III.

Population and Administration

The population of the geographical county of Nottinghamshire is estimated at around 1,015,500, of which 748,503 (2001) live in the area administered by the county council. The principal urban areas are Nottingham (2001 estimate, 267,000), Newark-on-Trent (1991, 35,129), and Mansfield (1991, 71,858). Other towns of note are Beeston, Eastwood (1991, 19,363), Hucknall (1991, 29,160), Ollerton, Retford (1991, 20,679), Southwell (1991, 6,498), Stapleford, Sutton-in-Ashfield (1991, 37,890), and Worksop (1991, 37,247). Nottingham has city status.

The county is at present administered from County Hall, West Bridgford. It is divided into seven districts: Ashfield, Bassetlaw, Broxtowe, Gedling, Mansfield, Newark and Sherwood, and Rushcliffe. On April 1, 1998, following the recommendations of the Local Government Commission, the Nottingham District Council that had previously administered the city of Nottingham in conjunction with Nottinghamshire County Council was created a unitary authority, an administrative body separate from the county. The police authority is the Nottinghamshire Constabulary, with headquarters in Nottingham. A Crown Court sits at Nottingham.