<Tr> <Th> Website </Th> <Td> www.bournemouth.gov.uk </Td> </Tr> <P> Bournemouth / ˈbɔːrnməθ / (listen) is a large coastal resort town on the south coast of England to the east of the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site, 96 miles (155 km) long . According to the 2011 census, the town has a population of 183,491 making it the largest settlement in Dorset . With Poole to the west and Christchurch in the east, Bournemouth forms the South East Dorset conurbation, which has a total population of over 465,000 . </P> <P> Before it was founded in 1810 by Lewis Tregonwell, the area was a deserted heathland occasionally visited by fishermen and smugglers . Initially marketed as a health resort, the town received a boost when it appeared in Augustus Granville's 1841 book, The Spas of England . Bournemouth's growth truly accelerated with the arrival of the railway and it became a recognised town in 1870 . Historically part of Hampshire, it joined Dorset with the reorganisation of local government in 1974 . Since 1997, the town has been administered by a unitary authority, meaning it is independent of Dorset County Council, although it remains part of that ceremonial county . The local council is Bournemouth Borough Council . </P> <P> The town centre has notable Victorian architecture and the 202 - foot (62 m) spire of St Peter's Church, one of three Grade 1 listed churches in the borough, is a local landmark . Bournemouth's location has made it a popular destination for tourists, attracting over five million visitors annually with its beaches and popular nightlife . The town is also a regional centre of business, home of the Bournemouth International Centre or BIC, and a financial sector that is worth more than £ 1,000 million in gross value added . </P>

When did bournemouth change from hampshire to dorset