Christchurch, Dorset

{| border=1 cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" align="right" width=300\n|-\n!colspan=2 align=center bgcolor="#ff9999"|Borough of Christchurch\n|-\n|colspan=2 align=center|
Shown within Dorset\n|-\n!colspan=2 bgcolor="#ff9999"|Geography\n|-\n|width="45%"|Status:||Borough\n|-\n|Region:||South West England\n|-\n|Admin. County:||Dorset\n|-\n|Area:
- Total||Ranked 300th
50.38 km²\n|-\n|Admin. HQ:||Christchurch\n|-\n|ONS code:||19UC\n|-\n!colspan=2 bgcolor="#ff9999"|Demographics\n|-\n|Population:
- Total (2002 est.)
- Density||Ranked 344th
45,316
899 / km²\n|-\n|Ethnicity:||98.9% White\n|-\n!colspan=2 bgcolor="#ff9999"|Politics\n|-\n|colspan=2 align=center|
Christchurch Borough Council
http://www.christchurch.gov.uk/\n|-\n|Leadership:||Alternative - Sec.31\n|-\n|Control:||Conservative\n|-\n|MP:||Christopher Chope\n|}\nChristchurch is a town in Dorset with a population of about 35,000. It was originally a Saxon settlement called Twyneham, which meant the settlement between two rivers. The Avon and the Stour both enter the sea in Christchurch Harbour. The town centre is dominated by the Priory. Christchurch forms part of the Southeast Dorset conurbation along with Bournemouth, Poole and the district of Wimborne, (see Wimborne Minster). The current local government district and borough was formed in April 1, 1974 by the merger of the old borough of Christchurch with part of Ringwood and Fordingbridge Rural District. The Member of Parliament for Christchurch is Christopher Chope.

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Category:Dorset