Wear Valley
Wear Valley was, from 1974 to 2009, a local government district in County Durham, England. Its council and district capital was Crook. The district covered much of the Weardale area. In the west it was parished and rural, whereas in the east it was more urban. Crook and Willington are unparished. The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, by the merger of the Bishop Auckland, Crook and Willington and Tow Law urban districts, along with Weardale Rural District. The district was abolished as part of the 2009 structural changes to local  government in England, becoming part of the Durham County Council unitary authority. Wear Valley had a population of around 65,000 in 2001. Electoral divisions. At the time Wear Valley District Council was abolished the electoral wards were: Largest settlements. 1. Bishop Auckland - 24,000 2. Crook - 13,000 3. Willington - 5,000