Districts of Preston

Preston is a city of Lancashire, England. The districts of Preston vary in size and shape, many of which reflect the districts developed from former villages and boroughs which now lie within the boundaries of the city of Preston. Districts of Preston have little administrative purpose: for local elections voters in each return either two, or three, councillors to Town Hall. For the purposes of national General elections, the parliamentary constituencies representing the city use the electoral districts as "building bricks"

Present day divisions
The City of Preston is divided into 22 wards, which are used in the creation of "Area Forums", local consultative bodies organised by city council; and also the composition of parliamentary constituencies.

Electors in each ward return two, or three, electors to Town Hall in elections, results of which can be found at Preston local elections.

Since 2010, the City of Preston has been covered by three parliamentary constituencies, Preston, Wyre and Preston North and Fylde. Those wards formerly within the Ribble Valley constituency, on the whole, now form the southern flank of the newly created constituency of Wyre and Preston North.

The wards are used to build electoral divisions for elections to Lancashire County Council. The unparished area of Preston (or urban core) had a population of 122,719 in 2011 and did not include the wards Preston Rural North, Preston Rural East and Lea. The wider city and non metropolitan district had a population of 140,202 in the same census.

The wards of Preston Rural North, Preston Rural East and Lea are parished: they contain parish councils with their own structure and elected councillors. All the other wards lie in an unparished area and are governed directly by Preston City Council.

Comparison of areas called "Preston"
The name "Preston" is associated with a number of different areas that are related to the city:

Local government

 * Preston Municipal Borough 1836–1889
 * County Borough of Preston 1889–1974
 * Fulwood Urban District until 1974
 * Preston Rural District 1894–1974

UK Parliament constituencies

 * Preston 1295–1950; 1983–present
 * Wyre and Preston North 2010–present
 * Preston North 1950–1983
 * Preston South 1950–1983