This is a list of electoral divisions and wards in the ceremonial county of Dorset in South West England. All changes since the re-organisation of local government following the passing of the Local Government Act 1972 are shown. The number of councillors elected for each electoral division or ward is shown in brackets.
Unitary authority councils
Dorset
Wards from 2 May 2019 to present: WardPopulation (2021)CouncillorsAreasBeacon5,1681Ashmore, Cann, Compton Abbas, East Orchard, Fontmell Magna, Guy's Marsh, Hammoon, Iwerne Courtney, Iwerne Minster, Iwerne Stepleton, Manston, Margaret Marsh, Melbury Abbas, Stour Provost, Stour Row, Sutton Waldron, Todber, West OrchardBeaminster4,2581Beaminster, Chedington, Mapperton, Mosterton, South PerrottBlackmore Vale4,5021Fifehead Neville, Hazelbury Bryan, Ibberton, Lydlinch, Mappowder, Okeford Fitzpaine, Pulham, Shillingstone, Stoke Wake, WoollandBlandford10,3592Blandford ForumBridport14,6353Bridport, SymondsburyChalk Valleys4,7881Alton Pancras, Buckland Newton, Cerne Abbas, Cheselbourne, Dewlish, Godmanstone, Hilton, Minterne Magna, Nether Cerne, Piddlehinton, Piddletrenthide, Sydling St Nicholas, Up CerneCharminster St Mary's5,1651Bradford Peverell, Charminster, Charlton Down, Frampton, Stinsford, StrattonChesil Bank3,9331Abbotsbury, Burton Bradstock, Chilcombe, Fleet, Kingston Russell, Langton Herring, Littlebredy, Litton Cheney, Long Bredy, Portesham, Puncknowle, Shipton GorgeChickerell7,8171ChickerellColehill and Wimborne Minster East8,6762Colehill, east Wimborne MinsterCorfe Mullen10,3742Corfe MullenCranborne and Alderholt5,0291Alderholt, Cranborne, Edmondsham, Wimborne St Giles, WoodlandsCranborne Chase5,1801Crichel, Gussage All Saints, Gussage St Michael, Langton Long Blandford, Sixpenny Handley and Pentridge, Tarrant Crawford, Tarrant Keyneston, Tarrant Launceston, Tarrant Monkton, Tarrant Rushton, WitchamptonCrossways3,7361Crossways, Osmington, Owermoigne, Poxwell, WarmwellDorchester East8,2192Eastern DorchesterDorchester Poundbury4,0721PoundburyDorchester West9,0672Western DorchesterEggardon5,2981Askerswell, Cattistock, Chilfrome, Compton Valence, Frome St Quintin, Hooke, Loders, Maiden Newton, Netherbury, North Poorton, Powerstock, Rampisham, Toller Fratrum, Toller Porcorum, West Compton, Wraxall, Wynford EagleFerndown North8,6922Northern FerndownFerndown South8,8052Southern FerndownGillingham15,5283Bourton, Buckhorn Weston, East Stour, Gillingham, Kington Magna, Motcombe, West StourHill Forts and Upper Tarrants4,9791Bryanston, Chettle, Child Okeford, Durweston, Farnham, Hanford, Pimperne, Stourpaine, Tarrant Gunville, Tarrant HintonLittlemoor and Preston9,8652Littlemoor and PrestonLyme and Charmouth5,0791Lyme Regis and CharmouthLytchett Matravers and Upton12,5373Lytchett Matravers, Lytchett Minster, Morden, UptonMarshwood Vale4,5621Bettiscombe, Broadwindsor, Burstock, Catherston Leweston, Chideock, Marshwood, Seaborough, Stanton St Gabriel, Stoke Abbott, Thorncombe, Wootton FitzpaineMelcombe Regis4,2991Melcombe RegisPortland13,5583Isle of PortlandPuddletown and Lower Winterborne5,4911Athelhampton, Burleston, Milborne St Andrew, Puddletown, Tolpuddle, Winterborne Kingston, Winterborne Whitechurch, Winterborne ZelstonRadipole9,7682RadipoleRodwell and Wyke13,9163Rodwell and Wyke RegisShaftesbury Town9,1602ShaftesburySherborne East4,3891Eastern SherborneSherborne Rural4,9521Beer Hackett, Bishop's Caundle, Bradford Abbas, Caundle Marsh, Clifton Maybank, Folke, Glanvilles Wootton, Goathill, Haydon, Holwell, Nether Compton, North Wootton, Oborne, Over Compton, Poyntington, Purse Caundle, Sandford Orcas, Thornford, TrentSherborne West5,9721Western SherborneSouth East Purbeck4,1321Church Knowle, Corfe Castle, East Holme, East Stoke, Kimmeridge, Langton Matravers, Steeple with Tyneham, Studland, Worth MatraversSt Leonards and St Ives7,9031St Leonards and St IvesStalbridge and