Question: has bournemouth always been in dorset?
Answer: Historically Bournemouth was part of Hampshire, with neighbouring Poole, just to the west of the border, in Dorset. ... Bournemouth, therefore, became part of the non-metropolitan county of Dorset on 1 April 1974. On 1 April 1997, Bournemouth became a unitary authority, independent from Dorset County Council.