A timeline of how Middlesbrough Council has developed, from the first days of the town until the present day.
Home Council and democracy Civic and ceremonial Council history
History of Middlesbrough Council
1830
The first house was built in the modern town of Middlesbrough.
1841
The townspeople decided they needed to organise the way the town was run, so they elected a group of 12 Improvement Commissioners. Those people, who were appointed on 21 June 1841, were responsible citizens who were asked to look after sweeping streets, paving, law and order, providing a market, and otherwise improving the town of Middlesbrough.
1853
Middlesbrough was granted a Charter of Incorporation by Queen Victoria on 1 January 1853. This meant that the townspeople elected a town council for the first time. The voting took place alongside the Old Town Hall, which the Improvement Commissioners had built in 1846 to hold their meetings.
The first Town Council consisted of 4 aldermen, and 12 councillors.
Councillors were elected by members of the public, and alderman were chosen by the council itself.
1856
A mayor was elected, along with 6 aldermen, and 18 councillors.
1866
Changes were made to the town’s boundaries, meaning the council then consisted of a mayor, 8 aldermen, and 24 councillors.
1874
The town's boundary was enlarged again, as was the council, which then consisted of a mayor, 10 aldermen, and 30 councillors.
1889
The town became what was known as a County Borough (a town independent of county council control).
The new Town Hall was opened by the Prince and Princess of Wales, who were later to become King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.
1913
Ormesby, parts of Linthorpe, Acklam, and the whole of North Ormesby became part of Middlesbrough. The number of aldermen was increased from 10 to 11, and the number of councillors from 30 to 33.
1948
The number of wards changed to 17. The number of aldermen rose from 11 to 17, and the number of councillors increased from 33 to 51.
1997
The town was divided into 25 wards, or electoral areas, which were represented by 53 councillors. 22 wards had 2 councillors, and three wards had 3 councillors. Those numbers were based the population of the wards.
2002
The role of directly elected mayor was introduced after a local referendum.
2003
Following a review by the Local Government Boundary Commission, the town was divided into 23 wards, which were represented by 48 councillors.
2015
Due to changes in population, the Local Government Boundary Commission carried out another review. The number of wards was reduced to 20 and the number of councillors was further reduced to 46.