The parish was predominantly rural with a total population of 201 in 2001,[2] measured with the inclusion of Hurleston at 324 in the 2011 Census.

Nearby villages include Aston juxta Mondrum, Burland, Calveley, Haughton, Rease Heath and Wardle.

[7] The manor was given by Randal de Praers to his son, who assumed the name Stoke, and later passed to the Beeston and Aston families.

[10] During the Civil War, Stoke was occupied by royalist forces in December 1643, together with much of the surrounding area.

[15] From 1974 the civil parish was served by Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council, which was succeeded on 1 April 2009 by the unitary authority of Cheshire East.

[23] The grade-II-listed Stoke Hall (SJ622567) on Stokehall Lane is a large L-shaped mansion in red brick dating originally from the early 17th century, but with a 19th-century appearance.

[24] A disused dovecote with a bell turret in the grounds of the hall dates from the late 18th century; it is also listed at grade II.

[27] The former Barbridge post office (now a private house) on Chester Road dates from the late 17th century.

[28] Stoke Cottage on Mill Pool Lane is an L-shaped brick building dating from the early 18th century which was extended in 1856.

[33] General James Wolfe, hero of the Battle of Quebec of 1759, is supposed to have spent some of his childhood at Yew Tree House near Verona.