Christchurch is a town in the county of Dorset in southern England on the English Channel coast. The town has a population of 44,869 (according to 2001 figures), of whom a significant proportion are white, financially solvent and elderly (approximately 40% are retired). Indeed, the area of Highcliffe on the town's eastern boundary possesses the highest percentage of elderly residents in the entire United Kingdom (65%).
It was originally a Saxon settlement called Twyneham (which gives the town's central school its name), which meant the settlement between two rivers. The Avon and the Stour both enter the sea in Christchurch Harbour. This medium-sized priory and market town is generally regarded as a conservative, slow-paced and popular tourist and retirement destination "where time is pleasant" (according to the town's official description).
The town centre is dominated by the Priory church and the High Street with its squares and parades containing shopping facilities. Christchurch forms part of the south east Dorset conurbation along with Bournemouth, Poole and the districts of Wimborne and other areas of East Dorset.
The current local government district and borough was formed in April 1, 1974 by the merger of the old borough of Christchurch with part of Ringwood and Fordingbridge Rural District . It was previously in Hampshire.
The Member of Parliament for Christchurch is Christopher Chope, who currently holds a considerable vote majority of 13,544 - making Christchurch one of the safest Conservative constituencies in the country.
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