[1] Hereford was an ancient borough and had held city status from time immemorial.
Hereford City Council had its powers significantly reformed under the Local Government Act 1972, becoming a non-metropolitan district, although retaining the same boundaries.
[2] The first elections to the reconstituted city council were held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority before coming into its powers on 1 April 1974.
From 1974 until the abolition of the district council in 1998, political control of the council was held by the following parties:[3] In 1998 the district of Hereford was abolished, with the area becoming part of the new unitary authority of Herefordshire.
The Herefordshire councillors who represented the former district of Hereford acted as charter trustees from 1998 until 2000, when a civil parish covering the former district was formed, with its parish council taking the name Hereford City Council.