[3] The borough covers an area generally to the east and south of the town of Maidstone: as far north as the M2 motorway; east down the M20 to Lenham; south to a line including Staplehurst and Headcorn; and west towards Tonbridge.

Generally speaking, it lies between the North Downs and the Weald, and covers the central part of the county.

The clay vale beyond, through which flow the three rivers which meet at Yalding (the Medway, the Beult and the Teise), and the chalk North Downs all provide raw materials for paper- and cement-making; which are also local industries.

[8] The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974.

It was navigable for cargo-carrying craft as far upstream as Tonbridge, and it was only in the 19th century that the railways brought any change.

More recently, various works have been carried out to control the frequent flooding in the clay vale upstream of Maidstone.

It lies very close to the Pilgrims' Way; and two Roman roads met south of the town: one from Rochester to Hastings the other branching off to the East Kent coast and Dover.