Portal:Dartford/Intro

The Borough of Dartford is a local government district and borough in north west Kent, England, which takes its name from its administrative town. It borders Thurrock, to the north across the River Thames; to the west lies the London Borough of Bexley; to the south Sevenoaks District; and the borough of Gravesham to the east. Its population, recorded in the 2011 census was 97,365. The borough was formed on 1 April 1974 by the merger of the Municipal Borough of Dartford, Swanscombe Urban District, and part of Dartford Rural District. In the mid-1990s review of local government in Kent, consideration was given to merging the borough with that of adjoining Gravesham to form a new unitary authority. However the proposal proved unpopular amongst residents who took part in the consultation and the two borough councils retained their identities.