III.

Population and Administration

The population of Oxfordshire is estimated at 605,492 (2001). Oxford (2001, 134,248) is the largest city and main commercial and industrial centre, as well as the seat of local government. Other important towns are Abingdon (1991, 35,234), Banbury (1994 estimate, 38,200), Henley-on-Thames (1991, 10,558), and Witney (1991, 20,377).

Oxfordshire has a county council and five local government district councils: Cherwell, Oxford, South Oxfordshire, Vale of the White Horse, and West Oxfordshire. Its administrative structure was unchanged by the local government restructuring in England in the 1990s. The police authority is the Thames Valley Police, with its headquarters at Kidlington, Oxford. The UKAEA Constabulary at Culham Laboratory is responsible for policing the United Kingdom's various nuclear power establishments and for escorting nuclear material between them. A Crown Court sits at Oxford.