County Durham 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 for this unit exist:

Name Status Language Start End Authority
COUNTY DURHAM Preferred English     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 661.
DURHAM Alternate English     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 661.

This unit contained the following units:

Name Type Start End Authority
AUCKLAND RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
CHESTER LE STREET RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
DARLINGTON RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
DURHAM RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
EASINGTON RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
GATESHEAD RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
HARTLEPOOL RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
HOUGHTON LE SPRING RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
LANCHESTER RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
SEDGEFIELD RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
SOUTH SHIELDS RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
STOCKTON RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
SUNDERLAND RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
TEESDALE RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
WEARDALE RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
ANNFIELD PLAIN UD Local Government District 1896 1937 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 666.
AUCKLAND RD Local Government District 1894 1937 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 666.
BARNARD CASTLE UD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 666.
BARNARD CASTLE RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 666.
BENFIELDSIDE UD Local Government District 1894 1937 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 666.
BILLINGHAM UD Local Government District 1923 1968 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 666.
BISHOP AUCKLAND UD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 666.
BLAYDON UD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 666.
BOLDON UD Local Government District 1936 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 666.
BRANDON AND BYSHOTTLES UD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 666.
CHESTER LE STREET UD Local Government District 1909 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 666.
CHESTER LE STREET RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 666.
CONSETT UD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 666.
CROOK UD Local Government District 1898 1937 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 666.
CROOK AND WILLINGTON UD Local Government District 1937 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 666.
DARLINGTON MB/CB Local Government District 1867 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 663.
DARLINGTON RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 666.
DURHAM MB Local Government District 1835 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 663.
DURHAM RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 666.
EASINGTON RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 666.
FELLING UD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 666.
GATESHEAD CB/MB Local Government District 1835 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 663.
HARTLEPOOL RD Local Government District 1894 01 Apr 1937 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 666.
HARTLEPOOL MB/CB Local Government District 1850 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 663.
HEBBURN UD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 666.
HETTON UD Local Government District 1895 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 666.
HOUGHTON LE SPRING UD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 667.
HOUGHTON LE SPRING RD Local Government District 1894 1937 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 666.
JARROW MB Local Government District 1875 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 663.
LANCHESTER RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 667.
LEADGATE UD Local Government District 1894 1937 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 667.
RYTON UD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 667.
SEAHAM UD Local Government District 1937 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 667.
SEAHAM HARBOUR UD Local Government District 1894 1937 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 667.
SEDGEFIELD RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 667.
SHILDON UD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 667.
SOUTH SHIELDS RD Local Government District 1894 1936 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 667.
SOUTH SHIELDS MB/CB Local Government District 1850 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 663.
SOUTHWICK ON WEAR UD Local Government District 1894 1928 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 667.
SPENNYMOOR UD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 667.
STANHOPE UD Local Government District 1894 1937 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 667.
STANLEY UD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 667.
STOCKTON RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 667.
STOCKTON ON TEES MB Local Government District 1835 1968 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 663.
SUNDERLAND RD Local Government District 1894 1967 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 667.
SUNDERLAND MB/CB Local Government District 1835 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 663.
TANFIELD UD Local Government District 1895 1937 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 667.
TOW LAW UD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 667.
WASHINGTON UD Local Government District 1922 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 667.
WEARDALE RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 667.
WEST HARTLEPOOL CB/MB Local Government District 1887 1967 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 663.
WHICKHAM UD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 667.
WILLINGTON UD Local Government District 1894 1937 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 667.
AYCLIFFE New Town     London Gazette, No. 37940, p. 1858, 25 April 1947; Aycliffe New Town (Designation) Order, 1947.
PETERLEE New Town     London Gazette, No. 38235, p. 1819, 12 March 1948; Easington New Town (Designation) Order, 1948.
WASHINGTON New Town     London Gazette, No. 43394, p. 6416, 28 July 1964; Washington New Town (Designation) Order, 1964.
BIRTLEY Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
BISHOP AUCKLAND Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
BLAYDON Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
BOLDON Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
CHESTER LE STREET Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
CHOPWELL Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
COCKFIELD Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
CONSETT Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
CROOK Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
DARLINGTON Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
DUNSTON Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
DURHAM Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
FELLING Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
GATESHEAD Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
HARTLEPOOL Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
HASWELL Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
HEBBURN Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
HORDEN Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
HOUGHTON LE SPRING Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
JARROW Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
LANCHESTER Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
PETERLEE Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
SEAHAM Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
SEDGEFIELD Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
SHILDON Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
SOUTH SHIELDS Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
SPENNYMOOR Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
STANLEY Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
STOCKTON ON TEES Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
SUNDERLAND Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
WASHINGTON Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
WINGATE 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 succeeded by DURHAM Modern (post 1974) County Census of Population (2001 Key Statistics)
was preceded by COUNTY DURHAM Poor Law/Registration County F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 666.
was preceded by COUNTY DURHAM Ancient County F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 666.

This unit was part of the following units:

Name Type Start End Authority
ENGLAND Dep Country 1889 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Northern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1991), p. 661.

This unit was affected by the following changes:

Date Type of change Other unit involved Area transferred Authority
01 Apr 1967 was reduced to enlarge NORTH RIDING part of Darlington RD Area: 1 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 Darlington Order, 1967
01 Apr 1967 was reduced to enlarge NORTH RIDING part of Darlington RD Area: 1 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 Darlington Order, 1967
01 Apr 1968 was reduced to enlarge NORTH RIDING Stockton-on-Tees MB and part of Billingham UD and part of Stockton RD Area: 6252 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 Teesside Order, 1967; The York Order, 1967

Boundary Map of County Durham 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, County Durham (Administrative County (pre-1974)) through time, A Vision of Britain through Time.

URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10001171

Date accessed: 13th December 2025