Non-metropolitan district

Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially "shire districts", are a type of local government district in England. As created, they were all sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties (colloquially shire counties) in a two-tier arrangement. Some non-metropolitan districts have had their functions merged with a non-metropolitan county to form a single tier of local government, in which case they are generally referred to as unitary authorities.

Non-metropolitan districts with borough status are known as boroughs, able to appoint a mayor. Some shire counties, for example Cornwall, now have no sub-divisions so are a single non-metropolitan district.

Typically, a district will consist of a market town and its more rural hinterland. However, districts are diverse, with some being mostly urban (such as Dartford) and others more polycentric (such as Thurrock).