The borough also includes the towns of Hatherleigh, North Tawton and Okehampton, along with numerous villages and surrounding rural areas.

The neighbouring districts are Torridge, Mid Devon, Teignbridge, South Hams and Cornwall.

[2] On 27 April 1982 the district was awarded borough status, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.

[8] The council has been under no overall control since the 2023 election, being led by a coalition of the independent councillors, Greens, Liberal Democrats and Labour.

[22] In the EU referendum of 2016, the majority of voters in West Devon voted to leave the European Union (18,937 to 16,658, that is 53.2% to 46.8%).