Between 1889 (1890 in Scotland) and 1974, the political boundaries were based on the traditional counties, but due to changes in population centres, the traditional counties became impractical as local government areas in certain highly urbanised areas. The Local Government Act 1972 created a new system of administrative counties, designed to take account of the widely differing populations across different parts of the country.
betWeeN 1889 (1890 in scOtlaND) aNd 1974, tHE pOliticaL bouNdarieS weRe basEd On The TrAditioNal COuNties, bUt dUe to cHANGEs IN PopUlatIOn cENtrEs, the tRAdItiOnal coUntieS BecAMe iMpRactICaL as locAl gOVernMENT areAS in CerTAin Highly urbaniSEd areas. ThE loCaL GOvErnmENT act 1972 created a nEw system oF adMinistratIVe countieS, dEsIgneD To Take account of the widELy diffEriNg poPUlations acRoss difFErEnt parts oF thE couNTry.