Stroud District Council was formed out of the 1972 Local Government Act. It came into being as a shadow authority on 1st April 1973 and took over all functions from its predecessors exactly 1 year later. At the same time, it took over the planning (development control) function from Gloucestershire County Council, whilst the highways function was relinquished in the opposite direction.
The Council covers the area previously administered by the following:
Dursley Rural District Council
Cam, Coaley, Dursley, Kingswood, North Nibley, Nympsfield, Owlpen, Slimbridge, Stinchcombe, Uley, Wotton-U-Edge
Gloucester Rural District Council (part)
Arlingham, Brookthorpe, Eastington, Elmore, Frampton, Fretherne, Frocester, Hardwicke, Harescombe, Haresfield, Longney, Moreton Valence, Standish, Upton St Leonards, Whitminster
Nailsworth Urban District Council
Nailsworth
Stroud Rural District Council
Bisley, Chalford, Cranham, Horsley, Kings Stanley, Leonard Stanley, Minchinhampton, Miserden, Painswick, Pitchcombe, Randwick, Stonehouse, Thrupp, Whiteshill & Ruscombe, Woodchester
Stroud Urban District Council
Cainscross, Rodborough, Stroud
Thornbury Rural District Council (part)
Alkington, Berkeley, Ham & Stone, Hamfallow, Hinton
Boundary changes in 1991 resulted in the parish of Quedgeley being transferred to Gloucester City. The parishes of Alderley and Hillesley with Tresham (originally within the Sodbury Rural District) joined the Stroud District from North Avon District at the same time.