{{Use British English|date=September 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Infobox settlement |name = Alnwick |type = Former district |image_skyline = |imagesize = |image_caption = |image_blank_emblem= |blank_emblem_type = Coat of Arms |image_map = Alnwick UK locator map.svg |map_caption = Shown within Northumberland |mapsize = frameless |subdivision_type = Sovereign state |subdivision_name = United Kingdom |subdivision_type1 = Constituent country |subdivision_name1 = England |subdivision_type2 = Region |subdivision_name2 = North East England |subdivision_type3 = Administrative county |subdivision_name3 = Northumberland |seat_type = Admin. HQ |seat = Alnwick |government_type = Alnwick District Council |leader_title = Leadership: |leader_name = Leader & Cabinet |leader_title1 = |leader_name1 = |leader_title2 = |leader_name2 = |established_title = Founded |established_date = 1 April 1974 |extinct_title = Abolished |extinct_date = 1 April 2009 |founder = |area_rank = |area_total_km2 = 1079.51 |latd= |latm= |lats= |latNS= |longd= |longm= |longs= |longEW= |population_as_of = 2001 Census |population_total = 32300 |population_rank = |population_density_km2 = auto |timezone = Greenwich Mean Time |utc_offset = +0 |timezone_DST = British Summer Time |utc_offset_DST = +1 |postal_code_type = Postcode |postal_code = <!-- XX --> |area_code = |blank_name = ISO 3166-2 |blank_info = <!-- GB-?? --> |blank1_name = ONS code |blank1_info = 35UB |blank2_name = OS grid reference |blank2_info = <!-- {{gbmappingsmall|####}} --> |blank3_name = NUTS 3 |blank3_info = <!-- UKG## --> |blank4_name = Ethnicity |blank4_info = 99.6% White |website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20040125013528/http://www.alnwick.gov.uk/ alnwick.gov.uk] }} thumb|District council office in Alnwick town centre '''Alnwick''' was a local government district of Northumberland, England. Its council was based in the town of Alnwick and the district had a population of 31,029 according to the 2001 census.
It was one of the most rural and sparsely populated districts in the United Kingdom, having a resident population of 31,029 in an area of 1,079.51 square kilometres, according to the 2001 census. (That is 29 persons per km² compared with the UK average of 245 persons per km².) Just over 50% of the population was located in the three main towns of Alnwick (7,600), Amble (6,100) and Rothbury (2,500), with the remainder dispersed across large and small villages, hamlets and isolated dwellings.
It was the second most racially homogeneous community in the country, in the terms measured in the 2001 census with 99.6% of the population recording their ethnicity as ''White''.<ref>[http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=277062&c=NE66+1LN&d=13&e=16&g=474213&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1206369777140&enc=1&dsFamilyId=87 Census 2001 Ethnicity figures for Alnwick (Local Authority)]</ref>
The district was formed on 1 April 1974 as a merger of the urban districts of Alnwick and Amble and the rural districts of Alnwick and Rothbury.<ref>{{cite web |title=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1972/2039/made |website=legislation.gov.uk |access-date=10 March 2026}}</ref> The district was abolished as part of structural changes to local government in England effective from 1 April 2009. Its responsibilities were transferred to Northumberland County Council, which became a unitary authority.
==Politics== {{See also|Alnwick local elections}} Elections to the district council were held every 4 years from 1973 to the last election in 2007. Independents, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats held majorities on the council at different times, but from 1995 onwards no party had a majority. As of the last election in 2007 the council was composed of the following councillors:-<ref name="hold">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2007/councils/html/35ub.stm|title=Alnwick|publisher=BBC News Online|access-date=15 May 2011}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" !Year !! Liberal Democrat !! Conservative !! Independent !! Labour |- |2007|| 11 || 9 || 8 || 2 |- |}
==Settlements and parishes== The district included the settlements and parishes of: * Acklington, Alnham, Alnmouth, Alnwick, Alwinton, Amble By the Sea * Biddlestone, Brinkburn * Callaly, Cartington, Craster * Denwick * Edlingham, Eglingham, Elsdon, Embleton * Felton * Glanton * Harbottle, Hauxley, Hedgeley, Hepple, Hesleyhurst, Hollinghill * Lesbury, Longframlington, Longhoughton * Netherton, Newton-by-the-Sea, Newton-on-the-Moor and Swarland, Nunnykirk * Rennington, Rothbury, Rothley * Shilbottle, Snitter * Thropton, Togston * Warkworth, Whittingham, Whitton and Tosson
== Main towns == === Alnwick === Alnwick was the largest of the three main towns in the district. It is a reasonably busy rural market town. According to ''Country Life'', October 2002, "Alnwick is the most picturesque market town in Northumberland, and the best place to live in Britain". The town dates back approximately to the 7th century, and is the ancestral seat of the Duke of Northumberland, who still resides at Alnwick Castle. Historically, Alnwick was a fortified town, an agricultural centre and a staging post on the Great North Road between Edinburgh and London. The fabric of the town, in parts, reflects its history, although there has been much contemporary development.{{citation needed|date=February 2018}}
=== Amble === The historic port of Amble is located on the River Coquet estuary and is the southern gateway to Northumberland's Heritage Coast.
=== Rothbury === Rothbury is a picturesque historic market town with its origins dating back to the 11th century.{{citation needed|date=February 2018}} It is situated on the River Coquet, and provides a gateway to Upper Coquetdale and the Northumberland National Park.
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [https://web.archive.org/web/20040125013528/http://www.alnwick.gov.uk/ Alnwick District Council] * [http://www.alnwickcastle.com/ Alnwick Castle] * [http://www.alnwickgarden.com/ Alnwick Garden] * [http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/NeighbourhoodProfileSearch.do?areaId=277062 Statistics] about the Alnwick district from the Office for National Statistics Census 2001
{{Northumberland}} {{Local government districts of England abolished in 2009}} {{Authority control}} {{Coord|55|24|46|N|1|41|39|W|type:adm2nd_region:GB|display=title}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alnwick (District)}} Category:Alnwick (district) Category:Alnwick Category:English districts abolished in 2009 Category:Former non-metropolitan districts of Northumberland