.[9][10]

Main settlements

[edit]

References

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  1. ^ a b UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Wiltshire Local Authority (E06000054)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Wiltshire Council". Business South. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Wiltshire Council - view and make Freedom of Information requests". WhatDoTheyKnow. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  4. ^ "Lieutenancies Act 1997", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1997 c. 23, retrieved 21 August 2024
  5. ^ "Written evidence submitted by Wiltshire Council [OSG 034]". committees.parliament.uk. committees.parliament.uk. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Salisbury - Market Town". Visit Wiltshire. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  7. ^ Archives, The National. "The Discovery Service". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  8. ^ Archives, The National. "The Discovery Service". discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  9. ^ "This Order provides for the establishment, on 1st April 2009, of a single tier of local government in Wiltshire (article 3). The area of the county remains unchanged. A new district is created, with the same area as the county". www.legislation.gov.uk. www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  10. ^ "Plans for solar farm outside Salisbury refused by Wiltshire Council". Salisbury Journal. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2024.