Editing South Gloucestershire (section)

==History==
Prior to the implementation of the [[Local Government Act 1972]] on 1 April 1974, the area that now forms South Gloucestershire formed part of the [[Gloucestershire|shire county of Gloucestershire]], comprising the [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|urban district]]s of [[Kingswood, South Gloucestershire|Kingswood]] and [[Mangotsfield]] and the [[Rural District]]s of [[Warmley]], [[Sodbury]] and [[Thornbury Rural District|Thornbury]]. However, under the terms of that act, the area was removed from Gloucestershire, and became part of the [[Avon (county)|county of Avon]], forming the districts of [[Kingswood (borough)|Kingswood]] and [[Northavon]].

In 1996, the county of Avon was abolished, and South Gloucestershire was created as a unitary authority area comprising the former districts of Kingswood and Northavon. The area borders the [[Bristol|city and county of Bristol]], the [[Bath and North East Somerset]] unitary authority area, and the shire counties of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

The geographic area currently known as South Gloucestershire should not be confused with Southern Gloucestershire. Nor should organisations or bodies in the past titled 'South Gloucestershire' (meaning Southern Gloucestershire) be confused with the area covered by the unitary authority.