Editing Smethwick (section)

===Civic history===
{{See also|Evolution of Worcestershire county boundaries}}

[[File:The local government structure within the Black Country (Pre-1966).png|thumb|The local government structure within North Worcestershire and South Staffordshire – Prior to the ''West Midlands Order 1965'' reorganisation]]
[[File:Smethwick Council Offices (geograph 6192802).jpg|thumb|[[Smethwick Council House]]]]
Originally a hamlet within the parish of Harborne, [[Staffordshire]], Smethwick was made into an [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|urban district]] in 1894, on 31 December Smethwick became a [[civil parish]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10293121|title=Relationships and changes Smethwick CP through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=4 October 2024}}</ref> in 1899 the district became a [[municipal corporation]], and the district became [[county borough]] within Staffordshire in 1907 with its base at [[Smethwick Council House]].<ref>{{NHLE|desc=Council House|num=1342665 |accessdate=12 May 2021}}</ref> On 1 April 1966, Smethwick was merged with the boroughs of Oldbury and [[Municipal Borough of Rowley Regis|Rowley Regis]] to form the new [[County Borough of Warley]], part also went to the [[County Borough of West Bromwich]] and the [[County Borough of Birmingham]], Smethwick was transferred into the county of [[Worcestershire]]. The parish was also abolished on 1 April 1966 to form [[Warley, West Midlands|Warley]], part also went to West Bromwich and Birmingham.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/districts/smethwick.html|title=Smethwick Registration District|publisher=UKBMD|accessdate=4 October 2024}}</ref> In 1961 the parish had a population of 68,390.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10293121/cube/TOT_POP|title=Population statistics Smethwick CP through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=4 October 2024}}</ref> Warley county borough in turn was merged with [[County Borough of West Bromwich|West Bromwich]] in 1974 to form the [[Sandwell]] Metropolitan Borough, which was incorporated into the new [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]] county.<ref>{{cite web |title=Smethwick CB/MB/UD through time |publisher=Vision of Britain |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10094136&c_id=10001043 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121224084156/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10094136&c_id=10001043 |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 December 2012 |access-date=25 June 2012}}</ref>

In 1888, there had been plans for Smethwick to be incorporated into the city of Birmingham, but the urban district council voted against these plans by a single vote.<ref>{{cite web |last=Country |first=Black |url=http://www.blackcountrybugle.co.uk/News/When-a-single-vote-saved-Smethwick-from-Brummagem.htm |title=When a single vote saved Smethwick from Brummagem |publisher=Black Country Bugle |date=2008-07-17 |access-date=2016-06-29}}</ref>

The archives for the Borough of Smethwick are held at [[Sandwell Community History and Archives Service]].