Editing Dorset (section)

==Settlements==
{{See also|List of places in Dorset|List of settlements in Dorset by population}}
{{Location map+|Dorset
  |caption = Some of the larger settlements of Dorset
  |float   = right
  |width   = 300
  |places =
     {{Location map~|Dorset
       |label   = {{nowrap|'''[[Bournemouth]]'''}}
       |long    = -1.8809212
       |lat     = 50.720407
       |position=bottom
       |background =white
       |marksize=10
     }}
    {{Location map~|Dorset
       |label   = '''[[Poole]]'''
       |long    = -1.983333
       |lat     =  50.74
       |position=left
       |background =white
       |marksize=10
     }}
    {{Location map~|Dorset
       |label   = [[Christchurch, Dorset|Christchurch]]
       |long    = -1.78000
       |lat     =  50.73000
       |position=top
       |background =white
       |label_size=85
     }}
    {{Location map~|Dorset
       |label   = [[Weymouth, Dorset|Weymouth]]
       |long    = -2.4592041
       |lat     =  50.609909
       |position=left
       |background =white
       |label_size=85
    }}
    {{Location map~|Dorset
       |label   = [[Blandford Forum]]
       |long    = -2.1588195
       |lat     =  50.862645
       |position=left
       |background =white
       |label_size=85
    }}
    {{Location map~|Dorset
       |label   = [[Sherborne]]
       |long    = -2.5216795
       |lat     = 50.949320
       |background =white
       |label_size=85
    }}
    {{Location map~|Dorset
       |label   = [[Dorchester, Dorset|Dorchester]]
       |long    = -2.4415545
       |lat     = 50.711905
       |position=bottom
       |background =white
       |label_size=85
     }}
    {{Location map~|Dorset
       |label   = [[Bridport]]
       |long    = -2.7580196
       |lat     = 50.733565
       |background =white
       |label_size=85
     }}
   {{Location map~|Dorset
       |label   = [[Wimborne]]
       |long    = -1.978
       |lat     = 50.804
       |position = top
       |background =white
       |label_size=85
     }}
      {{Location map~|Dorset
       |label   = [[Verwood]]
       |long    = -1.88
       |lat     =  50.8817
       |position=top
       |background =white
       |label_size=85
     }}
     {{Location map~|Dorset
       |label   = [[Gillingham, Dorset|Gillingham]]
       |long    = -2.272
       |lat     = 51.0375
       |position=left
       |background =white
       |label_size=85
     }}
      {{Location map~|Dorset
       |label   = [[Shaftesbury]]
       |long    = -2.198
       |lat     = 51.0066
       |position= right
       |background =white
       |label_size=85
    }}
 }}
Dorset is largely rural with many small villages, few large towns and no cities.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-13539202 |title=Bournemouth Bids for Queen's Jubilee City Status |work=[[BBC News]] |date=25 May 2011 |access-date=2 June 2011 |archive-date=28 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110528054732/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-13539202 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Minerals Core Strategy p20">{{cite web |title=Dorset's Minerals Core Strategy |url=http://www.dorsetforyou.com/media.jsp?mediaid=156450&filetype=pdf |format=PDF |page=20 |work=Dorset For You |publisher=[[Dorset County Council]] |access-date=20 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101208203423/http://www.dorsetforyou.com/media.jsp?mediaid=156450&filetype=pdf |archive-date=8 December 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The only major urban area is the [[South East Dorset conurbation]], which is situated at the south-eastern end of the county and is atypical of the county as a whole. It consists of the [[seaside resort]] of Bournemouth, the historic port and [[borough]] of Poole, the towns of Christchurch and [[Ferndown]] plus many surrounding villages.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dorsetforyou.com/390949 |title=Joint Study Reports |work=Dorset For You |publisher=[[Dorset County Council]] |access-date=2 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110701114620/http://www.dorsetforyou.com/390949 |archive-date=1 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dorsetforyou.com/media.jsp?mediaid=90980&filetype=pdf |title=South East Dorset Strategy |publisher=Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Partnership |format=PDF |page=2 |date=November 2005 |access-date=2 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001200539/http://www.dorsetforyou.com/media.jsp?mediaid=90980&filetype=pdf |archive-date=1 October 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Bournemouth, the most populous town in the conurbation, was established in the [[Georgian era]] when [[sea bathing]] became popular.