The district had its origins in the Chipping Norton Poor Law Union, which had been created in 1835, covering the town of Chipping Norton and surrounding parishes in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Warwickshire.
A workhouse was built in 1836 at 26 London Road in Chipping Norton to serve the area.
[2] In 1872, sanitary districts were established, with responsibility for public health and local government given to the boards of guardians of poor law unions for areas without urban authorities.
[4] Chipping Norton Rural District Council held its first meeting on 9 January 1895 at the workhouse in Chipping Norton, when Thomas Harris, rector of Swerford, was chosen as the council's first chairman.
[1] Chipping Norton Rural District was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972, with the area becoming part of West Oxfordshire on 1 April 1974.