Its area was largely rural, but included the towns of Blandford Forum, Gillingham, Shaftesbury, Stalbridge and Sturminster Newton.

Much of North Dorset was in the River Stour valley, known as the Blackmore Vale.

The economy of North Dorset was largely based on dairy agriculture.

[1] At the 2001 UK census North Dorset had a population of 61,905, a rise of 8,300 from 1991, with 25,248 households.

[4] Media related to North Dorset District at Wikimedia Commons