It merged with Newry and Mourne District Council in April 2015 under local government reorganisation in Northern Ireland to become Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.

Other towns in the Council area were Ardglass, Ballynahinch, Castlewellan, Clough, Crossgar, Dundrum, Killough, Killyleagh, Newcastle, Saintfield, Seaforde and Strangford.

The Council periodically had to provide funding to ensure that the Saint Patrick Visitor Centre in Downpatrick remained in operation.

[2] The planned change was abandoned in 2010 and the most recent election took place in May 2011 under the existing boundaries.

The area covered by Down District Council had a population of 69,731 residents according to the 2011 Northern Ireland census.