Location and Geography
The district is in the west of County Down and covers an area of 175 square miles (450 km2) of countryside - from Slieve Croob (1,775 ft) in the east to the River Bann valley in the west. It is also the main gateway to the Mourne Mountains, which lie to the south and is bisected by the A1 route between Belfast and Dublin.
The district was formed by the merger of Banbridge Urban District, Dromore Urban District and Banbridge Rural District. In 1993 there was a boundary change, and the Rathfriland area was transferred from the neighbouring district of Newry and Mourne. The other main small towns in the area include Gilford, Loughbrickland and Scarva. According to the 2001 census, the population of the district was just over 42,000, but by 2011 it is estimated to be closer to 50,000.
Read more about this topic: Banbridge (district)
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