Bournemouth (borough)

Bournemouth Borough of Bournemouth
Town, Borough and unitary authority
The Square, Bournemouth
Motto: "Pulchritudo et Salubritas" "beauty and health"
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Constituent country	England
Region	South West England
Ceremonial county	Dorset
Historic county	Hampshire
Founded	1810
Founded by	Lewis Tregonwell
Admin. HQ	Bournemouth
Government
• Type	Bournemouth Borough Council
• Leadership:	Leader & Cabinet
• Executive:	Conservative
• MPs:	Conor Burns, Tobias Ellwood
• Mayor	Edward Coope
Area
• Total	17.83 sq mi (46.18 km2)
Area rank	276th
Population (2011)
• Total	183,491
• Rank	Ranked 88th
• Density	10,000/sq mi (4,000/km2)
Time zone	Greenwich Mean Time (UTC+0)
• Summer (DST)	British Summer Time (UTC+1)
Postcode	BH1–11
Area code(s)	01202
Website	www.bournemouth.gov.uk

Bournemouth ⁱ/ˈbɔːrnməθ/ is a large coastal resort town on the south coast of England directly to the east of the Jurassic Coast, a 96-mile (155 km) World Heritage Site. According to the 2011 census, the town has a population of 183,491 making it the largest settlement in Dorset. With Poole to the west and Christchurch in the east, Bournemouth forms the South East Dorset conurbation, which has a total population of over 465,000.

Before it was founded in 1810 by Lewis Tregonwell, the area was a deserted heathland occasionally visited by fishermen and smugglers. Initially marketed as a health resort, the town received a boost when it appeared in Dr Granville's book, The Spas of England. Bournemouth's growth really accelerated with the arrival of the railway and it became a recognised town in 1870. Historically part of Hampshire, it joined Dorset with the reorganisation of local government in 1974. Since 1997, the town has been administered by a unitary authority, giving it autonomy from Dorset County Council although it remains part of the ceremonial county. The local council is Bournemouth Borough Council.