Marnhull5,1521Marnhull, Stalbridge, Stourton CaundleStour and Allen Vale4,9631Chalbury, Holt, Horton, Pamphill, Shapwick, Sturminster MarshallSturminster Newton4,6331Hinton St Mary, Sturminster NewtonSwanage9,4262SwanageUpwey and Broadwey4,5371Upwey and BroadweyVerwood13,7093VerwoodWareham9,8552Arne, Wareham, Wareham St MartinWestham9,5032WesthamWest Moors and Three Legged Cross8,8702West Moors and Three Legged CrossWest Parley3,6601West ParleyWest Purbeck9,8442Affpuddle, Bere Regis, Bloxworth, Chaldon Herring, Coombe Keynes, East Lulworth, Moreton, West Lulworth, WoolWimborne Minster8,0972Wimborne MinsterWinterborne and Broadmayne4,2861Bincombe, Broadmayne, Tincleton, West Knighton, West Stafford, Whitcombe, Winterbourne Abbas, Winterborne Came, Winterborne Herringston, Winterborne Monkton, Winterborne St Martin, Winterbourne Steepleton, WoodsfordWinterborne North4,2631Blandford St Mary, Charlton Marshall, Spetisbury, Turnworth, Winterborne Clenston, Winterborne Houghton, Winterborne SticklandYetminster4,9111Batcombe, Chetnole, Corscombe, East Chelborough, Evershot, Halstock, Hermitage, Hilfield, Holnest, Leigh, Leweston, Lillington, Longburton, Melbury Osmond, Melbury Sampford, Ryme Intrinseca, Stockwood, West Chelborough, Yetminster
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Wards from 2 May 2019 to present: WardPopulation (2021)CouncillorsMapAreasAlderney and Bourne Valley16,6853Alderney, Bourne Valley, Alder Hills, northern RossmoreBearwood and Merley14,0283Bearwood, Knighton Heath, MerleyBoscombe East and Pokesdown11,1972Eastern Boscombe, PokesdownBoscombe West10,5852Western BoscombeBournemouth Central16,2202Bournemouth Town Centre, Lansdowne, Richmond Hill.Broadstone10,2842BroadstoneBurton and Grange9,3202Burton, Hoburne Park, Somerford, WinktonCanford Cliffs9,3672Canford Cliffs, Branksome Park, Lilliput, SandbanksCanford Heath14,3823Canford Heath, FleetsbridgeChristchurch Town10,2892Christchurch Town Centre, Portfield, Purewell Commons10,3292Bournemouth International Airport, East Parley, Jumpers Common, Fairmile, Hurn, Parley CommonCreekmoor9,4632Creekmoor, WaterlooEast Cliff and Springbourne17,2133East Cliff, SpringbourneEast Southbourne and Tuckton8,8102Hengistbury Head, Southbourne, Tuckton, Warren HillHamworthy14,2093HamworthyHighcliffe and Walkford10,0082Highcliffe, WalkfordKinson17,7953East Howe, Kinson, and Turbary Park, West HoweLittledown and Iford9,8972Kings Park, Littledown, IfordMoordown10,5232Charminster, MoordownMudeford, Stanpit and West Highcliffe10,1852Friars Cliff, western Highcliffe-on-Sea, Mudeford, StanpitMuscliff and Strouden Park16,8743Holdenhurst, Muscliff, Strouden Park, Townsend, Throop, WoodburyNewtown and Heatherlands17,7313Heatherlands, Newtown, RossmoreOakdale11,1942Oakdale, Stanley GreenParkstone10,9962ParkstonePenn Hill11,5502Penn HillPoole Town12,6623Baiter Park, Longfleet, Poole Town CentreQueen's Park11,3832Malmesbury Park, Queen's Park, Richmond ParkRedhill and Northbourne9,8682East Howe, northern Ensbury Park, Hill View, Northbourne, RedhillTalbot and Branksome Woods13,6823Branksome Woods and Meyrick Park, Talbot Woods, parts of Talbot Village and CharminsterWallisdown and Winton West10,8292Ensbury Park, south Redhill, Slades Farm, Talbot Village, Victoria Park, Wallisdown, western WintonWestbourne and West Cliff10,3262Westbourne and West CliffWest Southbourne10,4372Western SouthbourneWinton East11,8302Eastern Winton
Former county council
Dorset Electoral Divisions from 1 April 1974 (first election 12 April 1973) to 2 May 1985:The County of Dorset (Electoral Divisions) Order 1973
Electoral Divisions from 2 May 1985 to 5 May 2005:The County of Dorset (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1983
Electoral Divisions from 5 May 2005 to 4 May 2017:legislation.gov.uk - The County of Dorset (Electoral Changes) Order 2004. Retrieved on 3 November 2015.
