 The population of the Local Authority at the 2011 Census was 147,451.The district was formed in 1974 by the merger of the Municipal Borough of King's Lynn, Hunstanton and Downham Market urban districts along with Docking Rural District, Downham Rural District, Freebridge Lynn Rural District and Marshland Rural District.The district was originally known as just West Norfolk, and adopted its present name in 1981.