It initially surrounded but did not include the town of Watford, which was a separate urban district.
It gradually ceded territory to other districts, and by the time of its abolition in 1974 the district comprised three separate pieces of land, lying to the north-west, north-east, and south of Watford.
Under the Public Health Act 1872 sanitary districts were created, and the boards of guardians of poor law unions were made responsible for public health and local government for any part of their district not included in an urban authority.
[9][10] In 1947 the council consolidated its offices and meeting place at Wynyard House, 99 Langley Road, Watford, a large house which had previously been Wynyard School, a boarding school.
[12] Under the Local Government Act 1972 the Watford Rural District was abolished in 1974; its territory was split, with the parish of Aldenham going to Hertsmere, the part of Abbots Langley within the designated area of Hemel Hempstead New Town going to Dacorum, and the remainder to Three Rivers.