The district stretches 274 square miles (710 km2) from the lower River Bann and Lough Neagh to the shores of Belfast Lough. It has a population of 146,148.[3] The name of the new district was recommended on 17 September 2008.[4]
Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council replaced Antrim Borough Council and Newtownabbey Borough Council. The first election for the new district council was originally due to take place in May 2009, but on 25 April 2008 Shaun Woodward, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, announced that the scheduled 2009 district council elections were to be postponed until 2011.[5] The first elections took place on 22 May 2014 and the council acted as a shadow authority until 1 April 2015.[6]
Freedom of the Borough
The following people, military units and organisation and groups have received the Freedom of the Borough of Antrim and Newtownabbey and its predecessors.