Kingswinford is a village in the West Midlands (county) but previously
in Staffordshire.
Mentioned
in the
Domesday Book its name relates to a ford for the King's swine
(Kingswin(e)ford). The current significance is probably in tourism,
education and housing.
Positioned
at the western edge of the West
Midlands it borders on a rural area extending past the River Severn,
which explains recent changes. But its position at the edge of the
Black Country and its long standing in the area means it has had
significant influence in the past. This is illustrated by the influence
in creating local workhouses which shows a population of 15,000 plus in
the 1831 census.
From
1894 to 1938,
Kingswinford was the centre of Kingswinford Rural District Council. It
was then part of Brierley Hill Urban District Council, and since 1966
has been controlled by Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council. It forms
part of the DY6 postal district.