Gateshead (borough) - Definition and Overview

Borough of Gateshead
Geography
Status:	Metropolitan borough
Region:	North East England
Ceremonial County:	Tyne and Wear
Area: - Total	Ranked 214th 142.35 km²
Admin. HQ:	Gateshead
ONS code:	00CH
Demographics
Population: - Total (2002 est.) - Density	Ranked 71st 190,694 1,340 / km²
Ethnicity:	98.4% White
Politics
Gateshead Council http://www.gateshead.gov.uk/
Leadership:	Leader & Cabinet
Executive:	Labour
MPs:	David Clelland, John David McWilliam, Joyce Quin

Gateshead is a metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, in north-east England. It is named for its main town, Gateshead. Other settlements include Felling, Whickham, Blaydon, and Ryton.

The district has some 190,000 inhabitants, and was historically part of County Durham. The county borough of Gateshead was combined along with the urban districts of Felling, Blaydon, Ryton and part of Chester-le-Street Rural District into the new Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead in 1974. In 1986 the County Council of Tyne and Wear was abolished, and so Gateshead Council became a unitary authority.