Electoral Divisions from 4 May 2017 to 2 May 2019 (county abolished):legislation.gov.uk - The Dorset (Electoral Changes) Order 2016. Retrieved on 20 April 2016.
Former unitary authority councils Bournemouth Wards from 1 April 1974 (first election 7 June 1973) to 3 May 1979:The County of Dorset (District Wards) Order 1973
Wards from 3 May 1979 to 1 May 2003:The Borough of Bournemouth (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1978legislation.gov.uk - The Dorset (Boroughs of Poole and Bournemouth) (Structural Change) Order 1995. Retrieved on 6 November 2015.
Wards from 1 May 2003 to 2 May 2019 (unitary authority abolished):legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Bournemouth (Electoral Changes) Order 2002. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
Poole Wards from 1 April 1974 (first election 7 June 1973) to 5 May 1983:
Wards from 5 May 1983 to 1 May 2003:The Borough of Poole (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1979
All Wards were changed to (3) in 1996
Wards from 1 May 2003 to 7 May 2015:legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Poole (Electoral Changes) Order 2002. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
Wards from 7 May 2015 to 2 May 2019 (unitary authority abolished):legislation.gov.uk - The Poole (Electoral Changes) Order 2015. Retrieved on 3 November 2015.
Former district councils Christchurch Wards from 1 April 1974 (first election 7 June 1973) to 3 May 1979:
Wards from 3 May 1979 to 1 May 2003:legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Christchurch (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1978. Retrieved on 19 November 2015.
Wards from 1 May 2003 to 2 May 2019 (district abolished):legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Christchurch (Electoral Changes) Order 2002. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
East Dorset Wards from 1 April 1974 (first election 7 June 1973) to 5 May 1983:
Wards from 5 May 1983 to 1 May 2003:The District of Wimborne (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1980
Wards from 1 May 2003 to 7 May 2015:legislation.gov.uk - The District of East Dorset (Electoral Changes) Order 2002. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
Wards from 7 May 2015 to 2 May 2019 (district abolished):legislation.gov.uk - The East Dorset (Electoral Changes) Order 2014. Retrieved on 3 November 2015.
North Dorset Wards from 1 April 1974 (first election 7 June 1973) to 5 May 1983:
Wards from 5 May 1983 to 1 May 2003:The District of North Dorset (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1980
Wards from 1 May 2003 to 7 May 2015:legislation.gov.uk - The District of North Dorset (Electoral Changes) Order 2002. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
Wards from 7 May 2015 to 2 May 2019 (district abolished):legislation.gov.uk - The North Dorset (Electoral Changes) Order 2014. Retrieved on 3 November 2015.
Purbeck Wards from 1 April 1974 (first election 7 June 1973) to 3 May 1979:
Wards from 3 May 1979 to 6 May 1999:The District of Purbeck (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977
Wards from 6 May 1999 to 7 May 2015:legislation.gov.uk - The District of Purbeck (Electoral Changes) Order 1998. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
Wards from 7 May 2015 to 2 May 2019 (district abolished):legislation.gov.uk - The Purbeck (Electoral Changes) Order 2013. Retrieved on 3 November 2015.
† minor boundary changes in 2015legislation.gov.uk - The Purbeck (Electoral Changes) Order 2015. Retrieved on 3 November 2015.
West Dorset Wards from 1 April 1974 (first election 7 June 1973) to 5 May 1983:
Wards from 5 May 1983 to 1 May 2003:The District of West Dorset (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1980
Wards from 1 May 2003 to 7 May 2015:legislation.gov.uk - The District of West Dorset (Electoral Changes) Order 2002. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
Wards from 7 May 2015 to 2 May 2019 (district abolished):legislation.gov.uk - The West Dorset (Electoral Changes) Order 2015. Retrieved on 3 November 2015.
Weymouth and Portland Wards from 1 April 1974 (first election 7 June 1973) to 3 May 1979:
Wards from 3 May 1979 to 10 June 2004:legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Weymouth and Portland (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1978. Retrieved on 19 November 2015.