BOURNEMOUTH, municipal parliamentary and county borough and watering-place, Hampshire, England, 1072m. S.W. by S. of London by the Southern Railway. Pop. (1931) 116,780. The town is wholly of modern and remarkably rapid growth, for the population was but a few hundred in the middle of the 19th century. The village of that period, set in what is now known as the centre of the town, occupied the valley of the Bourne, a small stream whence it took its name. The sandy beach of Poole Bay is here backed by considerable sandstone cliffs scored with deep picturesque dells or chines. Though there is little evidence of settlement in our era before the middle of last century, it is in reality one of the oldest civilized regions in the country For centuries preceding the Roman occupation it remained one of the chief entrances into South Britain. The prehistoric relations of Hengistbury Head to the east are specially interesting. The sheltered position and equable climate of Bournemouth began to attract attention about 1840; in 1855 a national sanatorium was erected, and a pier was constructed in 1861. Since 1870, when railway communication was provided, the growth of Bournemouth has been unprecedented in England. Suburbs rapidly extended in land and along the shore i.i both directions and extensions are still being undertaken, much building having taken place since 1918, e.g., at Pokesdovvn, Southbourne and Westbourne. The heath vege tation and pines have been largely replaced by houses, but the Municipality is controlling woodland destruction and planting afresh, and has preserved many parks and gardens besides the numerous private enclosures. There are some Boo ac. of public parks and pleasure grounds within the borough. The Undercliff Drive was extended to Boscombe, on the east side of the town, in 1914. Notable buildings include the new town-hall, municipal col lege (1912), central public library (1913) and the Russell-Cotes art-galleries and museum. The town was incorporated in 1890 and became a county borough in 1900. The boundaries of the borough were extended in 1914 to include part of Holdenhurst, and since that date new parishes have been formed and churches built. The broadcasting station was opened on Oct. 17, 1923. In 1924 a company was formed to join Bournemouth and Swanage by road with a ferry, on a submerged chain principle, for crossing Poole Harbour. It was opened in 1926, but the strong "race" here is expected to cause difficulties. The town is increasing its fame as a centre of music and of the other arts. A movement to develop university education was started in 1927. Besides its increasing permanent population there are large numbers of visitors at all seasons ; and there is much tourist traffic by rail, road and steam boat. The railway stations are the Central and West (Southern and Somerset and Dorset railways), communications being maintained also by the G.W., L.N.E., and L.M.S. railways.
The corporation consists of a mayor, 11 aldermen and 33 coun cillors. Area (1926) 6,545 acres. In 1918 Bournemouth was made a parliamentary borough, returning one member. The census figure includes a large number of visitors, but the effective population (estimated mid-1925) is 85,84o.