IV.

Population and Administration

The population of the geographical county is about 1,047,400 (2000 estimate), of whom 806,737 live in the area administered by the county council. The main towns are Stoke-on-Trent (2001, 240,643), Newcastle-under-Lyme (2001, 122,040), Stafford (2001, 120,653), Lichfield (2001, 93,237), and Tamworth (1991, 68,440). Other towns of note include Burton upon Trent (1991, 60,525), Cannock (2001, 92,126), Leek (1991, 18,167), Rugeley (1991, 22,975), and Stone (1991, 12,305). Stoke-on-Trent, which has city status as well as separate administrative status, is the name now given collectively to the six towns of Stoke-upon-Trent, Burslem, Fenton, Hanley, Longton, and Tunstall, which were federated in 1910 and gained city status in 1925. These towns existed previously as individual communities, and are known collectively as the Staffordshire Potteries, or just “the Potteries”.

Until April 1, 1997, Staffordshire was administered by a county council, based in Stafford, and nine district councils: Cannock Chase, East Staffordshire, Lichfield, Newcastle-under-Lyme, South Staffordshire, Stafford, Staffordshire Moorlands, Stoke-on-Trent, and Tamworth. However, on that date, and as a result of the recommendations of the Local Government Commission, established in 1992 to review the structure of local government in England, Stoke-on-Trent was separated administratively from the rest of the county. The new Stoke-on-Trent City Council is now a unitary authority, responsible for all local government services in its area, including those previously provided by the county council. The rest of the county has retained the two-tier structure of county and district councils. The police authority is the Staffordshire Police, with headquarters at Stafford. Crown Courts sit in Stafford and at Stoke-on-Trent.