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bournemouth.gov.uk/PlanningBuildings/ConservationDesignTrees/Conservation/historyofbournemouth.aspx |title=History of Bournemouth |publisher=[[Bournemouth Borough Council]] |access-date=4 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110910184420/http://www.bournemouth.gov.uk/PlanningBuildings/ConservationDesignTrees/Conservation/historyofbournemouth.aspx |archive-date=10 September 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Poole, the second largest settlement (once the largest town in the county), adjoins Bournemouth to the west and contains the suburb of [[Sandbanks]] which has some of the highest land values by area in the world.<ref name="sandbanks">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/dorset/4440107.stm |title=Island on the market for £2.5 million |publisher=[[BBC]] Dorset |access-date=13 April 2005 |date=13 April 2005 |archive-date=27 October 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051027033625/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/dorset/4440107.stm |url-status=live}}</ref>

The other two major settlements in the county are Dorchester, which has been the county town since at least 1305,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dorchester-tc.gov.uk/About+Us/Civic+History/The+Mayoralty/The+Mayor+Making+Ceremony |title=The Mayor Making Ceremony |publisher=Dorchester Town Council |year=2007 |access-date=2 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725033724/http://www.dorchester-tc.gov.uk/About+Us/Civic+History/The+Mayoralty/The+Mayor+Making+Ceremony |archive-date=25 July 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> and Weymouth, a major seaside resort since the 18th century.<ref name="DFY Pop">{{cite web |url=http://www.dorsetforyou.com/344863 |title=Population&nbsp;– Key Facts |work=Dorset For You |publisher=[[Dorset County Council]] |year=2009 |access-date=4 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928041332/http://www.dorsetforyou.com/344863 |archive-date=28 September 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="DFY Weymouth">{{cite web |url=http://www.dorsetforyou.com/343610 |title=Weymouth |work=Dorset For You |publisher=[[Dorset County Council]] |year=2009 |access-date=4 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930113143/http://www.dorsetforyou.com/343610 |archive-date=30 September 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Blandford Forum]], Sherborne, [[Gillingham, Dorset|Gillingham]], [[Shaftesbury]] and [[Sturminster Newton]] are historic [[market town]]s which serve the farms and villages of the [[Blackmore Vale]] in north Dorset.<ref name="MKT Towns">{{cite web |url=http://www.visit-dorset.com/site/explore-dorset/towns/market-towns |title=Market Towns |publisher=Destination Dorset |year=2010 |access-date=4 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129210738/http://www.visit-dorset.com/about-the-area/towns/market-towns |archive-date=29 January 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Beaminster]] and Bridport are situated in the west of the county; [[Verwood]] and the historic Saxon market towns of [[Wareham, Dorset|Wareham]] and [[Wimborne Minster]] are located to the east.<ref name="MKT Towns"/> Lyme Regis and [[Swanage]] are small coastal towns popular with tourists.<ref name="Coastal Towns">{{cite web |url=http://www.visit-dorset.com/site/explore-dorset/towns/seaside-towns |title=Seaside Towns |publisher=Destination Dorset |year=2010 |access-date=4 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129182619/http://www.visit-dorset.com/about-the-area/towns/coastal-towns |archive-date=29 January 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> Under construction on the western edge of Dorchester is the experimental [[new town]] of [[Poundbury]] commissioned and co-designed by [[Charles III of the United Kingdom|Charles III]] when he was Prince of Wales.<ref>{{cite web |title=Poundbury |url=http://www.duchyofcornwall.org/designanddevelopment_poundbury.htm |publisher=[[Duchy of Cornwall]] |access-date=10 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070822172556/http://www.duchyofcornwall.org/designanddevelopment_poundbury.htm |archive-date=22 August 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The suburb, which is expected to be fully completed by 2025, was designed to integrate residential and retail buildings and counter the growth of [[dormitory town]]s and car-oriented development.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/features/3637310/Poundbury-can-Prince-Charles-change-the-way-we-build.html |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |title=Poundbury: can Prince Charles change the way we build? |date=15 July 2008 |access-date=2 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009145259/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/features/3637310/Poundbury-can-Prince-Charles-change-the-way-we-build.html |archive-date=9 October 2010 |url-status=live |location=London |first=Clive |last=Aslet}}</ref>